POKEY

Many equine owners inherit their animals from former guardians without receiving instruction on equine care. Pokey, a Saddlebred gelding, is one such horse who lived with his mother in the hills of San Jose, California, where he was initially cared for by a knowledgeable guardian. When the guardian passed away, Pokey’s new owner turned the horses out to pasture on 40 acres, believing they could survive on their own. Although the seasonal grass sustained the horses for a short period, they received no other food or care when the grass eventually died. Pokey’s mother became entangled in the property fence, yet she was so emaciated and weak that she was unable to free herself. She died while still entangled in the fence.

Approximately three months later, the Humane Society of Santa Clara found Pokey, who was almost completely blind, standing over the body of his mother in an attempt to ward off coyotes and other predators. He was also covered from head to tail with thousands of ticks. Despite all this, they found that Pokey was a sweet and gentle horse that craved human attention. Caring community members brought Pokey to a nearby equine facility where they began the rehabilitation process. When Pokey was well enough to make the trip to Redwings, he came to the Sanctuary to continue his rehabilitation. He now shares a permanent home at Redwings.

Stories like Pokey’s caused two dedicated Redwings volunteers to complete training and become certified Humane Officers. When Redwings learns of a potentially abusive situation, the officers complete the first phase of the Equine Rescue Program by traveling to the site to perform an assessment. But they also carry many educational materials to the site, such as pamphlets and community resource lists, which they distribute in an attempt to educate the owners about appropriate equine care.

Go to Melissa’s story >>

REDWINGS WEBCAM

Image updates each hour. Refresh your browser to see new images.