MoonShadow had a fairly good night. He didn’t drink much but he did eat up his all of his alfalpha.

This picture was taken yesterday. He had us really worried.

This morning he’s out munching on his hay. The blood work from yesterday wasn’t much different than from the initial tests done. We won’t be out of the woods for several more days. I’m still worried about refeeding syndrome – what he was fed before we picked him up. I feel a little better each day but only time will tell.

I did learn more information about Moon Shadow that I will share in an update later today – I need to get back to the barn to finish feeding. I will tell you that his registered name is Salty Verdict – not “Salt”. He ran 1 race at Tampa Bay downs where he finished 10th. Thank all of you for caring about this wonderful boy. Please keep MoonShadow in your prayers and have a blessed day.

I checked on MoonShadow through the night last night and each time I did he was resting. But in the morning sun I was happy to find him up and looking at the barn. It’s amazing how quickly they learn where food comes from. His refeeding program is a slow process. One of my biggest concerns is what may have been fed to him, and how much, before we picked him up yesterday. I am sorry to say that based on new information, I think that Twilight may have been fed to death. Or perhaps it was a combination of she was too far gone when her last owner took possession of her and then she was fed too much too soon. We’ll never know. In any event, it was a tragic situation and I just hope and pray we get through the next couple of weeks ok with MoonShadow.

He’s really thin – almost as bad as Twilight. And if he were body clipped you would see how thin he is.

He has rain rot and is sore all over.

You can see at the end of the crescent moon the dent in his skull. It doesn’t seem to hurt him when I touch it.

He has an issue in his back left and there are some recent scars along that leg. We may have to have x-rays done of his left stifle – he can’t put weight on that back left leg but for a few seconds at a time.

No fat. No muscle.

Hopefully, he found his way to us in time. And Twilight was his guide – may she find comfort knowing that he is here.

His feet were done today but need more work. MoonShadow was so weak that he could not stand longer than a few seconds on any foot. The podiatrist will be back next week to trim some more.

I really couldn’t get any good angles in photos to show how thin he really is but I tried. I couldn’t brush the unhealthy hair off – he was too sore in some areas.

He is truly a sweetheart. We want him to have some down time for a couple of days. Hopefully next week we can have his teeth done – his mouth has many ulcerations in it that we can see. I don’t want to think about the ones we can’t see.

He held his head a tiny bit higher today. And there seemed to be a little more light in his eyes. I don’t know if he will make it or not but we will do everything possible to help him. And we are only able to do this because others care. God bless all of you that are helping with his care costs and by keeping him in prayers and sharing his story. He has a long road ahead of him. We invite you to join us on his path to recovery. We’ll be posting updates so everyone can keep up with his progress. And if you’re in our area stop in and visit. See what your donations are doing – how you are helping us to help the horses.

We are not sure that the “Salt” we found data on is this horse. Tomorrow we will to read the tattoo again. The “Salt” we found data on is a chestnut and this horse is a bay. We need to do more research. But it doesn’t change anything – Twilight’s MoonShadow has had a terrible life for quite awhile. When I think about how cold and hungry he must have been in the cold months – even recently when it went down to 38 degrees at night – it makes me very sad. When I think about him watching Twilight wither away to nothing, likely wondering if that too would be his fate, I get sick. No horse deserves this. Ever.

I’m very glad he is here with us. I pray that he recovers – please keep him in your prayers too.

Meet “Salt.” When we got there to pick him up he held his head down – his neck leaning against the fence like he was trying to disappear. No water and living on sand. No hay. The left side of his face has a big “dent” in it. Body sores. Lip dangling. Puffy eyes with flies and gnats. Thick unhealthy coat. Terrible feet that smell horrible. Ulcerations in his mouth. Dull eyes that seemed to have wandered away from where he was.

.

You can see the indentation in his skull. We may never know what happened.

Salt is now here – he almost fell coming off the trailer. Dr. Ryan has examined him. Salt (he will have a new name when it comes to me) is a 1 on the Henneke scale and even without the blood work back yet Dr. Ryan says some of his organs may be borderline. Salt can’t shut his urine flow off – there is just no muscle. When a body is deprived of food it feeds off of itself – the fat goes, the muscle, then organs. Death isn’t far behind.

Please say prayers for him. I’ll update more later but I need to get back out and finish up things before it gets dark. If anyone would like to help sponsor him it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for caring.

We are looking for 15 ounces of colostrum for Lacey’s yet to be born baby. She’s dripped so much we’re concerned there may be not be any. If anyone is in the Ocala area and has any extra please contact me. I may be overly concerned (because of our experience with Joy last year) but I am having Dr. Ryan come to check Lacey today.

The lump on Gentleman’s neck is a mass that you can somewhat manipulate. It is by the esophagus and jugular vein and surgical removal is not an option. We are not sure if it had anything to do with the choke or not but it likely did. He has been getting mushy meals and he’s drinking. His attitude is better today but he’s pretty much just stayed in the aisleway of the barn. We measured the mass and will be keeping an eye on it. Please keep our Gentleman in your prayers.

Lacey is getting antsy. Lots of rolling today and scratching on the hay bales. She’s still dripping milk. I was surprised she was able to get up from her rolls!

I’m not sure she is going to wait for May to get here to have her baby! Please don’t forget about her fundraiser: https://www.bhfer.org/events.html

Our beautiful Aaleyah Belle. She’s doing great.

And look at little Peggy Sue! I don’t know why she was running but she had a great time. She is doing ok and the stifle surgery helped. But the doctor was amazed at how she endured the pain of the original fractures and that she is managing as well as she is. Some days she isn’t as active as others. But she is always there to greet you and to ask for a hug. She really is a sweetheart the big beautiful eyes.

Morning Star, Baby Girl, and Indy got out yesterday morning and loved their little adventure.

Buttercup is doing great and is as beautiful as ever! Gary is doing a great job with her and she is ready for a forever home.

Archer, one of the 3 Amigos, had his first hooficure and he needed it! Archer is a 7 year old Standardbred that is as sweet as they come. He is going to make someone a very nice horse. We don’t know anything about his past but he does not have a tattoo. He came in pretty thin a couple of weeks ago and needs to put on at least another 200 lbs but he’s looking better each day. He’s a tall boy – at least 16.1 hh – we’ll stick him to see. Dr. Bess did his teeth yesterday. All of the volunteers love him – he has a puppy dog disposition. The other 2 Amigos went to their new home, together, a couple of days ago.

Dr. Bess checked out Lady’s teeth and opted to wait to see if she is pregnant before working on them. We won’t have the results back from Lady’s pregnancy test until tomorrow. Dr. Bess says she thinks Lady’s odds of being pregnant are 60/40.

We still have 4 Paso mares that need homes ASAP. Please check out the latest on our Anthony Herd Page on FB. https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/172714409506468/

Gentleman’s vet bill is about $250 including a new bottle of Banamine – donations totaling $135 have been received to help with it. If anyone would like to help with the balance it would be greatly appreciated. We had buy hay today – total bill of $1077. Yesterday a load of shavings for here at the rescue was $240. Yesterday a load of shavings for the Paso mares – $200. Dr. Bess was here yesterday to do Archer’s teeth, coggins, and a pregnancy test on Lady – $170. The podiatrists will be here on Saturday and at least 6 hooficures will be done. It all adds up quickly and we need continued support. Donations are tax deductible and no amount is too small.

Don’t forget that Lacey is up on MareStare – we appreciated eyes on her so we can get some sleep at night!  http://www.marestare.com/fcam.php?alias=beautyshaven

We truly appreciate everyone’s support and continued prayers for Gentleman. God bless and have a wonderful evening!