All Dressed Up!

Brandy in English tack for the first time... I can't wait to ride her, hopefully this Saturday!

Brandy's Six Week Pictures!

Check out the transformation that is occurring! It's amazing how quickly she's putting on weight. She's always hungry and isn't a picky eater at all. I'm really happy with the progress she has made and can't wait to ride her in a few short weeks!

Special thanks to my Mom for all of her hard work and extra TLC... and sneaking Brandy many unapproved treats!

Horrible Hoof Transformation: Part One!

Check out the before and after for Brandy's first hoof trimming!

Her feet are in terrible shape, but she was very good when they were being worked on and they already look a lot better!

It will probably take 3-4 trimmings (about 6 months) to get them healthy. Lots of exercise and good nutrition should help push things along.

Hooves Before

Hooves After

Brandy's Nutritional Makeover

Brandy has been severely malnourished and has a rough, brittle coat and cracked, weak hooves. She needs to gain a lot of weight before I can ride her and toughen up her hooves.

To put weight on and improve her health, she is getting daily:

• 10 lbs of Alfalfa
• 10 lbs of Grass Hay
• Grain (as a vessel for supplements)
• Source Original Micronutrient Powder
• 2 Tbsp Corn Oil (for extra fat and calories)
• Broccoli, carrots, spinach and other treats from the garden

Source Micronutrients is actually ground up seaweed. The idea is that the expanding depletion of our agricultural soils means that even today’s finest feed ingredients are increasingly micronutrient deficient and the oceans are nature’s richest storehouse of micronutrients. Certain marine plants, unlike plants grown on our agricultural soils, are believed to contain the broadest spectrum of trace minerals and other bioactive micronutrients of any plants on earth.

I haven't used this particular supplement before, but it's so highly reviewed that I thought I'd try it out and see how she does. It costs about $0.19 per serving, which is very inexpensive for a quality supplement. 

If I don't see the results I'm looking for within 1-2 months, I'll put her on Grand Complete, which is expensive at $1.40 per serving, but I know it works wonders from Cinnamon's transformation!

Brandy at Three Weeks!

Check out the little bit of progress Brandy has made!

I wanted to change her diet gradually to reduce the risk of complications, so she hasn't been receiving nutritional supplements yet, just regular feedings and some much needed TLC.

I hope to see a bigger difference once she is getting some extra fat, vitamins and supplements in her diet!

Her biggest problems right now are anxiety and cribbing. Because she's been under so much physical and emotional stress over the past year, I'm giving her some time for these issues to hopefully dissipate on their own before attempting to curb the cribbing habit.

She's adjusting well and enjoying some time off and her new best friend, Harley.

Welcome to My New Blog - Brandy the Rescue Horse's Makeover!

As some of you may know, I got a new horse on December 27th, 2011!  It was the best Christmas present ever, and I am tremendously excited to work with her!
This blog will chronicle her transformation!

Trying her out the day after Christmas in Escondido!

She is a 5 year old Registered Paint Mare who has been badly neglected. Her registered name is Tramp's Classy Brandy, so I'll call her Brandy, which suits her perfectly with her gorgeous chestnut color.

The man who I got her from had owned her for a year. In that time, her condition seriously deteriorated (we saw a picture from when he bought her, fat and happy) and she was apparently subjected to severe emotional stress. I have submitted a report to Animal Control regarding her condition and the condition of the other horses and donkeys in his care.

Absolutely appalling condition.

She is extremely thin, malnourished and in bad health in general. Her hooves are an absolute mess and may require months of rehabilitation. The vet will have to diagnose any other damage that has been done as a result of her starvation and lack of veterinary care. I'm primarily worried about parasites, her bone density, and her emotional health.

Treacherously protruding backbone. :(

However, she is the sweetest little horse in the world and has great manners and a great temperament! As soon as we met, our personalities clicked and I knew she was the horse for me. She's calm, sweet, and very intelligent. While she is currently fairly stressed, she is still trusting of humans, curious and friendly.

Couldn't be any cuter, despite the worried look on her little face.

Over the course of the next few months, I'll work on her nutrition, health and hoof rehabilitation before I can ride her. I'll also work on basic training, ground manners, and walking on the trail. I am very hopeful that we can get her healthy and happy in 6-12 months!

More pictures to come soon!

Thanks for visiting!

Claire