Chiefs Story He came to us at the end of April, 2004 in horrible need of attention and daily care.  He was approximately 20 yrs old, stands about 15.2h, and weighed 780 lbs when he arrived here.  The pictures taken of him upon arrival graphically show a starved horse with a coat condition known as rainrot.  With careful grooming and cleaning, all the hair on his back and hip area fell off showing only bare skin underneath.  For his protection, he was allowed to be on pasture with a full sheet covering the bare, unprotected skin.   His disposition is that of a very trusting, loving horse who still cares for and trusts us humans even after living through the neglect he suffered . He has reached his maximum grain intake of 17lbs of Senior grain and a full bale of alfalfa/mix hay daily.

August 30th 2004: Chief continues to gain much needed weight, but the summer has not been kind to him.  He has developed an allergy dermatitis to bug bites and no amount of spray, bathing, or grooming seems to give him relief!  Chief's body is currently covered (about 50%) with scabby bites that must itch terribly.  Even with this, he is such a good boy and stands for his baths in the front yard without so much as a lead rope.  He absolutely adores being groomed with a rubber curry or a bare hand (this is the best way to alleviate the itching).   His grain has been changed to eliminate the molasses base found in the equine senior.  He is now eating Nutrena Prime, which is a pellet and contains no sweet molasses which might have been attracting the bugs to bite him.   His weight is improving on a weekly basis, and according to the weight tape he is now up to 930 lbs.  His ribs have all but disappeared.  He still has a way to go for his spine and hip bones to be covered over, but he is full of energy and is always very anxious to get out to the pasture with his two buddies.  He looks horrible with the bites so no pictures will be posted with this entry.  He is too wonderful of a horse to show this way!

September 12th 2004:  Our vet was out last week to recheck Chief and gave him a shot of cortisone.  He was left daily oral medicine for the dermatitis.  He is currently receiving medicated baths weekly, and with the change in grain and his current medicine is improving on a daily basis.  He is actually looking like a healthy horse again after the rough times he has endured!!

October 11th 2004: Chief continues to improve, but we are still fighting a never-ending episode of dermatitis with him.  He is gaining weight and rebuilding muscle tone, and very soon will be able to carry a rider again.  His ribs, hip bones and most of his back are know covered with flesh and good muscle tone.  He continues to stay at his daily grain limit of 17 lbs of Senior grain and all the hay he wants to eat. We have discovered he dislikes being the last one brought in each evening though.  He runs up and down the fence line yelling and bucking until I reappear around the corner of the barn.  At that time he just stands there looking like "Who me, I'm patient!"  Yeah right! One evening the wonderful beetles were so bad he snorted and pranced all the way in trying to tell me to hurry up!  What an improvement over the deathly skinny, beat and neglected horse that arrived here in April!!  He is even starting to get his winter coat.

November 23rd 2004:  Chief has now recovered to the point of being available for adoption!  We never thought the day would come when he would be healthy enough to go on to a new home, but it has!  He is gaining weight at the correct rate and not a hard keeper.  He loves his grain (Nutrena Compete) and he eats his  full ration twice a day.  He is turned out with the others every morning and spends the day socializing and eating his share of the hay that is given each day.  He is alert and craves attention.  He loves to be groomed as well as bathed, as he just stands there without even being tied!  Just drop the lead and scrub away!!

February 12th 2005:  Chief was placed in a loving home with a new buddy by the name of Deacon!  He has finally found his forever home where he will be spoiled and loved.  Come spring he will once again be under saddle.  Congratulations to Chief and Renee!