Spending Time with Calvin and Hobbes

Tomorrow is a big day for Calvin and Hobbes. We have been working towards an adoption for them and despite a few set backs they will be heading north to their new home this weekend. We have all become very attached to these boys but are also very happy that they have found a great place to land.

Dental Day for the Boys

Not one of Calvin and Hobbes’ favorite days but they were really good boys. The UC Davis Field Service vets are great and did a wonderful job with our little donkeys.

Calvin and Hobbes Explore the Barn

Nothing better than shade on a hot day and grains in the barn!

Patriot and LuLu arrive at our New Barn

While the plan was to keep Patriot and LuLu pastured at their boarding facility, it just wasn’t in the works. LuLu’s respiratory disease was becoming more labor intense as summer bore down on us and while we were working on getting the barn ready, Patriot had a run with a fence and severed a small artery. He was very lucky and it was caught in time and with a little suturing and a lot of antibiotics he was okay. But, obviously they no longer qualified as horses that could be boarded out. Happy to have them with me and very pleased that they are settling in nicely.

Checking out their new pasture.

Time to Build Some Paddocks!

Exciting day as the panels and supplies to get our paddocks built begin to be delivered. Can’t wait for the work to begin.

Will is Settling In

Sweet Will, our senior gelding is starting to relax and feel more comfortable in his new home at our barn. I really enjoy having him here.

Molly and Mouse Meet their new Trimmer, Tara

Time for Molly and Mouse to meet their new trimmer, Tara and to see how well they do!

Sweet William Arrives from Orland

Sweet Will is the third of our horses to come to the Blue Horse Rescue Barn. He was in our Senior Sanctuary where we thought he would be able to live out his days, but unfortunately that just wasn’t meant to be, so he will be coming to our barn. We are very happy to have this lovely, sweet gelding with us. Plus he will be in the barn with Calvin and Hobbes who are old acquaintances from when they were in foster in Pescadero. Funny how things work out but very pleased he will be reunited with the little donkeys.

Calvin and Hobbes Arrive at the New Barn

Our very first occupants in the new barn! It’s taken a lot of really hard work to get the barn ready and we are so happy that they are here. Time to relax and kick back. It’s been a long hard winter and the sunshine is very welcome.

Let the Paddock Building Begin!

It was long tough and very hot work but the amazing guys got it done despite my micro managing! Im lucky they didn’t leave me to do it myself. At the end of the job, Blue Horse Rescue had four amazing paddocks - two at each end of the turn out. Thank you guys! (Now we just have two more shelters to get in place at the other end to protect everyone from the extreme sunshine and heat, and of course, the rain and wind.

Molly the dog watched from the back of the pick up truck - smart girl!

Molly and Mouse Move to Vacaville

Molly and Mouse will be moving to their new foster home in Vacaville today. We are so sorry to see Tina move north, but also very happy for her. She has been an amazing foster mom to not only Molly and Mouse but also Sweet Will. We are happy to welcome Sharon to our family of foster moms, and especially grateful that she was able to help out until our barn is up and running. Plus she’s a mile down the road! Exciting times for us all as we move forward on our journeys.

A very dreary April morning but they arrived safely thanks to Tina, and are looking around at their new home with a great deal of interest - especially the mini paddock! New friends!!!

And then the play began. I think Tina was very relieved and happy to see them running and playing. It was a tough one for her - she spent a lot of time getting them healthy and hauling them to the hospital and back when they were both sick. They have come so far - a huge thank you to Tina for the love and care she gave them both.

Work on the Runs Begins!

Step one: Big equipment to move out all the nasty old stuff. Kenny’s the guy for that!

Step Two: Lunch time and a welcome break.

And finally, we have horses in the runs and on firm ground. Now we just have to get the mats out behind the stall doors and we will be all set.

Gravel for the Runs

Our first delivery to start working on barn improvements arrived today. We will be pulling the fencing down and scraping up all the old manure and mud from the runs and laying some new stone and gravel and also a French drain. Should be a busy weekend with lots going on.

Will's First Day

Will travelled well and made it safely to his new sanctuary home. Fingers crossed for a smooth transition to life with the senior herd.

Sweet Will Heads to Our Senior Sanctuary

Sweet William will be leaving Tina’s home today to move to our senior sanctuary where he will be able to hang with the herd and enjoy more great care and love. It’s always hard to say goodbye to them but Tina is making a big life change and heading north. We are so grateful for all the love and care she has shown the Blue Horse Rescue minis and horses. Tina will be missed! Also a big thank you to Christina for bringing another senior into her life!

Check it Out! Clean and Painted!

Lots of scrubbing, scraping, washing, raking, prepping and painting has been going on. Can’t take much credit for it myself, I helped, but the kudos go to Sandy S. for her excellent painting skills, and I have to admit enthusiasm for getting the barn all ready for the minis. Thank you Sandy!

Pretty unbelievable! What a great job :)

Our New Barn

A wonderful opportunity has presented itself to Blue Horse Rescue in the form of a small five stall barn and turnouts! It will be tons and tons of work but I have a vision of a really lovely little barn hidden underneath all the dust and dirt. So, here it is: (I know, LOTS of work may be an understatement!)

So far so good! But the inside is gonna need a who lot of love and hard work! Get ready!

I know, but check back and I’m sure you’ll be surprised !

Dental Day at BHR for Sweet William, Molly and Mouse

Today was dental day for Sweet Will, Molly and Mouse. Sweet Will handled it like a seasoned horse - been there done this - he’s the all round gentle experienced horse. From sedation to full recovery took about an hour. He was gentle during the procedure, recovered quickly and was out in the arena checking everything out within a hour. We are hoping that Will can begin eating a little more naturally - not a complete diet of pellets and a little more natural forage. Fingers crossed. if not, Will does love his pellets and does well on them.

Molly and Mouse are super young and still very new at the whole dental day thing but they did just great with the amazing care from Pioneer Equine, Dr. Kate and her crew. Sharp points were smoothed out and caps were flipped off where possible. They did great. The biggest trauma of the day was little Mouse having his sheath cleaned - this was a major humiliation and no way acceptable according to little Mouse. Lots of kicking and butt hopping but he let us help him out. Lets just say that all systems are working a whole lot better now!

Molly is amazing with vet care and was very calm and accepting of all the vets had to offer. Being younger than Mouse, she is very busy shedding her baby teeth, and actually managed to crack a cap - luckily no infection or pain involved so we decided to let nature take it’s course and let it be - no infection and looks like it will fall out naturally within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Fingers crossed.

Molly and Mouse also had their BHR microchips placed and they did really well with that. Just another way of keeping them safe and under the BHR umbrella for life.

The little ones were in a much better pic position so I have a few more to share. The good news is that all recovered well from sedation and are one step closer to thriving and getting healthy. Always a good thing!

We are really looking forward to bringing Will to his sanctuary home in Orland but unfortunately the extreme mud has put us on hold. He will be joining the BHR sanctuary family with Christina where he will live out his senior days with pasture to roam, shelter from the winter storms, senior companions, and lots of love.

A huge thank you to Dr. Kate and Pioneer Equine in Oakdale for the amazing care they have given out horses! - they are truly amazing and I totally recommend them for your horse care. Great care, communication and passion for horses. What more can you ask for? We really love working with them.

Calvin and Hobbes Meet the Big Green Ball!

Today was a very interesting day for Calvin and Hobbes. Our amazing volunteer Sandy donated a big green jolly ball to give these two little donkey brains something else to think about. Calvin was extremely curious about what this was that was now in his safe and comfy space - very curious indeed! Hobbes, who initially ignored the green jolly ball because scratches, grooming and pets are always so much more interesting, only became interested when Calvin showed a great deal of curiosity. Only then did mister large and in charge decide that he too, had better check it out.

Hobbes is all about pet me, scratch my itchy spots and don’t apply any pressure that might shake my world. Very loving and sweet and still in the early days of trusting people. But, … the green ball demanded his immediate attention! Great to interact with them on any level.

While Hobbes decided that hanging out with the grooming, scratching hand was way more satisfying than the green jolly ball, Calvin decided that the iPhone camera was definitely something to check out - way more interesting - nostril shots available on request!