Smokey
Smokey
STATUS: ADOPTED
BREED: Paint/Appaloosa cross
AGE: Born May, 2007
GENDER: Gelding
TRAINING: Halter broke, very calm & friendly
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JUNE 2007 Smokey was rescued along with his mother Dottie, as a result of many caring individuals pulling together - special thanks to the FOB'S (Friends of Barbaro) and raising the funds to save several pregnant mares and mares with newborn foals from a slaughterhouse feedlot in Texas. Angel Horse Rescue drove to Lubbock, TX and picked up two of these mares along with their foals and brought them to the rescue. Smokey was just a couple of weeks old when he arrived and due to his mother's debilitated condition, he was suffering from malnourishment which made his immune system weak. He developed rain rot as well as a nagging cough and runny nose. We have given him antibiotics and we are feeding him a milk replacement to help supplement mama's supply.
JANUARY 2008 Smokey is a big boy now! We have moved Dottie and Smokey out to the new facility so little Smokey can learn to socialize and "fit in" with other horses. Once they are settled, we will be weaning Smokey and working on his halter breaking and ground manners.
MARCH 2008 Smokey has been weaned and both mama and baby are doing fine. Smokey is spending time with "uncle" Frank and sharing his pasture and stall while he learns to respect his elders and all the other lessons little horses need to learn while growing up.
OCTOBER 2008 Smokey is now sharing a pasture and stall with Sam, a very sweet and gentle thoroughbred gelding. They make ideal companions for one another and get along wonderfully. Smokey has a very calm disposition and was the Star at our Open House in September. All of the visiting children were excited to go into his stall to pet him. He enjoyed the attention and the children loved playing with the "baby" horse.
FEBRUARY 2009 Our vet came out to geld Smokey but is was discovered that Smokey cannot be gelded at this time due to retention of one of his testicles. Our vet recommended that we wait and see if time will correct the situation, but most likely Smokey will require more invasive surgery. Smokey will not be available for adoption until he is able to be gelded and will remain here at the rescue.
MARCH 2010 Smokey is going to the trainer to finish his halter breaking, learn all the basics and be started under saddle. When he returns from the trainer, we will take him to the vet to determine if he is able to be gelded in the normal manner or if he will require surgery.
MAY 2010 Smokey came back a little early from his training due to weight loss. He is losing his baby teeth and his permanent teeth are coming in, so it may be due to some discomfort when eating plus the increase in exercise during training, but he is back at the rescue where he can get a little extra attention to make sure he gains his weight back and remains healthy. His retained testicle still has not descended so we will try one more time early next spring before we go with the operation.
JANUARY 2011 Our vet came back out and sedated Smokey to see if he could even vaguely detect where the retained testicle might be located, but after extensive palpating and searching, still no luck. We have scheduled Smokey to have his cryptorchid surgery on February 23 at the Legacy Equine Medical and Surgical Centre here in Oklahoma.
MARCH 2011 Smokey is recovering well after his surgery. The vet that performed the operation stated that is was quite a "fishing trip" to find the retained testicle which was located well up into Smokey's abdomen, but he was able to remove it and Smokey is now in a small paddock for three weeks to limit his activity while his incisions heal.
UPDATE: Smokey has been adopted by one of our rescue members who stepped up and donated the full cost of his surgery when the rescue was unable to raise the funds necessary. He has completed his recovery and has just been moved to a large grazing pasture with a "buddy" to play with.
