Turning Pointe Donkey Rescue

07/14/2025

06/23/2025

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06/23/2025

I'm so proud to say that In 2005 Turning Pointe Donkey Rescue's founder Sharon Windsor and board member Dr. Judy Marteniuk were involved in the discovery, research and co-authoring and article (with others) on Besnoitiosis.

ATTENTION - ALL DONKEY OWNERS: This is the season when the disease know as Besnoitiosis can rapidly spread through a herd of donkeys. Biting insects such as mosquitoes and biting flies can infect one donkey after another in your herd. Be aware that bringing home a new donkey that has the disease can result in your whole herd being systematically infected, and there is no effective cure at this time. I urge all donkey breeders/keepers to be on the lookout for any of the known symptoms as this disease is prevalent in the US.
The following is information on Besnoitiosis:
• Besnoitiosis in donkeys is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Besnoitia spp., specifically Besnoitia bennetti. It primarily affects the skin, causing a miliary dermatitis characterized by small, white bumps or cysts, according to UF/IFAS EDIS. The skin around the muzzle, nostrils, ears, genitalia, and inner thigh is most commonly affected.
The disease is characterized by tiny white bumps or cysts on the skin, often in specific areas like the muzzle, nostrils, ears, genitalia, and inner thigh. Other symptoms can include hair loss, thickening, and crusting of affected skin, as well as internal cysts. Some donkeys may experience weight loss, while others appear healthy. A notable symptom is the presence of "scleral pearls," which are cysts near the eye.
Diagnosis is currently performed using a skin biopsy to identify Besnoitia cysts.
Preventative measures include regular examination for lesions, testing suspected cases with skin biopsies, and potentially avoiding donkeys from known infected herds. Good sanitation and fly control may also help.
Presently, there is no known effective treatment for equine besnoitiosis. Experimental treatments have yielded inconsistent results.
The long-term outlook and the potential for natural recovery are currently unknown. Some infected donkeys may remain affected for long periods without improvement.
Besnoitiosis is considered an emerging infectious disease in donkeys in the United States, requiring further research into its life cycle, transmission, and potential treatments. For more details, consult the UF/IFAS EDIS website.

Thank you American Donkey Association for sharing this information.

06/17/2025

Puncture wounds in the foot qualify as medical emergencies, due to the amount of vital structures just beneath the sole that can be physically damaged and/or contaminated with bacteria when they are penetrated by a sharp object.

If your horse steps on a nail or other sharp object and it remains embedded in the hoof, resist the temptation to pull the nail out and consult with your veterinarian first. Leaving the nail in place will allow the vet to take x-rays of the foot before removal, which helps to identify exactly what structures have been penetrated, and to plan the most appropriate strategy for dealing with the situation.

If your veterinarian advises, carefully remove the nail to prevent the horse from stepping on it and driving it deeper into the hoof cavity. As you remove it, be sure to mark the exact point and depth of entry with tape and/or a marker so the veterinarian can assess the extent of damage. Apply antiseptic to the wound, and wrap to prevent additional contamination while you wait for your appointment.

Penetrating hoof wounds can be extremely serious and shouldn’t be underestimated. The prognosis for successful recovery depends on quick action to identify the path of the nail, treatment of potential infection and mechanical damage to the foot, and proper aftercare. As always, consult your horse doctor for more information and advice!

06/17/2025

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TELL IF YOUR HORSE IS IN DISTRESS?

As a horse owner, it's imperative you know how to recognize problems and respond promptly. It's important to know what conditions require veterinary attention, and how to take appropriate action while you're waiting for the veterinarian's arrival.

Types of emergencies you and your horse may encounter on your journey together include colic; lacerations and bleeding wounds; impaled objects or nails in the foot; acute lameness due to conditions ranging from hoof abscess to fractures, laminitis, tendon injuries and more; eye injuries; allergic reactions; choke; and even foaling emergencies.

No matter what you may face in the future, getting to know your horse's normal vital signs (including temperature, pulse and respiration) as well as its normal behavior patterns will help you become a good observer, so that you readily recognize signs of ill health. Being prepared is in your horse's best interest.

Always remember, your veterinarian is one of your best resources. Talk to them about how they can be reached after-hours, and about recommendations for an emergency plan suitable for your individual situation.

06/17/2025

Equine Dentistry
Brian S. Burks DVM
Diplomate, ABVP
Board-Certified in Equine Practice

The dental care of your horse is an important part of healthcare. Dental disease can result in systemic illness and partial anorexia. Some systemic diseases may result in dental disorders, such as equine Cushing’s disease.

Ideally, a veterinarian should check your horse’s teeth at least once a year. Horse teeth continually erupt and grind, resulting in sharp points that can damage soft tissues in the mouth. Depending on the individual horse, the dental care required can vary from an annual manual rasp to work being required 2-3 times per year. Common problems encountered include overgrowth of individual teeth, due to loss of the opposing tooth which should wear it down, ulceration of cheeks from sharp points on the teeth, and diastemata, where gaps between the teeth allow food to pack and rot, leading to gum inflammation.

Possible clinical signs of dental disorders include:
 Dropping half chewed food (quidding)
 Head shaking or abnormal head carriage when ridden
 Eating more slowly than usual
 Bad breath
 Drooling
 Weight loss
 One-sided nasal discharge
 Swelling on the face or lower jaw
 Sticking tongue out of the mouth

Horses naturally have a lower jaw which is slightly narrower than the upper jaw and for this reason, even normal wearing down can lead to sharp enamel points forming on the outside (buccal) surface of the upper teeth and the inside (lingual) surface of the lower teeth.

All horses having their teeth examined will have a speculum used to hold the mouth open for examination and treatment. This is not painful but keeps the mouth open, allowing veterinarians to visualize and palpate the furthest molars without the horse being able to bite accidentally. We will feel for abnormalities including sharp points or overgrown teeth. If you have noticed anything different in how your horse has been eating or how they have been with the bit, please let us know.

Sedation is necessary for the welfare of the horse and the safety of the veterinarian, technician, and of course yourself! Without sedation and a mouth speculum, a complete oral examination is not possible, even in the most cooperative horse.

Following examination of your horse’s mouth, more complex work is sometimes required, and the horse may need to be transported to the hospital for specialized equipment and/or general anesthesia.

A condition which seems to becoming more frequent is a diastema (diastemata).This is where food becomes trapped and impacted between molars and premolars. Horses vigorously masticate fibrous food for over 18 hours per day, and even the smallest space between two cheek teeth will allow some food fibers aligned in the direction of the abnormal space to be forced into that space. The food cannot be removed naturally by the horse, and it eventually rots, causing progressive stretching, inflammation, and destruction of the periodontal ligament, which holds the tooth in place and secondary infection can exacerbate very painful periodontal disease.

Diastema of the cheek teeth is a major cause of quidding in horses, particularly in cases where no significant dental overgrowths are present. Diastemata may cause halitosis, quidding, food in the cheek and in advanced cases weight loss. Horses with diastemata have more difficulty chewing long fibers such as hay or haylage compared to short fibers. Horses are often asymptomatic on short grass, which has softer and finer fibers. Treatment of this condition involves cleaning out and widening of the interdental space using a diamond encrusted burr. When performed by a trained veterinarian, this procedure makes most horses much more comfortable within a few days.

Fox Run Equine Center

www.foxrunequine.com

(724) 727-3481

06/16/2025

What the heck is a coggins test for anyway? Here are the facts: what it’s testing for, the disease symptoms, and why it’s critical to have all equine tested before you bring them home.

06/05/2025

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05/28/2025

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She walks like a zebra. But carries the desert in her blood.

Meet the Somali wild ass — one of the rarest equids on Earth.
Born to the scorched landscapes of the Horn of Africa, she’s a creature of extremes: zebra-striped legs, donkey-like strength, and gazelle-level endurance.

That baby at her side? Already learning the art of survival.
No lush meadows. No gentle rain. Just heat, dust, and rock.

But this mother doesn’t fear the harshness —
she was built by it.

She doesn't gallop to run.
She gallops to endure.
And in a world that’s slowly forgetting its wild bloodlines, she’s a living echo of ancient resilience.

04/23/2025

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April showers bring…

…the increased risk of your horse developing a skin condition like rain rot, a contagious bacterial skin disease (often mistaken for a fungal condition) called dermatophilosis which is caused by the bacterium "Dermatophilus congolensis.”

How does rain rot happen?
The organism responsible for rain rot lives in the outer layer of the skin; if the skin is compromised by too much moisture or cracks, or if the horse has a weaker immune system, it’s easier for the pathogen to activate and establish an infection that causes from pinpoint to large, crusty scabs (pro tip: Your horse will NOT thank you for picking at them!).

Why should you not mistake rain rot for a fungal disease?
Antifungal medications and topicals have no effect on the bacteria responsible for rain rot, therefore diagnosing the condition correctly is critical! If left untreated, the condition can even progress to a point where it opens the door for more serious, secondary skin infections. It’s also important to note that this organism is contagious and may be passed to other horses by tack, equipment or insects, therefore disinfection of equipment is vital to prevent spread.

If you suspect your horse has rain rot, be sure to consult your veterinarian on the best treatment plan. While there are a million over-the-counter products available, your horse doctor may have cause to prescribe a specific course of action based on the severity of your horse's case.

04/18/2025

I'm going to say this again... and again. Term life insurance put into a pet trust is very inexpensive. Talk to an attorney.

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If your horse is unsound, aged, or no longer has a good quality of life and you cannot keep them, the kindest, most responsible thing you can do is euthanize them...not give them away to a stranger who “promises” a good home. Euthanize.

The people who pick up these horses, whether through a giveaway post, a sale ad, or a word-of-mouth favor, don’t love your horse. They don’t know them. They have no emotional history. No context for their quirks, their limits, or their medical needs. That bond you’ve built over the years? The memories, the care, the promises? That dies the second you hand over the lead rope.

From that moment on, your horse is just another mouth to feed. Another vet bill. Another project. And when they get inconvenient: when they can’t be ridden, when the arthritis flares, when the hooves need special care or when the meds cost too much, there is no reason for that new person to keep trying. They don’t owe your horse anything. And that’s the root of the problem.

Too many horses, good horses, kind horses, horses who were once someone’s heart, get passed down the line until they land in a place no horse should ever know. Auction pens. Kill buyers. Backyard neglect. Starvation. Loneliness. Confusion. Pain.

And do you know what I hear every time? "We had a contract." “I thought she went to a good home.” “They promised they’d keep him.” “They said they had a pasture for her to live out her days.”

If you truly love your horse: if they stood steady while you learned, were a shoulder to cry on, nickered when they heard your footsteps, and showed up for you on their best and worst days, you owe them more than hope and a handshake.

You owe them peace. You owe them safety. You owe them a dignified end that is pain-free and fear-free, before the bad days outnumber the good.

And this responsibility doesn’t only apply to the horses who’ve been your partners for years. Even if it’s a horse you’ve just purchased, they still deserve the same compassion. A horse doesn’t need to have earned your love to be worthy of a gentle ending.

All horses deserve that kindness, that dignity, and that final act of selfless care.

It’s not selfish to make the decision to euthanize. It’s not “giving up.” It’s doing what people who truly care about horses do: taking responsibility. You stay with them. You look them in the eye. And you make sure they never have to wonder why the person they trusted walked away when things got hard. Let them go with love, before the world gets to them.

04/11/2025

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🧠 Thinking of getting a donkey? Think again—you need TWO! 🫏🫏
Before diving in, you've checked BRAY’s guides on space, fencing, costs, and nearby vets—now, let’s talk time.

⏳ How much time does daily donkey care take? About 1 hour a day for two donkeys in an average 1–2 acre setup. But it depends on things like feeding routines, water checks, manure cleanup, and seasonal maintenance.

👀 Are you ready for:
✅ Weighing & bagging hay/straw (multiple times daily)
✅ Scrubbing & refilling water buckets
✅ Supplements & health management
✅ Cleaning pens & managing manure
✅ Fly prevention, hoof care, training, & enrichment

If an hour a day for basic feeding and hygiene + more time weekly for care (vet visits, farrier, facilities maintenance) and training seems manageable—donkeys might be right for you! If not, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities to get your donkey fix without the full-time commitment.

🫏 Ready to learn more? Check out BRAY’s full guide on our website or more details on donkey time on our blog!

https://www.bray.club/post/donkey-101-time-demands-of-donkey-management