Ricky's Ranch

06/18/2024

Animal Rescue Explained

The neglect changes you.
The abuse hardens you.
The suffering breaks you.
The ignorance angers you.
The indifference disturbs you.
The injustice destroys you.

On a daily basis…your faith will be tested.
Your heart will be wounded....
Your soul will be altered.

On a weekly basis…you’ll question yourself.
You’ll question your strength.
You’ll question the world.

On a monthly basis…you’ll fall down.
You’ll get up.
You’ll go on…

On a yearly basis…you’ll look back…
You’ll see faces…
You couldn’t save them.
You’ll learn to mourn.
To grieve.
To sob.
You’ll learn to trust a little less.
To do a little more.
To fight a little harder.
You’ll learn to try.
To hope.
To pray.
You’ll learn to fail.
To succeed.
To accept.
You’ll learn when to hold on.
When to give up.
When to let go.
You’ll learn who you are.
What you stand for.
Why that matters.

Then… at times… you’ll forget why you matter.
You’ll question what you’re doing.
You’ll wonder if it’s worth it.

But…here’s the good news… When you forget…
When you question…
When you wonder…
All you have to do…
Is take a look around…
And you’ll see them.

You’ll see their faces.
You’ll see their smiles.
You’ll feel their love.

In their eyes, you’ll see their journeys…
You’ll remember their beginnings…
You’ll know how far they’ve come…
You’ll remember when they didn’t know you…
When they didn’t trust you…
When they’d given up.

You’ll remember how you healed them…
How you loved them…
How they loved you, too.
And as you look back…
You’ll want to move forward…
For them… and because of them.

In your darkest hours, you’ll look around…
To find the differences made…the hope given…and the lives saved…
Because you existed.
In those moments, when you look into their eyes…every doubt will be erased.
Every question will be answered.
Every worry will subside.
Because in that instant…in each of your hearts…
You both share the very same thought: “Every bit of pain was worth it…for this moment here with you.”
And honestly…no matter what else happens…
Those moments hold all the strength you need…
To keep going.

Rescue is pain.
Rescue is joy.
Rescue is worth it…because they are worth it.
And that’s the honest truth.

~ Ashley Owen Hill

06/08/2024

Ricky's Ranch now has a Chewy wish list.

Unlike Amazon, it allows us to select items that are needed repetitively, so they don't come off the list if it gets purchased.

Thank you to everyone who has and continue to support these beautiful seniors!

Here at Ricky’s Ranch, we are passionate about providing a safe, loving home to senior horses who would otherwise be discarded, neglected, or worse. Our

06/03/2024

Today we brought home a 24yr old mare named Espuma from Loxahatchee, Florida. She is a retired polo pony and she is super sweet.

When we picked Espuma up her from left hoof was wrapped. We were told that she was under veterinary and farrier care for a wound that she has. We loaded Espuma up as quickly as we can so we can get her immediate care. Sadly, this is what her foot looked like when we removed her wrapped. All of us gasped at the look of it. That is much more than a hotspot that we were told that it was. Poor girl.

When cleaned the wound, applied medicine, and fly spray. We are going to leave the wound unwrapped for a couple of days to air and dry out. Both Vet and Farrier will be called tomorrow for appointments. I pray we can save her hoof, if not 😭😭.

Espuma has become our top priority and we greatly need donations so we can get Espuma the much needed care that she so desperately needs. Please share Espuma’s post so we can get her the help she needs.

Thank you,
Callie and Scott Chapman
Ricky’s Ranch

RickysRanch.org

04/26/2024

Pictures are such a great invention. Pictures allow you to see progress that one cannot see from day to day. So when I see progress through pictures I know that we have Sly on the right track back to being a healthy senior.

Thank you to all who have helped us with Sly through your generous donations and Amazon gifts. We here at Ricky’s Ranch couldn’t have done this with you.

04/20/2024

We just picked up Sly and he is such a sweet big guy. Sly loaded up into trailer like a perfect gentleman. We will get more pictures of him once we get him home and cleaned up.

If you would like to make a donation to help with the care of Sly we would be grateful for it. Sly is going to take an army of caretakers to get him back to good health.

04/13/2024

Sigh...

Someday we'll have this.

04/06/2024

Pie and Bubba out for a day of fun!

04/03/2024

Meet Sly. He's a beautiful 21 year old rescue. He is in Spring Hill FL. But he needs to get to Okeechobee to spend his golden years at Ricky's Ranch.

We either have to pay a shipper, or we'll borrow a trailer and go get him. He does have 2 hooves with abscesses that is leaving his feet very sore. Sly will need treatment, feed, hay, and a lot of support once he is here at Ricky's Ranch.

Anyone wishing to help sponsor Sly's transport and care, please follow the link on his page.

Thank you everyone for all of your continued help and support!

https://rickysranch.org/the-senior-residents/sly/

04/01/2024

This is a wonderful business. They grow and extract the CBD themselves at their farm.

The products are the real deal! They work! And it is run by some very nice, knowledgeable people.

Please share their page.

https://www.facebook.com/petaboutit?mibextid=uzlsIk

Full Spectrum CBD Extract now for Pets! State Licensed and USDA Registered.

03/10/2024

Ricky's Ranch wish list.

02/28/2024

Ricky's Ranch want to give a shout out to our sponsors and gracious donors. Thank you for all of your support that you give us here at Ricky's Ranch.

02/25/2024

Ricky's Ranch has a new offer for those in special need of help for the final journey of their beloved Senior Horse.

Senior Horse Compassionate Euthanasia Program

https://rickysranch.org/senior-horse-compassionate-euthanasia-program/

02/19/2024

Let's auction off a painting that was painted by yours truly. All proceeds will go straight to Ricky's Ranch to help support the seniors horses that are in our care.

First painting is one of my favorites:
Quiet Meadow 16x20 acrylic

Bindings starts at $25, bid includes shipping. Auction ends on February 21st at 12pm. Please helps me help Reicky's Ranch!

02/19/2024

02/18/2024

Saying goodbye to Ricky soon.

The time has come to send Ricky to his final resting place

02/11/2024

Ricky is losing weight, but it's okay. He's getting up there in years, and doesn't need to carry more than needed.

He still comes to me for his rubs whenever I go see him. But sadly his time for his trip to Rainbow Bridge may be eoon.

02/07/2024

Ricky's Ranch will be using the Horse Plus Humane Society to provide the Last Act of Kindness Assistance to help people who cannot afford to have their senior horse make the transition to the Rainbow Bridge.

Together, we will help with the financial aid for the euthanasia, and transport to the burial site.

Last Act of KindnessAssistance The Last Act of Kindness Assistance / Grant is to help nonprofit organizations and private horse owners by providing financial assistance for the Last Act of Kindness to their suffering horse. Available to private horse owners and nonprofits! If your organization has b...

01/12/2024

Bubba enjoying his alfalfa hay soup for dinner. Yum Yum!!

01/10/2024

Twinkle Ears on Pie😍

01/10/2024

Ricky's Ranch would like to introduce you to our newst member of 2RR (Ricky's Ranch) Senior Santuary, Bubba! Bubba is a 30+yr old appaloosa gelding that full of personality, spice, and love. He is loves all kinds of treats, especially the super sweet ones!!

As with most seniors, they do require extra care to keep them healthy, at good weight, and sound. Bubba requires this extra care since he is over 30yrs old. Bubba has both seasonal and food allergies. Bubba also has to be kept on a soft food and soak hay diet due to his lack of teeth.

With your support we are able to keep Bubba as healthy as we possibly can. Your support helps buys Bubba his monthly allegery meds and continuous vet care that is needed so Bubba can receive the proper allergy meds. Thank you for your support!!

01/10/2024

This our oldest seniors here at Ricky's Ranch. Bubba (left) and Pie are both between the ages of of 30-35yr old. We do actively ride our seniors to keep them limber and feeling young. Bubba and Pie both love trail riding through the woods, and we love it too.!

12/06/2023

Ricky got a dental today! He did very well, considering his situation.

11/29/2023

Our super seniors enjoying a nice trail ride through Bluefield Ranch Preserve

Pie (pink ears) and Bubba are both age 30+ years old.

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from Ricky’s Ranch!

11/15/2023

Ricky's Ranch is now officially registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as an approved charity under Florida Statute 496, Solicitations and Contributions Act.

We are fully compliant with all federal and state laws and regulations!

10/14/2023

Mud Pie meets JJ the barn kitten.

07/09/2023

Please help support Ricky’s Ranch senior horse sanctuary.

We are a registered 501(c)(3) charity.

Welcome to Ricky’s Ranch Senior Horse Sanctuary! Here at Ricky’s Ranch in Okeechobee County, FL, we are passionate about providing a safe, loving home to senior horses who would otherwise be discarded…

06/25/2023

https://rickysranch.org/the-flood-of-june-2023/

Ricky's Ranch suffered a bad flood in June o 2023. It flooded the entire back pasture, and made a muck pit in front of the barn. We desperately need clean fill, several dump truck loads…