GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary

01/03/2025

🐴❤️‍🩹 Rod Stewart says - the cold is coming, stay warm and cozy out there!

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01/03/2025

As cold air moves in, here are key tips to help keep your horse safe and comfortable. ❄️🐴

🌾 Make sure your horse has adequate access to forage (e.g., hay). Energy needs for a horse at maintenance increase about 1% for each degree below 18°F. For example, if the temperature is 0°F, a 1,000 pound idle, adult horse would need approximately 2 additional pounds of forage daily. It is best to provide the extra energy as forage since heat is produced from the microbial fermentation of forage.

🏡 Horses must have access to shelter from wind and moisture. A horse’s hair coat acts as insulation by trapping air, but when wet, the insulating value is loss.

💧 Most adult horses require a minimum of 10 to 12 gallons of water each day. Horses should always have access to fresh, clean water. Check water sources often to ensure they have not froze. Also, have an alternative plan for providing water in case of power outages. Snow and ice are not appropriate water sources for horses.

💨 Blanketing a horse is necessary to reduce the effects of cold or inclement weather when there is no shelter available during turnout periods and the temperatures and/or wind chill drop below 5°F; there is a chance the horse will become wet; the horse is very young or very old; and/or the horse has a body condition score of 3 or less.

01/02/2025

⭐️ Round Bale Feeders and Hay Waste ⭐️

Time for a research recap! This one is an oldie but a goodie and was actually published shortly before I started grad school at the University of Minnesota by one of my advisors, Dr. Krishona Martinson. She has been a long time mentor and inspired me to focus on applied research and finding ways to communicate the results to horse owners! Now onto the research!

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate different round bale hay feeders to identify which ones were most effective at reducing hay waste for horses. We all know horses are expensive so it is a great way to determine cost savings opportunities associated with feeding hay.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-five mature, idle horses (Quarter horses and thoroughbreds) were used in the study and divided into 5 groups with 5 horses each. Each horse group was housed in a different paddock with a different hay feeder for four days. Hay was weighed prior to being placed in the feeder. Hay waste was collected daily and hay remaining was measured on day 4 to determine consumption. Horses then rotated paddocks with a new feeder and new hay bale. This process was repeated over 40 days until every horse group consumed hay from all 9 hay feeders as well as the no hay feeder control. To determine payback, 2010 prices were used for feeders and hay was valued at $110 per ton.

Results: All hay feeders significantly reduced hay waste when compared to the no feeder control (P

01/02/2025

🐴❤️‍🩹 Jermaine Jackson, approx 3 year old pony gelding - available for adoption.

Jermaine is currently working on achieving "Equine Good Citizen" status, and is doing very well. He is a sweet, shy, curious, sensitive, and friendly boy. He is athletic and smart, with SO much potential, and will be an incredible partner for an experienced equestrian.

~ If you're interested in learning more about Jermaine or any of our other rescues looking for their forever homes, please reach out directly or visit our website. 💜

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01/01/2025

🐴❤️‍🩹 Starting the New Year off right here at GRG, because DUCHESS HAS BEEN ADOPTED!!!

Duchess came to us as an owner surrender back on July 30th, after several years without handling, hoof care, or vet care. Since then, this sweet and strong girl has come SUCH a long way! She's now up to date on all the things, restarted under saddle, and is an all around Equine Good Citizen.

She is ready for this new chapter to begin, and she is so deserving of the wonderful home and all the love she's found. Happy New Year and congratulations to Duchess and the entire DuMond family. We can't wait to see your partnership grow. 💜

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12/31/2024

🐴❤️‍🩹 What better final post for 2024 than an update on Thelma's progress that includes a glowing vet check...

🩺 Yesterday, we saw our friends with Cleary Lake Veterinary Hospital Equine again - and Thelma is doing great!! Her shoulder is healing beautifully, her temp is back to normal, her SAA numbers look fantastic, and while she's still a bit stiff - she's moving much, much better!

💊 She's been taken off the Metronidazole, and has another week of SMZ's twice a day (14 tabs per fose). With everything looking so healthy and healing so well, her wound care will drop to just once a day - and for now, we'll be holding steady with her current pain management (banamine every 12 hours, alternating with Tylenol every 12 hours).

🏡 And the BIGGEST news?? Thelma has graduated from solo living, and has now moved in with her new, gentle buddy - Billy Joel. They're both pretty quiet, gentle kids, and so far are getting along like old friends. 💜

~ Thelma, 19 year old Morgan/pony mare. Not currently sponsored.
~ Billy Joel, approx 24 year old Paso Fino gelding. Billy's care is sponsored by: The Beauty Architects

👉 Are you interested in sponsoring all or part of the care costs for any of our rescues? Please reach out to us directly to learn more!

GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary is a registered 501c-3 charity organization (88-1660703) All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE and go DIRECTLY to the horses of GRG Ranch.

DONATE VIA:

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GRGRanch

Venmo:
Last 4 Digits: 2031

Square: https://square.link/u/CkD15hwd

cashapp: $grgranch

Zelle: [email protected]

www.grgranch.org/donate

Mail Check or Money Order made payable to:
GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary
3380 233rd St E
Prior Lake, MN 55372

www.grgranch.org

12/31/2024

🐴❤️‍🩹 As 2024 draws to close and we're all getting prepared to greet 2025, we want to thank you all for your support and love. You have helped us to do so much, with SO little, for so very many.

If you're still considering that last minute tax deductible donation for 2024, there's still time. Please - consider a contribution to the rescues of GRG Ranch. 🙏💜

GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary is a registered 501c-3 charity organization (88-1660703) All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE and go DIRECTLY to the horses of GRG Ranch.

DONATE VIA:

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GRGRanch

Venmo:
Last 4 Digits: 2031

Square: https://square.link/u/CkD15hwd

cashapp: $grgranch

Zelle: [email protected]

www.grgranch.org/donate

Mail Check or Money Order made payable to:
GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary
3380 233rd St E
Prior Lake, MN 55372

www.grgranch.org

12/30/2024

33.9K likes, 541 comments. “Rider bones are fascinating examples of how the body adapts to repeated stress! These extra bone growths, also known as exostoses, form where the muscles and ligaments repeatedly pull on the bone, like on the inner thighs or pelvis in horseback riders. In the past, long...

12/30/2024

✅️ Just 3 more hours to get in your vote for GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary. Yup, it's a LONG shot for us to get in on the $500,000 in grant funds. But - a lot of our rescues were long shots, too. Now just look at them..... 🐴❤️‍🩹

Each year MyGivingCircle gives $1,500,000 in grants and donations

12/30/2024

Although protein is normally listed as a nutrient, horses actually have a requirement for amino acids, the building blocks of protein, rather than for protein itself.

Protein is the least efficient energy source for your horse, so high protein does not automatically equal high energy. Carbohydrates, fats, and fiber are more readily digestible energy sources, so chances are a horse with too much energy is being fed more calories than the animal truly needs.

As always, remember that all horses have different nutritional needs based on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. Be sure to work with your veterinarian to determine the correct protein and energy requirements for your equine friend based on your horse’s individual situation!
•
Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/30/2024

🐴❤️‍🩹 A misty Monday morning here at GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary

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12/29/2024

🤔 I think Thelma needs a super hero name for this ensemble.... As you can see, she's thrilled with me. 😆

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12/29/2024

During your New Year celebration next week, please remember that we CANNOT bring ALL animals, birds and insects inside our home and medicate them to help them cope with scary, loud fireworks.

We need to stop being selfish and remember ALL those voiceless creatures (not just our domestic animals) who will be harmed by our few hours of pleasure and fun.

Let's reject fireworks. Let's say no to fireworks for ALL occasions.

Johannesburg SPCA

📸 Animal Ethics

12/29/2024

🐴 Sometimes, the stars align and Luna (aka Lunar Meatball) places herself perfectly for a photo op... I give you the December rain

~ Luna is one of our rescues looking for her forever home. If you're interested in learning more about her or any of our other adoptable kids, please reach out directly or visit our website.

www.grgranch.org

12/28/2024

🐴❤️‍🩹 Thelma checking in this sunny Saturday afternoon to say "THANK YOU!!" for her new Christmas gifts!! They're a perfect fit - and since she's had more wardrobe changes than Taylor Swift these days, having options and different styles is perfection!!

This beautiful bad ass is doing very well! She's starting to move much better again, and her sweet and spicy personality has returned!! She's continuing to be a champ for her extensive daily routine, and will be seeing Dr Young again on Monday morning. But - we're SO incredibly happy with how she's healing up!! 💜

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12/28/2024

🌾 HAY!! It's our weekly hay delivery from the family at Degler Farm!!

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12/27/2024

🐴 HEY!! Vote for GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary to win part of $500,000 in grant funds being awarded to non-profit organizations!!

🚨 VOTING CLOSES MONDAY!! You can vote once per email address, and it takes literally 5 seconds. No need to donate - but you can also do that, too. Each dollar donated through My Giving Circle will add on another vote to our tally!!

Each year MyGivingCircle gives $1,500,000 in grants and donations

12/27/2024

As blanket season is in full force upon us, here is a very important reminder courtesy of the horse doctors at Miamitown Equine Veterinary Services:

"When securing blankets, make sure that the snaps/clips are facing inward, toward the horse! If they are facing out, they can easily become stuck on something, like the hay net in the picture."