Hoof and Halo - Equine Hospice and Pig Sanctuary

06/08/2024

Our piggies are staying cool any way they can!
✨ Rue is LOVING her new pen under the big tree up front!
♥️ Bubba got a new shade sail installed today and seems pretty pleased with the change!
🐽 Rip has decided he needed more ventilation in the pigloo that he is sharing with Clancy

It's getting hot out there!

06/04/2024

Bubba is here to remind everyone to enjoy the little things in life, like a cool wallow on a hot day 🌞🐷 🌻

05/25/2024

Happy Gotcha Day Hazel and Harlow!! The twins, as we lovingly refer to them, have been a part of the Hoof and Halo family for 1 year today 🐷🐷 ❤️💜

05/15/2024

Now that things are heating up here in northern Nevada, we are filling water and wallows at least twice a day to keep the piggies cool and happy!
Enjoy a minute of pure joy and peace from sweet Patsy Swine and she lounges in her fresh, cool wallow ❤️

05/06/2024

05/02/2024

Today we said a bittersweet goodbye to our adorable little Lulu. Her arthritis and the damage done by her untreated injuries (happened years before she was surrendered to us) have been causing her more and more pain and making it difficult for her to walk. The pain meds are no longer working and we made the difficult choice to let her go and alleviate her suffering. She will be truly missed. Lulu was one of the sweetest, gentlest pigs we've ever known. An absolute angel.

Fly free my sweet girl ❤️❤️❤️ you deserved so much better than the cruelty you knew and we so grateful for short time we had to know and love you. It was a privilege to love you and an honor to miss you so much little friend.
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The rest of the pigs also had their spring trims and checkups and got clean bills of health ❤️

We are so grateful for Betsy Hertel and Comstock Equine Hospital for always providing such gentle and compassionate care to all of our animals!

04/28/2024

If you own or enjoy horses in Washoe County PLEASE take a moment to make your voice heard! Equine businesses and horse owners need your support now more than ever to preserve the equestrian character of Northern Nevada!

You are invited to provide input on standards for horse-related businesses in unincorporated Washoe County. The County has launched an 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 and is holding a series of workshops to better understand public perspectives about equine uses, their potential impacts, and standards for development. Input will be considered for possible future updates to Washoe County standards for commercial equine uses.

There will be two in-person drop-in workshops and one virtual. You may also offer your feedback via the online survey.

𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟱, 𝟯:𝟬𝟬–𝟱:𝟬𝟬𝗽.𝗺. – Reno Sparks Livestock Events Center at the Livestock Pavilion,
𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟲, 𝟱:𝟯𝟬– 𝟳:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺 – Galena Creek Park at the Fish Hatchery
𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟵, 𝟱:𝟯𝟬-𝟳:𝟯𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. – via Zoom. Click here to register: http://bit.ly/3y4bTyv

Or, take the survey here: https://ayr.app/l/UFrx

03/13/2024

Today we said goodbye to sweet Bandit. Though our time with him was shorter than we had hoped for, he left an indelible impression on our hearts. 💕
This gentle soul enjoyed the last 8 months being loved and being a pig.... Rooting in the dirt and basking in the sun for the first time in his life. Bandit spent the first 5 years or more of his life locked in a second floor apartment bedroom in Los Angeles. Without the ability to move and develop correctly, compounded by the fact that he was denied basic hoof care, his feet grew painfully long and misshapen. Even with a corrective trim, the damage could not be undone. Extensive arthritis set in and made any movement a painful struggle. He had been in a progressive decline over the last few weeks, losing weight, refusing to get out of bed except to eat, and developing sores along his back, leg joints, and hips.
Today, he ate a big breakfast of his favorite foods and an entire box of strawberries and the sedation took affect. Thanks to the work of Doctors Pezzini and Terenzi, Bandit slipped aways quietly and painlessly, surrounded by love and being comforted until the very end.
Rest easy my sweet boy. You are so missed and so incredibly loved. It was a privilege to care for you. I already miss the sound of your whistles and moos demanding your food❤️

03/03/2024

Hoping everyone is weathering the storm safely!

02/15/2024

⚠️ IMPORTANT information on the Pigeon Fever vaccine ⚠️

As many know, Pigeon Fever has been ravaging our geographical area and affecting our horses for the last couple of years. MANY in the horse population have had abscesses, and MANY MORE have been exposed. We are aware that there are questions and concerns regarding a possible vaccination. AT THIS TIME, the Pigeon Fever vaccine for horses IS NOT LICENSED and is ONLY conditionally approved.

At this time, we are NOT recommending the vaccine. The previous vaccine caused a significant amount of colic. There are a number of concerns with this vaccine, including colic, abscess formation at insertion site, fever, anaphylaxis, purpura hemorrhagica, and causing the disease unknowingly if the horse has elevated titers and has previously been exposed. There are NUMEROUS precautions that need to be taken with this vaccine and side effects/adverse effects can be dire and possibly fatal.

At Comstock Equine Hospital, we have a board-certified internal medicine specialist on staff, and our team is happy to answer any questions that you may have. Our goal is to keep your horse happy and healthy and provide you with peace of mind with any questions that you may have!

01/27/2024

Some glamour shots of our beautiful little senior, Lulu
❤️🐽❤️

01/15/2024

Happy 1 year anniversary Rip! 🎉🎉🎉🎉😍😍😍😍

01/14/2024

The winter chill has come and brought with it some of the most intense and sustained winds we have ever experienced! In a brief break in the weather, we were able to capture some great photos of our equine resident looking stunning against the snowy landscape.
Patsy and Rip have proved to be the toughest of the pigs when it comes to tolerating the snow and cold so far. They are all appreciative of their warm meals and even warmer houses right now!

01/06/2024

Yesterday our piggy residents enjoyed their first taste of quince! The big herd had them gone before I could get a picture 🤣🤣 This special treat was donated by one of our supporters and the pigs LOVED them.... Well, everyone except RuPig! She's pretty picky so she opted to share hers with a neighbor and enjoyed an apple instead😊

01/06/2024

New Year’s Preparedness Tips from

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to be confronted with a medical emergency—even during the holidays. Are you prepared to act?

Having a clear emergency action plan will help you stay focused and effective if a crisis strikes. Below are some basic guidelines that can help you prepare for an equine emergency:

1. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours. Ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available for emergencies.

2. Have a plan for transporting the horse is necessary and know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center.

3. Prepare a first aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place. Keep a first aid kit in your horse trailer or towing vehicle as well, and be sure to check your supplies periodically and restock as needed. First-aid kits can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like; seek your horse doctor’s advice on what to add, especially regarding any drugs that could be included and how they should be administered.

01/05/2024

Important information with the colder weather moving in!

During these cold winter days you may be thinking about offering bran mashes to your horse as a warm, comforting treat and also as a way to help prevent colic due to the higher fiber content of bran. This, however, is an outdated concept and nutritionists point out several potential problems associated with feeding bran mash too often—namely, an imbalance of the dietary calcium-phosphorus ratio that could lead to bone disorders, and a disruption of the healthy fermentation patterns in the horse’s intestinal tract.

The best way to help your horse stay warm this winter is by increasing forage 🌾 and providing shelter 🏠 during a cold snap. And as far as the risk of colic, your first line of defense is to provide plenty of water to keep your horse hydrated. 💦

As always, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information; contact them to learn more about feeding mashes (they are typically not an issue if fed as the occasional treat) and colic prevention this winter.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/29/2023

I never thought I'd see the day this adorable little pig would accept my love and belly rubs!
This is Lulu, she is a senior pig (the vet estimates at least 12 years old) and the smallest pig in our care. She started life as a little girl's beloved pet. But then that little girl went off to college, leaving Lulu and her other pig, Bubba, behind. They remained on the ranch where they had lived most of their lives foraging during the day and sleeping in the barn at night.
The ranch hands were responsible for their care and eventually decided to use these innocent pigs to help "train" their cattle dogs. If the dog was unconfident about biting and chasing the cows, then ranch hands would put Lulu and Bubba in a round corral and encourage the dogs to chase and attack them to "make the dog braver on cows". Lulu came to us with a broken front leg that was never treated and healed incorrectly, scars, and horrible arthritis.
I know we cannot change their past, but I promised Lulu she would never be hurt again. It has taken months to gain her trust. All the while, Lulu has not once ever shown aggression towards us. She is an absolutely beautiful little soul and we love her dearly ❤️❤️❤️

11/17/2023

Happy Birthday to our founder Kathy Yriarte ! 🎉😍

10/16/2023

📢The time has come to make the announcement 📢
⚠️We are currently at capacity! ⚠️

We are almost entirely self-funded and unfortunately we can't afford to take on anymore owner surrenders without additional sponsorship/financial support. We get very little in the way of donations and being self-employed we have to be very careful not to overcommit. It absolutely breaks my heart to say no but the animals in our care are our number one priority and we won't jeopardize their safety by overwhelming ourselves.
We are so grateful for all of the referrals and support we have received so far! We've been taking in pigs and horses for just over a year and in that time we have gone from one pig to 11 (plus Hub who we rescued and is now living his happily ever after with my mom, Sally McBride 😘🙏🏼).
We will still be available to take strays for Washoe County Regional Animal Services as needed.
Please consider supporting rescues to ensure these amazing animals always have a safe place to go 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

10/16/2023

Now that the temps are dropping, the piggies are excited for their first bale of 3 way grain hay! This hay is straw that has been baled while still soft and green with the seed heads still attached. The pigs love rooting through the hay for the grains and and nesting in the warm straw. These guys were so excited I didn't get a chance to cut the strings off before they started exploring! We are so grateful for the farm that grows this hay and being able to provide our pigs with forage and enrichment!

09/22/2023

A HUGE thank you to sweet little MacKenzie and her amazing momma Courtney for bringing 3 massive pumpkins out for the pigs to enjoy! 🎃 🎃 🎃
The pigs are so grateful for both the tasty snack and the enrichment that breaking and foraging through the pumpkins provide!

09/18/2023

09/12/2023

Welcome to the family RuPig!! 🐷
This glamorous diva has requested a new crown and with it, a new castle to call home. While very much loved by her mom, Ru was making it apparent that her needs have changed and so her mom reached out to us for help. We always said "10 is the max", but seriously..... Look at that snoot! 😍😍😍
So 11 pigs now have found their forever family here at Hoof and Halo.
Welcome home Ru! We love you already❤️❤️

09/02/2023

Shout out and THANK YOU to Deanna Newcomb and Michelle for the generous donation of apples and peaches 🍎 🍏 🍑!! Holy cow what a haul!! 😲❤️🙏🏼
And thank you to Mahima White for purchasing a blanket off our Amazon Wishlist!
With fall coming in quick we can still use all the blankets we can get to help our piggies stay warm this winter!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12AGZRLM7WONB?ref_=wl_share

08/28/2023

Just 11 seconds of Patsy being adorable while we work on tearing down the old pen and cleaning up! Obviously nothing gets done around here without close supervision 🤣🤣

08/25/2023

𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓
We have put together a list of the things we need most to provide the best care possible to our amazing residents and we would love your support!
We also have some projects planned for the spring that we would love to get a head start on including a permanent wading pool/grotto for the pigs and expanding the size of their pens!

o 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐄𝐓𝐒 - fleece preferred as it works best for the pigs. Please no down fill, no sleeping bags, no sheets/pillow cases, and no clothing
o 𝐏𝐢𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝 - Nature's Best Organic Adult Mini Pig Feed ( https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/natures-best-organic-feeds-mini-pig-adult-25-lb )
o 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐖 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐑 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐘
o 𝐇𝐨𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬
o 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋-donate directly to the hospital for vet care/ pig trims (Yriarte account)
o 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝 -circulating water to prevent stagnation and sloped for easy access for the pigs
o 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐝 for storage
o 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 - please no peppers, onions, citrus, garlic, or dark leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collards, etc

We would also 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘺 appreciate gift cards- Walmart/grocery outlet/WinCo/tractor supply/Home Depot to purchase the items above.
We also have begun to work on an Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12AGZRLM7WONB?ref_=wl_share

We are so incredibly grateful for the amazing response and support for the work we are doing here! We love our beautiful pig family and the beloved horses in our care. Thank you for making this dream possible and sharing in our joy and grief and we love these incredible animals. THANK YOU!!!

08/23/2023

We are thrilled to be partnering with board certified veterinary surgeon, Dr. Jessica Bramski, DVM, ACVS (LA) to provide this educational process to both students and the general public! This is a unique opportunity to observe a respectful and professional necropsy of an approximately 12 year old mustang gelding at our facility north of Reno, NV. This horse has a scheduled euthanasia due to chronic lameness from a catastrophic injury to his right hind leg believed to be sustained while he was wild and healed without human intervention.
Dr. Bramski will discuss her findings and answer and questions as she goes through a surgical post mortem examination. This will be what is known as a “gross examination” (what can be see without a microscope) of the inside and outside of the body. Prior to the gross exam, we will review the case history, which includes details such as the known and assumed history as well as the signs the subject displayed that led to the decision to euthanize.
Veterinary and vet tech students, vet assistants, 4-H and FFA members, and anyone interested in learning more about horse anatomy and physiology will benefit from the wealth of experience and expertise Dr. Bramski will be sharing at this informal event.
**𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝟒-𝐇/𝐅𝐅𝐀 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒**
Currently enrolled students receive a 25% Discount with code 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝟐𝟓
Current 4-H members receive a 50% Discount with code 𝟒𝐇𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄𝟓𝟎
All funds collected will be used to cover the cost of needed supplies and respectful removal of the remains once we are done. Any additional funds received will be used to support the care of the residents of Hoof and Halo - Equine Hospice and Pig Sanctuary . Hoof and Halo has provided a safe and comfortable home for the subject for the last 8 months.

Discounted rate for current 4-H members and Students!! **THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE AN ACTUAL NECROPSY OF A HORSE PERFORMED BY A BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARY SURGEON. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH BLOOD, BODY FLUIDS, AND RESPECTFUL POST-MORTEM HANDLING OF THE BODY**

08/22/2023

Yesterday Lulu and Bubba received their much needed hoof trims and vet exams! We were also able to trim back Bubba's severely overgrown tusk and reshape the remnant of his broken tusk to help him be more comfortable. The examination found that they are likely older pigs and closer to 10 years old or more. Lulu also has some arthritis in her forelimbs and what appears to be a possibility of a healed fracture of her right foreleg. We will monitor her closely and ensure she continues to get the care she needs. ❤️
Thank you as always to Dr. Betsy Hertel from Comstock Equine Hospital and assistant Morgan G. S. for caring for our piggy residents! We are so grateful to have such a wonderful and caring doctor that understands and loves our pigs just like we do!
We have been working hard to remodel and upgrade several areas of our pig enclosures to give Bubba and Lulu more room and a more comfortable house to share since they enjoy sleeping together ❤️