Sonoma County CHANGE Program

10/02/2025

❤️❤️❤️❤️Thank you Sky High Ranch, Emily Cooper and Caryn Hoeflein for helping our Arnie-boy gain confidence and knowledge. We’re so grateful and pleased with his progress! More information about Arnie, and other horses available for adoption can be found on our website:

https://www.sonomachangeprogram.com

09/16/2025

🦄🦄We are happy to announce that we have some really exciting horses in training right now who we are confident will be amazing for some lucky adopters!🦄🦄

They are both green, but thanks to Sky High Ranch and Caryn Hoeflein for her compassionate and comprehensive training program, they’ll be ready for their forever homes soon.

Check out our website to read about Arnie and Oreos’ stories and to get our adoption application filled out and submitted (if you want to be in line for one of these horses it’s important to get it filled out and submitted as soon as possible🥰).

We also have a beautiful and sweet companion mare available too….be sure to read about Eva.

https://sonomachangeprogram.com

08/22/2025

folks. If you need livestock transport help, contact NorCal Livestock Evacuation.

Pickett Fire (Calistoga) - If your animals are in danger, NorCal Livestock Evacuation team is mobilizing for evacuations. If you need to get your animals out of the fire zone, our Evac number is 707-234-7193.

The fire grew to over 2,100 acres last night.
Some mandatory evacuation orders in place.
• Mandatoy evacs for: NPA-E114, NPA-E115, NPA-E120, NPA-E121-B
• Evac warnings for: ANG-E001, NPA-E107, NPA-E121-A, NPA-E122, POP-E001-B, POP-E002-B

If you have resources to offer such evac location to house animals, water vehicle, etc, feel free to call or text us and we would be happy to speak with you and add you to our resource list.

Thanks for passing on the info and helping all our neighbors.

08/22/2025

A large animal shelter is being set up at Napa Horsemen's Arena for evacuees. If you need temporary stabling, contact Napa CART.

Napa CART has been activated to set up the shelter at Napa Valley Horsemen's Association at 1200 Foster Road.

If you are a Napa CART volunteer and available to deploy to NVHA this morning, we plan to start at 1000 and likely work until noon.

Please respond to your WhatsApp 2025 NCART Volunteer thread to indicate your availability.

08/21/2025

🫏🫏🫏🫏🫏We always keep in touch with our adoptees, and when I asked Lucy’s adoptive mom if she would be interested in writing about their story she was happy to oblige….. These are the kinds of stories that make our hearts full🥰🥰🥰🥰

"I adopted Lucy in 2020, not long after the LNU Fire tore through our lives and left so much behind in ashes. In the chaotic days that followed, when I was asking animals to load into trailers with urgency and uncertainty, little Lucy, who I barely knew yet, walked right in, no questions asked. Every time I asked her, she got in. Over the next few weeks, as we navigated stress and survival, she stayed steady.

That first year together was anything but smooth. We were both adjusting, trying to understand one another in a world that had already been shaken. But somewhere along the way, Lucy became more than just a rescue. She became my friend, steady, quirky, and full of grit.

In 2021, we started driving together, and something lit up in her. Brave as can be, Lucy faced every new experience with a sort of cheerful determination. She loved to work. Out and about, she was fearless, ears forward and heart open. It was like she had been waiting her whole life for someone to believe in her.

Then, in 2023, everything nearly changed. Lucy colicked, and in her panic, got her back leg caught in a fence. She went down during a brutal subzero night and stayed down for nearly 24 hours. I thought I was going to lose her. But Lucy, true to form, decided to fight. When she finally stood, it was with that same stubborn fire that had carried her through everything else.

She spent 12 days in the ICU. I’ll never forget those long days, the hope and fear tangled together, waiting to see if her body could match her spirit. But she came home.

Her leg injury left her intermittently unsound. She's not quite the same physically, but that doesn't matter to me. Every morning when I hear her bray from the dry lot, it feels like a little miracle. Lucy is still here, still part of our lives, still full of heart.

These days, she spends her time peacefully with her best friend Boujee and the weanlings. She may not be the driving partner she once was, but she’s more than earned her rest. And every time I look at her, I remember everything we’ve been through — fires, storms, hospitals, and healing — and I feel grateful beyond words.

Lucy didn’t just survive. She chose to keep going. And I’m lucky I get to keep walking this road with her."

08/20/2025

Round 2 of training field officers for Sonoma County Animal Services! This week's crew had so many great questions about current and prior horse cases. We are especially happy to bring along their skills with Body Condition Scoring, a critical element when handling horse humane cases.

08/13/2025

CHANGE was formed in 2007 to support Sonoma County Animal Services with equine humane cases. One of the ways we help is to provide support and training to field officers. These officers get called out to deal with a variety of concerns, from a loose horse on the road to a horse that appears neglected. Many of the officers have years of horse experience, while others are developing their skills.

Today, officers Chelsea, Michaela and Galand attended a hands-on training session at one of our CHANGE foster barns. We worked on skills such as catching a spicy loose horse, as well as safe haltering and leading practices. We want to give a special shout out to Officer Galand, who is a novice handler. By the end of our training, Officer Galand was catching, leading, and handling Charlie the Thoroughbred like a pro!

We also completed training on Body Condition Scoring. The Henneke body condition scale is a widely recognized methodology for documenting horse body condition. BCS is also recognized by courts. It involves feeling, looking at, and scoring 6 specific places on the horse's body. The horse is scored on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being emaciated and 9 being morbidly obese.

Your support of CHANGE helps us provide this training. ❤️

07/10/2025

❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️Another happy adopted horse update:

Estrella came into the CHANGE Program in 2017 and was adopted 8 years ago this month. She has been adored by her adoptive mom ever since. Like any proud parent, when we asked about doing a post on Estrella, her adopted mom supplied us with lots of wonderful pictures and video.

🦄"Grateful every day to Sonoma County Change for bringing us together! ~ 'Unicorn," "Adorata," "Estrellita," "The Contessa," her nicknames say it all, for the sweet, sassy, sensitive Estrella."🦄

The work we do can be heavy at times, but check-ins with our adopted horses remind us of why our work is so important. Thank you to Estrella's adopted mom, and thank you to all who support our program.🥰🥰

07/01/2025

Here's a peek into the life of an adopted CHANGE horse who is deeply loved and living his best life.

August (aka Nemo) is doing well. He is living life mainly as a pasture pet while his adopter is completing her bachelor's degree. She recently discovered that August enjoys playing with a giant horse ball! He spends his days eating grass, begging for cookies, and sunbathing!

We are so grateful to our adopters who give CHANGE horses a second chance in life.

https://sonomachangeprogram.com/

05/29/2025

Teddie---In Memorium--1996-2025

It's with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Teddie.

Teddie came into the CHANGE program on April 27, 2022. She was part of an animal hoarding case that included almost 30 dogs. She had a body condition score of 2.5, was dirty and matted but still put up a huge fight about getting in our trailer.

Over the next few months, she was treated for severe dental issues, an eye injury, and ulcers. Her recovery was slow, but she eventually got healthy enough to be adopted, but alas, no one stepped up willing or able to adopt Teddie. So she spent just short of 3 years at the same foster barn.

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From Teddie's foster Mom:

"Teddie was without a doubt one of the smartest horses I've come to know in my 50-plus years with horses. There's a reason she survived the ordeal from which she was seized!

I came to find out that she had a pathological fear of needles and trailers, but while that fear never went away, with schooling, and lots of carrots (her favorite), she came to understand what was needed of her. As she came to trust me more and more, she tried more and more to be brave and willing when scared or unhappy.

She had a HUGE personality! She also did not suffer fools gladly! When meeting a person, she would either "allow" herself to be scratched and petted, or, sometimes, just turn on her heel and walk away. Many times I had to apologize to visitors for her "rudeness". But, she was also absolutely sweet and LOVED to be groomed.

Teddie made friends and would participate in mutual grooming with another horse.

She HATED the rain and made a bee line for shelter at the slightest hint of moisture in the air. She also loved her blankets and was eager to wear them. I often wondered how long she'd been out in the elements, cold and wet, before coming to the CHANGE Program.

She LOVED her food! She knew my routine, and even though she was around the corner of the barn and out of sight when I began to mix up her mash, she would position herself at her feed manger and listen intently and as soon I she heard the lid close on the feed bin, the last noise I made when finally done putting together her meal, I had mere seconds to produce said meal before the nickering and whinnying began. Once she was served, she'd open her mouth wide and take the biggest bite she could and always licked the plate clean.

Several weeks ago, Teddie started eating less. I made changes to her diet several times and managed to entice her to eat enough to maintain her weight, and it worked for a while, but her appetite continued to diminish, and then it was almost totally gone. There was never any indication that she was in pain, or unhappy, she just had no appetite.

While she still looked and felt good, with consultation from one of Teddie's vets, the CHANGE program decided that most likely her old body was just beginning to fail her. She was put down on a quiet, sunny morning with her horsie best friend nearby. It was very peaceful, and she seemed ready and welcoming.

I'm surprised how much that little horse worked her way into my heart. I'm glad to have been her foster. I loved her and really miss her."
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We'd like to thank all of Teddie's fans, supporters and donors who allowed us to rehabilitate Teddie and give her a soft landing for the last few years of her life. Your support of the CHANGE program allowed us to make sure Teddie was loved and was never hungry or cold again.

(First picture, intake 2-27-22, second picture 5-15-25)

04/06/2025

How often have you expressed concern when encountering a thin or emaciated horse, only to be told that it's "normal" because the horse is aged? This is a dangerous misconception. What IS normal is for elderly horses to have severely worn or missing molars, making it physically impossible for them to chew hay or grain. Because of this, as horses age, their nutritional requirements actually increase, and they often need more specialized care such as the feeding of mash or other soft foods. Older horses that have not had regular dental care or are not being fed an appropriate diet are, in effect, slowly starving to death. Emaciation is NOT simply a "natural part of aging.” Horses that are starving because they cannot properly chew their food are suffering from extreme neglect. This is an urgent situation that demands immediate veterinary attention;based on years of experience, I can confidently state that it is an agonizing way for any animal to die.

The Dorset Equine Rescue frequently receives calls from concerned individuals who spot a malnourished horse and ask for help. While we are always ready to assist, it’s important to understand that we are not law enforcement. We can report these cases and request a welfare check; unfortunately, at this time law enforcement is not adequately trained to recognize signs of neglect in horses, and often accepts the owner’s explanation that the horse’s condition is a natural result of aging, especially if there is hay and grain present on the property. Too often, no action is taken, and the horse continues to suffer and lose weight. This is unacceptable, and the owner should be required to provide veterinary care without delay. Sadly, by the time we are called in to help, it is often too late, and the horse succumbs to malnutrition. This tragic outcome is often the result of ignorance, and we need your help to change that.

Please speak up if you notice a horse in need. It is the responsibility of every horse owner to ensure that their animal receives, at a minimum, annual veterinary and dental exams to accommodate their changing care requirements. Weight loss can also be due to other issues such as poor parasite control and metabolic disease; if you see a visibly thin horse, be aware that it is not normal, regardless of age. Immediate veterinary care, along with a carefully monitored feeding plan is essential to ensure their survival. We must educate the public (and law enforcement) that emaciation, for any reason, is not normal or acceptable. No animal should ever be allowed to starve. Let’s work together to ensure that all horses receive the care they deserve.

Shown is a photo of Thunder at the time of rescue. Unfortunately we were called in to help too late and his body had already started shutting down. He died of starvation due to lack of dental care, despite his owners feeding him several pounds of grain per day (which the other horses ended up eating).

03/07/2025

Great tips!

Do you have a barn fire plan? It's a great time to prepare! Be sure to create your plan, post it and use Red Flag warnings for practice.

These are some steps to help you prepare:
✔️ Ensure hoses are hooked up at nearby spigot
✔️ Fire alarms placed at both ends of your barn
✔️ Test fire extinguishers and be sure you understand how to deploy them
✔️ Make sure aisles and rafters are clear of ladder fuels
✔️ Hay is stored away from barn as it burns hot & requires more water to extinguish
✔️ Barn door intact to shut barn down such that horses cannot return
✔️ Maintain current electrical wiring and fixtures
✔️ Evacuation plan(s) and emergency contacts are posted
✔️ Defensible space on property to secure animals if evacuation not possible.
✔️ Room for fire rig to enter and turn around

For more information, please visit out website at www.napacart.org