Red Feather Equine Sanctuary

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Red Feather Equine Sanctuary making the world a kinder place for horses

22/11/2025

Sorry I had to turn off the camera because I thought he might wipe me out 😂

This horse has life in him! Go Monroe!!

20/11/2025

Sundance is mad at us 😳

We are doing our fall deworming today, and while many of the horses don't mind the taste of the dewormer paste, Sundance is not a big fan.

Unfortunately for her, deworming is just one of those things that a domestic horse has to get used to! Wild horses like Sundance are generally very wormy and it can take a year of consistent antiparasitic treatments to get their levels into normal ranges.

Our protocol at Red Feather is to administer rotating brands of dewormer twice a year, once in the spring and once in late fall after the first hard frost, plus any additional treatments as needed (new intakes, foals, etc).

Routine care is our love language 🫶

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”Most of us have heard the phrase, but have you ever wondered where it came from? ...
18/11/2025

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”

Most of us have heard the phrase, but have you ever wondered where it came from? The only true way to age a horse is by checking their teeth. So when someone says not to “look a gift horse in the mouth,” it means you shouldn’t scrutinize or criticize something given freely.

But when it comes to actual horse welfare, looking in their mouth is one of the most important things we can do. Dental exams matter. A lot.

Monroe had his teeth floated today, which helps smooth out the sharp points and hooks that form when dental care is missed. He’ll need another float in about six months to keep him comfortable. In the photo, I circled an area of ulceration, which is a painful reminder of what happens when teeth go too long without maintenance.

He should be feeling much better already, and improved dental health will help him gain weight too. We also started him on an injectable joint medication and a Vitamin E supplement so he can keep moving, healing, and settling in with as much comfort as possible.

17/11/2025

Happy Monday from the messiest/loudest eater on the planet ... Monroe!

He's still in quarantine and is now enjoying a little more freedom, exploring the barn and areas outside of the paddock while we're here doing chores. Now that he's a little more settled, the next order of business is a hoof trimming and getting him started on Adequan, which is an injectable medication for arthritis and joint trauma.

We'll be scheduling those appointments this week. Thank you all so much for your support and donations toward his care. It is important to us that you know how much we appreciate your belief in giving Monroe the best life possible after he was dumped at the sale barn... No matter how many weeks, months or years that ends up being.

Every horse deserves this level of individualized care. We believe in that.

We are starting a free Winter Blanket Library for any community member who has a horse in need this season.If you are ex...
16/11/2025

We are starting a free Winter Blanket Library for any community member who has a horse in need this season.

If you are experiencing hardship or know someone who is, please reach out. We have extra blankets in many sizes and weights that should be warming horses, not collecting dust.

If a blanket would help your horse stay safe and comfortable this winter, send us a message and we will set one aside for you.

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS for an amazing work day! We welcomed 24 folks - both new & regular volunteers - for a productive da...
15/11/2025

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS for an amazing work day! We welcomed 24 folks - both new & regular volunteers - for a productive day of cleaning, mucking, organizing and winterizing the animal spaces.

These "all hands" days help us tackle project-based work that can be hard to get to in the hustle and bustle of everyday animal care.

We are so appreciative of everyone in the community who takes the time to donate their service to the animals. Many hands make light work ❤️

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out an application on our website and we'll be in touch.

13/11/2025

Monroe likes to dip his hay in the water! As soon as our volunteer sent this video, I thought of Kay the Clydesdale at who walks clear across the field with a mouthful of hay just to soak it. That image has always made me smile, and seeing Monroe do the same is pure joy. His personality is blooming now that he knows his next meal is always coming. ❤️

09/11/2025

His breakfast nickers are like the sunshine peeking through the clouds 🌥️

What a sweet, honest soul. We are thankful for you, Monroe.

BECAUSE THE COMMENTS HAVE ALREADY STARTED - suggesting that we’re adding to Monroe’s suffering by not euthanizing him to...
06/11/2025

BECAUSE THE COMMENTS HAVE ALREADY STARTED - suggesting that we’re adding to Monroe’s suffering by not euthanizing him today, I want to say, from the human side of this work, that these moments are incredibly hard.

It’s easy to judge from the safety of a screen. It’s easy to think that only young or “fixable” horses are worthy of saving, or that spending money on palliative care is wasteful. But those thoughts come easier when you haven’t stood in front of a horse like Monroe, looked into his eyes, and promised, I’m here for you. No one else was, but I am.

Our long-time followers already know this: we do make the hard decisions when it’s time. You’ve been there with us through those tearful goodbyes, and you know that our pledge is, and always will be, to the horse in front of us. Never to the noise online.

And I’ll say this plainly: it is deeply insulting to our veterinarians to suggest that you know better, or that they’re prolonging an animal’s life for money. Our vets are the ones standing beside us when we make the hardest calls. They have hugged me as I sobbed, they have checked on me when they knew I took a loss particularly hard. They are scientists, healers, and empaths in one, working in a profession with one of the highest su***de rates and a nationwide shortage that grows worse every year. To accuse them of greed in the same breath as questioning their compassion is disgusting, and it shows a complete misunderstanding of what veterinary medicine actually is.

It’s not lost on me that 9.9 times out of 10, the loudest critics are people who have never donated, never volunteered, and never planned to. So I find myself wondering... why? What’s the point of criticizing a charity that is clearly working with a veterinarian to do the best it can for an animal in need?

I wish I could say the negativity doesn’t bother me, but it does. Because this work is done with heart... not ego, not profit, just heart.

To those who continue to stand with us, to trust us, to support horses like Monroe: thank you. Your compassion makes this work possible.

You can follow Monroe’s progress or support his care at www.redfeatherfarmnc.org.

Monroe’s Update ❤️X-rays confirmed what we suspected: the swelling on Monroe’s knee is advanced arthritis, likely caused...
06/11/2025

Monroe’s Update ❤️

X-rays confirmed what we suspected: the swelling on Monroe’s knee is advanced arthritis, likely caused by an old injury. It isn’t something that can be reversed, and it also isn’t new. Because he’s still bright, mobile, and full of personality, our vet team feels there’s no reason we can’t try a few things to keep him comfortable for as long as possible.

Humane euthanasia would not be the wrong choice, but it’s not one we have to make today. Monroe can still bear some weight on that leg, and with joint injections, NSAIDs, and maybe a few other treatments, he could enjoy more good days ahead.

His x-rays are being reviewed by a surgeon, and we’ve pulled bloodwork to be sure his organs are healthy enough for medications like Osphos or Adequan. In the meantime, his appetite is amazing and he’s loving his alfalfa and senior grain mashes several times a day! He is soaking up all the attention from our volunteers.

We know some people might feel it’s best to save the funds and let him go now, and we respect that. Every situation is different. But for us, and for Monroe, we’re choosing to give him a chance first. Euthanasia will always be a compassionate option when the time comes, but hope and care are the right choices for today.

If you’d like to help with Monroe’s ongoing care, you can donate at www.redfeatherfarmnc.org 🙏

Every bit helps us give horses like him the time, comfort, and dignity they deserve.

04/11/2025

Last night I got a text about a skinny gelding who’d been left behind at the sale barn after the weekend auction. No one bought him, and no one came back for him. The auction house asked if a rescue would come pick him up as soon as possible, being that he's emaciated, limping with huge swollen knee and probably not going to last much longer.

Bella and I rushed up to get him today, and sure enough this sweet boy is in really bad shape. Bella wanted to name him Monroe - she said that's the name that came to her - and it actually fits him.

We won’t know Monroe’s prognosis until X-rays are done and the vet can't come until Thursday. For now, he’s on pain medication and UlcerGard to protect his stomach, and he’s resting comfortably at our quarantine barn with chopped hay, grass, and a slow reintroduction to grain.

It’s easy to want to blame whoever left him like this, but that’s in the past. What matters now is that he’s safe, and that we have the chance to help him or at least end his pain if that’s what he needs. I’m so thankful for the sale barn manager who reached out to the rescue network, and for our friends at .haven who made sure we got the call.

If you feel called to support Monroe’s care, we’d be so grateful.

www.redfeatherfarmnc.org

Farrier Friday!Heather broke a farm record this week with 24 horses trimmed in one day. We tried a new positive distract...
01/11/2025

Farrier Friday!

Heather broke a farm record this week with 24 horses trimmed in one day. We tried a new positive distraction for some of our antsy youngsters who have a hard time standing still - the blue tub that Joey and Capri are working on is a molasses treat made by Horslyx and it was a huge success!

Sinatra did really well for his fronts but we have learned that he needs a stock to trim his back feet safely. Unfortunately the years of traumatic handling he experienced in his past are deeply rooted in his spirit, and it may take years for him to fully put those fears away. We will be investing in a trimming stock very soon.

Everyone else is doing great and, as always, we would love your support as one-time farrier sponsors to help us cover the costs of trimming. Thank you to our volunteers Holly, Sharon and Jan & Billie who have sponsored Argo, Hank, Sinatra, Jackson and the minis ♥️ Each trim costs $45 and they are done in 6 week rotations.

Thank you so much for your support!

www.redfeatherfarmnc.org
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