Double H Equine Foundation and Sanctuary

24/08/2024

19/08/2024

Holly “whooping” it up this morning in the cool drizzling rain.

05/08/2024

Horses truly are healers.
Holding space this evening with the group of volunteers that were most affected by the trauma of losing Majik.
Feelings shared, tears shed, stories told, gratitude expressed… as our mini herd joined with us in the healing circle under a rainbow that stayed until darkness fell.

Thank you Michelle Peterson for the guidance you provided.

30/07/2024

We are missing Majik deeply.

Struggling to get over the shock. Loss is never easy, but when one is old or dealing with an illness you have time to prepare yourself mentally for the day they will cease to exist.

We did not have that opportunity with Majik. He was a healthy little 7 year old mini early Sunday morning and then a short time later he was fighting for his life, a battle he would devastatingly not win. He was here and then he wasn’t.

I wish we had found the snake that bit him, it was no longer visible by the time someone noticed something wrong with Majik. His reaction to the bite and the non-response to the standard treatments have lead several vets I spoke with to conclude it was a Mojave Green. Google it. Their venom is the most dangerous in the US.

We are working on a protection plan for the future. Snake fence is the most effective. Our pony corral is large so it will be a big project.

Bullit is missing his playmate. Majik is the only one that would wrestle with him. We miss him too, Bullit.

29/07/2024

As we wait for Trails End this morning, the mini herd is holding a wake for Majik, surrounding him and protecting him.

Shortly after he passed yesterday, the only mini to go in to him was Quinn, his father. He stayed with him, licking his face until we moved him to go and eat.

29/07/2024

We are in shock. Our sweet unicorn is gone.

After having the vet out twice and doing the best we all could, Majik’s little body could not fight the effects of the venom and we lost him suddenly earlier this evening. He was surrounded by all the people that loved him the most.

He was only 7 years old.
The swelling happened so quickly that it is felt it was a young rattler that bit him and deposited a significant amount of strong venom into the bite on Majik’s face.

He is no longer in pain and my heart is broken.

28/07/2024

Prayers needed for our little Majik man. We are pretty sure he was bit by a rattlesnake this morning. Possibly shortly after feeding.

Vet has been here and treated him with steroids and antibiotics.

Also using Caroline Ingraham Wild Carrot Seed Essential Oil, based on Caroline’s own experience when her dog was bit by a rattler.

06/07/2024

Donkeys may be stubborn, but they are not stupid. Loving their new party tent.

12/04/2024

When you are taller than your stall mates.

29/03/2024

Friday Fun Day.

Holly and Leon wrestling a rubber chicken. ❤️❤️

10/03/2024

Darby… my #1 little man.

He knows what he wants and is not shy about letting you know. Many a volunteer and visitor has fallen victim of a Darby ninja nudge.

09/03/2024

More and more comfortable each day. Holly and Leon have been here just a little over two weeks. Today I saw them play wrestling for the first time. When they saw me trying to get a video they decided to come visit me instead. ❤️❤️ Holly, who is about a year old, has been adjusting remarkably well to her new home.

I learned for my friend Jenni McCleave, the person that saw Holly and Leon at the kill pen and pulled them, that both had been red tagged. An equine that has been red tagged at a kill pen means it has run out of time and has been marked for shipping to slaughter. They usually have less than 24 hours for a change in fate. Jenni was that angel for these two… and many many others her rescue saves.

The Hangry Donkey Ranch, Rescue and Sanctuary 501 c3
Hearts For Hope Horse Haven

08/03/2024

Happy Donkey Brigade.
Holly coming out of her shell and leading the herd. ♥️♥️♥️

23/02/2024

I guess I might have been a little ambitious with introductions this morning. Minis did not bat an eye when Pedro marched into the corral, but a young long-legged jennet is another story. Holly caused quite a stir. This of course did not help poor Leon’s nervous “where the heck am I” squirts.

23/02/2024

From this morning. Darby and Pedro seeing the new arrivals.

Pedro actually lived with Holly and Leon at The Hangry Donkey Ranch, Rescue and Sanctuary 501 c3 prior to joining our herd on 1/31. It has been a short separation and from what I understand they were not especially bonded, so we were curious to see how they would react to each other. It was great that Rose, Wendy and Kathy were on hand to assist with ruffled feathers, errr I mean fur.

22/02/2024

So today this happened.
Darby never needs to worry about being a solo donkey again, none of our donkeys will.

Donkeys are extremely social creatures and THRIVE in a group of other donkeys. If you have only one donkey, please get him a long-eared buddy. And if you have two, please have a plan in place if you should loose one.

Say hello to bonded pair Holly, 1 y.o. white standard, and Leon, 5 y.o. grey miniature. Delivered today by Rose Carroll, founder of The Hangry Donkey Ranch, Rescue and Sanctuary 501 c3
Originally rescued from Stroud Kill Pens by Hearts For Hope Horse Haven

It takes an village. So blessed to have partnered with these wonderful rescues. Please consider supporting there efforts with a donation. 🙏🙏❤️

17/02/2024

We have decided that Pedro has a striking resemblance to Donkey from Shrek. And a personality to match.

03/02/2024

My Donkey Whisperers, Joan & Jim G., are enjoying introducing Pedro to all the trails around the Sanctuary property.

Pedro is such a confident little donkey. I can see why The Hangry Donkey Ranch, Rescue and Sanctuary 501 c3 called him the “Shrekiest” donkey they ever met.
The only thing he has balked at so far is crossing a puddle of water.

Darby is starting to think that Pedro might be an okay roommate.

01/02/2024

Good Morning from Darby and Pedro… who now thinks he is King of the world.

They are still “discussing” things, but all in all they are doing great together.

Thank you again to The Hangry Donkey Ranch, Rescue and Sanctuary 501 c3 for all they do to save donkeys and for helping us so quickly find a new friend for Darby.

01/02/2024

Pedro, welcome to Double H Equine Foundation and Sanctuary. We are overjoyed you have joined our herd.

01/02/2024

A week ago today we lost our sweet mini donkey JJ.

This has been very hard on Darby, our other mini donkey. You see… JJ is the second buddy that he has outlived. Donkeys are such social creatures and especially with their own kind. The mini horses are company, but they are not friends who speak the same language. And let me tell you, donkeys speak a language all of their own.

It has been very difficult seeing Darby off on his own all the time. The humans have been showering him with attention, but it is just not the same.

On Saturday a group of us went yo visit The Hangry Donkey Ranch, Rescue and Sanctuary 501 c3 in Rio Verde. Rose Carroll has a wonderful facility with the sweetest bunch of donkeys of all sizes. I could have brought them all back with me. For now we will only start with one…

Meet Pedro, who was picked up this afternoon by our good friend Paul Kratzer from Karuna Horse Rescue, is en route as I type.

Cannot wait to see Darby playing again. And our donkey herd will be growing in the future so we never have a lonely donkey here ever.

25/01/2024

Signing on to our page after a long 51 days, I was reminded by Facebook that I had not made a post in over that many days.

On December 5th we noticed some ventral edema on our little mini donkey JJ. This can be caused by many conditions, even something as simple as allergies. What unfolded over the next month and a half I could never have prepared myself for. Edema responding to medication, edema not responding to medication, unexplainable fevers, a trip to an ER Equine hospital in Phoenix, multiple vet visits and blood draws, all resulting in no clear answer as to what our JJ was suffering from. Through it all he kept eating, which if you know donkeys is an all important factor in determining the severity of what is going on with them. Basic body functions were all great, but he was just not getting better.

We reached out to friends and other rescues that have a lot of experience with donkeys, sharing our test results, hoping for an answer so we knew exactly what we were fighting.

JJ’s health started declining further on Sunday. On Monday our vet visited him and pulled more blood to run further tests.

Yesterday our fight ended and we got our answer. Our beloved JJ, who we estimated to being around 15 years old was actually closer to 30. He was reaching the end of his natural life. This explained so much. His spirit was guided peacefully out of his tired body by our wonderful vet team, Jim Bleak & Katie Longfellow. He was surrounded by love, both present and from a far.

I have so many people to thank… first to those that offered advice and assistance - Rose from The Hangry Donkey Ranch, Rescue and Sanctuary 501 c3, Kathy from Socks the Oatman B***o & Friends at Oatman B***os Sanctuary Big Red Barn, Jenni McCleve from Hearts For Hope Horse Haven, personal friends Mickey Kerezman and Michelle Peterson. And an extra big thank you to our friend Timon Pratt, for trailering JJ down to Phoenix when I was too stressed to do it myself.
Deepest heartfelt gratitude to several of our volunteers… Diane Collett Greenblatt for her daily supply of Reiki healing and loving energy for all of us. And to our donkey people Joan and Jim Gurganus, who hearts are as deeply broken as mine. They have been here every possible second helping with whatever was needed, and were here for him till the last moment. I hope you know how priceless you are to us
And finally to a very dear, long time friend Chad Sherman who recently joined us as an on-site caregiver, there are not enough words of gratitude… even while struggling with the sudden loss of one of his own furry family members he was right there every day taking shifts caring for JJ. All though he only got to know him for a short time, I know JJ took a piece of Chad’s heart with him when he left.

I know everyone is concerned about Darby. He seems to have understood JJ was close to passing.He watched from a distance and after everyone left, he joined me to say goodbye. We are already in the process of finding him a new donkey companion with the help of our friends at The Hangry Donkey Ranch. Until we do, he has his mini horse friends, especially Quinn, and all of his two legged people to keep him company.

1/24/2024 - Rest In Peace & Love, Sweet JJ ❤️

27/11/2023

YAY!!! - 3 of my 4 Birthday Fundraisers has met goal. Thank you so much to everyone that has donated and shared.

If all 4 rescues reach $300 by midnight on my birthday tomorrow, 11/28, I will personally donate an additional $100 to each.

Please share so we can get this done. ❤️

23/11/2023

One of our former volunteers stopped by on Monday afternoon to drop off a very special gift to our St Francis Memorial Shrine.

Only if you have visited or volunteered at our Sanctuary would you have heard about and met Jasper, a sweet old sorrel gelding that belongs to our founder, Diana. Although he lived among the Double H Equine Foundation Herd, his care remained privately funded… Diana keeping her promise to him that he would be her responsibility until the day he died. Nevertheless, his huge personality made him a favorite of volunteers and visitors.

On Monday, at the ripe estimated age of 33, Jasper was peacefully guided over the Rainbow Bridge by our wonderful veterinarian at Central Arizona Equine.

Jasper, you will be greatly missed.
Thank you Gianna Chiaro for the lovely little carved horse you donated to our shrine. It looks just like him. 💜