Little Rusty (formerly Flash)

Flash was born in the BLM corrals at Salt Lake in 2001. He was eventually adopted by someone in Kentucky. In 2009, he went through an auction in Kentucky, then passed through several owners until someone in S. California bought him in early 2011. He has passed through 4 owners in the past 2 years. The woman in Ca. bought him because he was at risk and in bad shape (photo above), but then neglected him further. She could no longer  keep him, and offered him to us. He came with badly infected hooves and still 100 pounds underweight. Now that his hooves have been rehabilitated and he is no longer in pain, it turns out he is quite lively and even high spirited and spooky. We are working with him to get him more relaxed and calm.

Flash

Flash several days after arriving here

By late September and Flash, now “Rusty”, was doing great. He has gained about 100 pounds and has had about 8 hoof soakings/trims and his feet look great. There is still dead, infected hoof tissue that has to be removed weekly, as his hooves grow out.  The infection went much deeper than I originally had thought. As of Jan. 2012, he is doing well and adjusting to herd life. At first, he was attacking the other horses, but it was out of fear and defensiveness…

Flash late August, before gaining the rest of his weight

Rusty