Joy was bought by Equine Voices (EV) at an auction. She had terrible deep pack sores along her spine and girth area. She was probably a 2 on the body condition scale. Little by little she started to gain weight and at first we thought her larger belly was full of parasites. She had swelling along her abdomen and udders when she came but she was also covered in cactus spines in those areas. We originally thought the cactus was causing the swelling. Once the cactus spines were gone and Joy was wormed, we saw that her belly was even bigger! Our vet said that Joy was definitely pregnant. In April 2009, Joy gave birth to a brown filly. The filly was adopted by a loving family and she is enjoying a forever home.

Joy is approximately 10 years old and needs further evaluation for suitability for a second career. She has been being started in the round pen and is receiving Parelli training. She is very curious and playful. Sometimes her curiosity can turn into pushiness so she needs a forever home that can set boundaries and pay attention to her behaviors. Joy mare enjoys her contact with humans and accepts grooming as long as you proceed slowly and gently. Joy does not have a lot of focus, obedience or discipline yet but she is full of promise and will make a lovely horse for an experienced horseperson or trainer who has the time, dedication and knowledge to patiently bring her along.

Click here to read about her baby's adoption story.

Equine Voices was awarded custody of Orion by the court because his previous owner was starving him to death. He was so skinny that he received a 1 on the body condition scale. Now he's filled out and is very happy. He's in his late teens and has recently been gelded. Orion would be a wonderful mount for a moderately experienced rider and is at his happiest when he is heading out for a trail ride. Please contact us if you can picture yourself riding into the horizon with this handsome gelding!

Stretch was bought at an auction by a concerned lady who just wanted to keep him from going to slaughter. She boarded Stretch at Dr. Robinson's facility while they treated him for terrible pack sores which were all along his spine (he was probably used to bring drugs up from Mexico). Unfortunately, Stretch's savior was unable to keep him and EV/DSESC agreed to take him. Stretch is approximately 15 years old and has been ridden but is only suitable for an experienced rider in an arena since he is very nervous on the trail.

Ben

Jerry

Ben and Jerry came to EV/DSESC by way of Rudy, a Livestock Officer working with EV. Ben and Jerry were scheduled for entry into the Pacific Auction, an auction house which is notorious for sending horses to slaughter by way of Mexico. Equine Voices and DSESC agreed to take them and Rudy was able to get them to our facility before they went to auction. Both horses were supposedly owned by a racetrack trainer who was unable to keep them anymore. Ben is tattooed and is 5 years old. He is very sweet on the ground, has been ridden, and is suitable for an experienced rider. Ben has potential for a second career in many disciplines including dressage, hunter/jumpers, or eventing. Jerry is approximately 6 years old, not tattooed and has previously bowed both his tendons. He is sound now and is currently going under saddle. He is suitable for an experienced rider who is interested in bringing him along on the trail and/or a flatwork based discipline such as dressage. Jerry is good with other horses and is also good on the ground.

Sonny is a small Mustang-type gelding who is approximately 10 years old. Equine Voices bid on him at a livestock auction. He was very thin and had pack sores. Sonny is an extremely difficult horse and does not get along well with others. However, he is very loyal and bonds well with humans he trusts. He has great potential to learn but still has some trust issues. Sonny needs a forever home with an experienced horseperson who is willing to go very slowly and work patiently with him. He responds very well to natural horsemanship practices such as Parelli training. He can be groomed all over and will usually pick up all four feet.

Maggie is approximately 20 years old, and is a blind appaloosa mare. She went through the Pacific Auction and was sold to a couple for $5.00 since no one else would bid on her. The couple tried to keep her but their other horse picked on her. She has had moon blindness and periodically requires medication for her eyes. Maggie is only suitable as a companion to the right horse who won't pick on her. We are looking for sponsors to help pay for her care.

Jasper is a small mule and we are unsure of his age. DSESC bought him at an auction and treated his terrible pack sores. Because Jasper is very timid and not very good on the ground he needs an experienced trainer to rehabilitate him.

Mariska

Mariska is an Arabian mare in her late 20's and Abby is perhaps an Arabian/Warmblood cross in her mid-teens (we are not sure). DSESC took these mares in as they were given to a friend by a friend who ended up moving and leaving the horses in her renters' care. Unfortunately, the renters began to starve Abby and Mariska and DSESC was asked to intervene. Abby has been ridden in the past and probably can be ridden now - she just needs to be further evaluated for soundness and suitability. Mariska is suitable as a companion only.

In October 2008, Blackie was seized by Maricopa Livestock officers along with two other horses that we named Nappy and Red. These horses were being starved to death by their owner who was brought up on equine abuse and neglect charges. The horses were kept by the Livestock Board for evidence. After the owner's court trial, custody of the horses was given to the Livestock Board who then called DSESC to take them as they were still in very bad physical shape and in desperate need of medical attention and nurturing care. Blackie, Nappy, and Red were in their late 20’s to early 30’s, had guts full of sand, and were very thin. Red colicked early on and unfortunately did not survive. Nappy lived comfortably (she received Legend treatments to move about without pain) and safely at DSESC for several months but recently had to be euthanized and is now at peace. Blackie continues to gain weight and is constantly showing physical improvement. Blackie is only suitable as a companion animal. At present, she is happily living at DSESC and is a beloved member of our “Senior Club”. To support Blackie’s continued good health and physical well-being, DSESC supplements her diet with a large amount of Senior Feed on a daily basis. Caring sponsors willing to support Blackie’s upkeep and continued good health would be greatly appreciated!

Patrick was abandoned and was found wandering around in the Tucson desert. He was delivered to DSESC by a County livestock officer. When the trailer door opened, Patrick was lying down and Melanie (a Desert Springs employee) stared unbelievingly at the horse in front of her. He was nothing but skin and bones and so sick that Melanie asked the officer why the County had not humanely euthanized him. The livestock officer told Melanie to look into Patrick's eyes. Read Patrick's full story . . .