By Elizabeth Stahmer

I cried when I first saw Patrick. He was in horrendous shape and I simply could not fathom that anyone could do something so cruel to an animal. He had four inches of matted hair, had very few teeth, and had been starved to the point where his hips and ribs protruded grotesquely out from his body. But there was something about him, he had a gleam in his eye and his intention was clear. He was going to LIVE!

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. She did. And, she understood. The livestock officer saw it and Melanie saw it too. There was a fire shining in Patrick's eyes, and within that fire the will and desire to live shone brightly. DSESC became Patrick's new home. A local veterinarian estimated that Patrick was approximately 30 years old and gave him a body mass index score of zero (yes, we said zero). For the first month that he lived with us, it took three people (at intervals of two to three hours) to get him to his feet to stand to eat and to engage in other activities that healthy horses manage to perform without assistance. He would try to get up on his own, but was much too weak. Finally, when he managed to stand without human help, it was clearly evident that he was one very proud horse!

With love, around-the-clock nurturing, consistent handling, specialized healthcare and related treatments, and dedicated care and support from DSESC employees and volunteers, Patrick is thriving and living well today. In fact, he has become the picture of health and is the beloved mascot of DSESC! Patrick will live out his days among his hoofed friends residing in our "Senior Club". This special club is made up of a group of older horses that deserve second chances and a place to live out their remaining lives in comfort and peace. Desert Springs Equine Sanctuary Center IS Patrick's FOREVER HOME and he will forever have a special place in all of our hearts.

If you would like to sponsor a horse from our Senior Club or any other horse at DSESC, please contact our Ranch Manager, Elissa Hambright, at (520) 906-1808 or email ehambright@desertspringsec.com