Ari’s Page
Ari
25 year old Thoroughbred gelding
Ari was in a critical case of starvation when he arrived at Whisper Ranch. In spite of his condition, he had a very poor appetite. When a starvation case doesn’t want to eat, they are just a very short steps from giving up and dying. He was actually bleeding from the bottom of his hooves, he was so immune compromised that he’d developed a chronic and uncomfortable skin condition all along his back, neck and down his legs.
Our approach with Ari had to be all encompassing. We started with vitamin B shots to stimulate his appetite. He also got a bath to address his skin condition although addressing his immune system was the real key in helping that condition. Then, Ari had his teeth worked on to help him grind and digest the food he ate. He was given five warm meals a day and careful supplementation to support his recovery.
Incredibly, Ari rallied in just 5 months and was adopted. Sadly, after a year his new family decided they no longer wanted him and returned him to Whisper Ranch. Ari was placed in foster care with a wonderful woman in Newnan GA who is an equine massage therapist and is helping him with lingering back pain from his abusive past.
UPDATE 2009
Ari has a fantastic foster home with Robin and Mark Fornwalt near Newnan, GA. Both Robin and Mark work as a team to provide loving care for Ari and we have to say that we have never seen him look so content and at peace as he does in his new home, with his new herd (horses and humans)!
Thank You, Robin and Mark!!
Robin has been doing a lot of diagnostic work to try to find just the right care plan for Ari. In case anyone is interested, we’ll add here what she’s doing. Perhaps this experience will be of interest to someone else trying to help a rescued horse.
Robin found this article to pass along to everyone on How to Care for the Rescue Horse
“Ari’s been a difficult gelding to recondition at 26 years old. He needs a quality high protein, high EFA diet along with oats to built more topline muscle, then his long back won’t hurt him anymore. Currently he’s on the Vita Royal basic diet with grass hay and filtered water via “drinking water safe” hoses. He gets plenty of exercise when turned out 24/7 with his three pasture mates. He continually improves as he detoxes on the Vita Royal diet, herbs, and homeopathy. He’s a kind and gentle fellow who has a lot of positive energy. Because of his maturity, he’s gained the respect of all the other horses in the herd. And he can outrun them!”
Robin is a skilled practitioner in her own right.
If you would like to contact her about her services with that, or for equine massage her email is: rdfornwalt@icloud.com
UPDATE: September 7 2015
Ari has crossed over Rainbow Bridge.
He was a wonderful boy and we are comforted by knowing that he spent his last years with his foster mom, Robin, surrounded by love and respect.