total transformation

This is a picture of my horse on the day I got him as a rescue, and one of him sleeping happily in the shade yesterday. I was comparing the two photos and it is hard to believe it is even the same horse. I thought I would share these with you to demonstrate what proper nutrition as well as parasite control can do for a horse. I also would love to see other people's similar transformation pictures.

He sure turned into a gorgeous hunk of horse flesh! You did a great job.

What a great transformation, good job!
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It is funny I thought he was the fugliest thing when I first saw him. The first picture is from July and he had most of his winter coat still on. I took him because even though he was in a miserable state he tried very hard to do everything I asked of him even lifting his horrible feet. Also I thought at least if I take him he won't die miserable. He'll at least get proper care til he passes. He has totally surprised me by becoming a beautiful healthy creature. That is what was sadder still. There was no reason for him to be so underweight. He just had worms and was not being fed.

WOW great job, how long did it take you to turn him around?

This will be his third summer with us. The first month was super tough because I had to slowly increase his feed to what a normal horse would eat. Even though I was very careful he still coliced twice. Then he started to gain weight steadily for about six months and I had to worm him several times before his system was cleaned out. He had horrible amounts of small strongyle encrusted in his gut. I'd worm him and two weeks later more would hatch out. It took a few months to get him free of those. I started riding him lightly three months into the rescue and that did wonders for building up his muscle. I'd say it took about a year and a half to get him to where he is now.

Great job, Snow. He looks completely different now.

This is a picture of me riding him about six months after the rescue. He calmly negotiates the tarp and log obstacle in my arena. I do believe putting him right to work was what helped him recover so fast. I had no idea if he was even broke when I got him. I lucked out in that he has a very willing temperament. I think I was the luckier of us both. Oh and excuse my super ugly pants!! That was a laundry mistake my husband accidently turned them orange. They were very comfy though.

You saw the diamond in the rough. Lucky you and he too!

Wow he sure is a hunk! My mare would love him

Here's the love of my life! I got her last year from a lady who had her in a couple feet of mud with no shelter and was using her in a child's riding camp she was operating out of her back yard at the age of 2 1/2. She was almost put down a few days before I met her but they decided to give her another week to see if she would make it. I took care of her until she was 'out of the woods' as the vet said then I bought her! She had abcesses in all her hooves, mud fever and rain rot so mad her skin was raw everywhere and was so skinny and weak she could barely stand. She also was super food agressive and attacked me the first time I tried to feed her and would rear up at and bite people in her paddock. Now we trail ride on all kinds of different trails around my city, walk, trot canter even small jumps, do agility, obstacles and liberty, and yesterday I rode her bareback and also galloped her through some fields. She always comes trotting up to me when I call her and I get a kiss everymorning and when I get home from work. I feel soooo blessed to have met this amazing creature! I call her my blessing all the time!

The first photo is the day I got her and the rest are within the past couple of weeks :)