Benny arrived this morning after a call from the sheriff around dinner time yesterday asking us to step in and give him a chance at a different life. When we get that call, we don’t think twice. We just go.

At first glance, we allowed ourselves a small breath of relief. We’ve seen worse come through rescue situations, and from the outside it looked like Benny might simply need routine care, a good hoof trim, and a dental float. He hauled in quietly, steady and familiar with transport, like it was something he had done before.

Once we got him home and started taking a closer look, the reality of his condition began to unfold.

His coat was heavily matted in places, carrying the weight of neglect in every tangled section. His mane was matted as well, and his body showed clear signs that basic grooming and care had been long overdue. His tail had only a few burrs, but overall his condition told a deeper story than what we first saw.

We already had the farrier scheduled for tomorrow, but when we picked up his feet, we realized that was no longer soon enough.

The smell of thrush was expected. What we found was far beyond that.

His hooves are severely compromised, with rotting and deterioration that has left very little healthy structure behind. In one of his back feet, we found living maggots present in the damaged tissue, a clear sign of how long this pain and neglect had gone untreated.

Our farrier came out immediately today to begin addressing the damage and to start stabilizing what we can. Benny also has a veterinary appointment scheduled next week for a full exam and to begin the long road of repair and recovery.

He is safe now. He is receiving care. And from this moment forward, everything we do will be focused on giving him comfort, dignity, and the chance at a life he should have had all along.

• Annie, A Ranch Horse
  4/29/26