WILLY
Jack
Age: c. 26
Arrival: August 2024
Current status: Sanctuary; in training
RECENT SPONSORS: Kathryn M.,
ASSIGNED VOLUNTEERS:
History: Willy and his best friend Walter were surrenders from a home in Tijeras where they had been given a safe landing and some rehab for about 2 years after they were found abandoned in the Artesia area. Their rescuer originally planned on keeping them as companions to her elderly horse, but it didn't work out. In her care, their hugely overgrown hooves started receiving corrective care from her farrier, and she tried to make them lose weight. Willy was still morbidly obese upon his arrival but has slimmed down quite a bit since then.
Personality: Willy was surrendered under the assumption that he was a gelding, but it turned out that he has at least one descended testicle, so he is still on the program to be gelded and is penned separately from the jennets. Fortunately, he is a very mellow jack and does not try to jump fences to get to the ladies. We have waited with gelding because he still needed more ground work to be easier for veterinarians to handle, but he should be ready for veterinary exams now. He still needs sedation to get his hooves trimmed but has become a lot better. He also halters and leads ok now. He loves to be brushed and petted, and he loves treats, but he sometimes takes a while to warm up to strangers. Willy is very bonded with Walter, and we will make sure the two can stay together. Because Walter is not as ready as Willy for veterinarians or for adoption, Willy is not up for adoption yet, either.
Diet: Willy does well on a diet of bermuda grass hay and barley straw. His small herd of three - including mini donkey Pablo - has a salt block and occasionally gets a tub of Equilix minerals. Sponsor Willy here!