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July, 2004 Monthly Report
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On July 5th our replacement solar panel was stolen. Two used solar panels were donated. The panels are dismantled and locked up each night.
Dr. Michele Mautino again visited the horses. They are indeed gaining weight although slowly and their hooves are showing good improvement, new hoof wall is growing out strong and dense. The weight gain can be attributed to the grain ration given twice a day and the hoof improvement to the daily vitamin supplement. Dr. Mautino's care and support during a critical period of transition, with the added stress of habitat destruction, have been vital to the horses’ health.
It is noted that the two oldest mares have weathered the transition from farm to forest with the least weight loss. They had spent time in the forest before hurricane Floyd. The youngest ones, who spent all or most of their lives on the farm, have had the most difficulty with the new regime but they are rallying. They are also smaller than the older horses. At this point it is not possible to determine if this is due to the farm environment or genetic factors.
Dr. Mautino was able to vaccinate 9 of the 12 horses against any diseases that may be brought in with horses imported by developers or airborne insects. Three of the six horses still at large on the farm are elusive and Rehor will continue efforts to vaccinate them.
Dr. Mautino recommended at least tripling the size of the present Preserve. The devastation from fires and drought has left the mares with insufficient forage, (hence the grain supplement) and there is not enough forage to bring in the stallions. The fence team is pushing hard and the Preserve is now nearly at its originally intended length, but it is still only half the width that had been recommended initially. Incorporation of the initially intended width area and and then a doubling of that full initially intended acreage should provide if not ample, at least sufficient fodder and eventually the grain ration should be able to be reduced, if not eliminated. Observation will indicate if that area will be sufficient to support the stallions too. Reducing the fence line from three to two strands, now that the horses respect the fence, will result in considerable savings on purchase of fence for the added acreage as the rope and insulators are reusable and can go towards encompassing the new area.
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