HAVEN FOR HORSES

Sanctuary provides setting for ‘natural’ healing

Jude and Mandi Evans believe that every animal should be given the chance to live its life to the fullest.

The mother and daughter team run Equine Recline, a Sahuarita horse sanctuary dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of horses that require special medical treatment their owners are unable or unwilling to provide. They give horses like Maverick, a 10-year-old gelding that can barely walk due to contracted tendons in his front legs, a second chance at life.

“Most people would have put him down,” said Mandi. “But there’s so much potential in him, he’s so full of life. We couldn’t give up on him.”

The Evans run the non-profit organization, begun in June of 2005, out of their modest, 5.5 acre ranch in west Sahuarita. They are currently taking care of seven horses, three of which are up for adoption. The remaining horses, including Maverick, are undergoing rehabilitation and may end up “retiring” at the ranch.

“That’s the goal of Equine Recline,” said Jude. “Rest, recuperation and retirement for horses that need it the most.”

Whenever possible, the horses are treated naturally with homeopathic medicines and alternative healing methods such as acupressure and massage therapy. A daily herbal/vitamin mash is tailored to the needs of each horse, some of whom already have special dietary needs, she said.

“When Suerte came to us, he had an oozing sore on his belly and wasn’t keeping on any weight,” said Jude of the 4-year-old Paso Fina gelding rescued last year from a Canadian feed lot.

They discovered that Suerte was having a severe allergic reaction to the protein in his alfalfa feed, and made the switch to hay made from Bermuda grass. After months of treatment and loving care at the hands of Jude and Mandi, the vivacious Suerte is now ready for adoption.

Sonata is another success story. The 20-year-old black mustang mare — with a white star on her forehead, reminiscent of “Black Beauty” — came to Equine Recline from a farm in Missouri, where her allergic reactions to flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs left her rubbing herself raw, said Mandi. Steroids and antihistamines were making her sick, and the owners’ only option was to find her a home in a drier climate.

Sonata is now one of the lucky “retirees” at the ranch, and couldn’t have found a better place to spend her remaining years.

“These guys are our family,” said Mandi, who marvels at the distinct personalities represented at the sanctuary.

Maverick, despite his serious injuries, “lights up the barn,” and instantly befriended Suerte, who was skittish and shy when he first arrived from Canada, she said. Now, the two are best friends.

“Horses have feelings, like us — they love, and they’re loyal,” Mandi said.

Maverick will soon be fitted with new splints and shoes to help correct his contracted tendons, thanks to the Arizona Equine Rescue Association (AERO), who arranged for a farrier from New Mexico — who specializes in tough cases like Maverick’s — to come out to the sanctuary this month. The next step is vigorous treatment to break down the scar tissue that has built up in his legs, she said.

Jude and Mandi have high hopes that with continuous care, Maverick can heal completely .

“These women are beyond sincere about helping these horses,” said Keith Vincent, finance manager for the Green Valley Fire District and a member of Equine Recline’s board of directors.

Vincent met the Evanses while attending a healing course at Equine Voices horse sanctuary in Amado, where they were learning about a form of holistic energy healing — known as “Reiki” — that can be practiced on animals.

Reiki, which comes from the Japanese words ‘’rei’’ meaning spirit, and ‘’ki’’ meaning energy, is becoming increasingly recognized by mainstream medical science as an effective method of healing, and is even endorsed by the University of Arizona’s Health Sciences Center, which offers classes to patients and their families.

Both human and animal Reiki (which you can learn about at sites such as www.animalreikisource.com), are often used as a complement to either traditional or holistic medicines, Vincent said.

“After the treatments, Maverick gets up and walks around, and you can see that spirit has lifted,” he said.

Contact Equine Recline at (520)-672-3296 or visit www.equinerecline.org to make a donation or find out how you can volunteer.

You can track Maverick’s healing process at www.equinerecline.org/blog.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726