Marking National Horse Day with Kody’s Inspiring Story
The following is from All About Equine Animal Rescue:
As you’ve been reading along with our daily December updates, we hope they’ve brought you closer to the horses you help support. Today’s horse feature is especially perfect for this special day, National Horse Day!
This special boy went from hardship to happiness; his new life is absolutely wonderful, and a heartwarming reminder of why we do this work.
KODY
Kody arrived at AAE in December 2023 alongside his companion, Teddy, after both were found in a serious neglect situation. Their condition had been deteriorating for far too long. The boys were living in a paddock filled with deep, foul mud and standing muck.
When a concerned neighbor’s friend contacted animal control and no action followed, the neighbor reached out to AAE directly. Working together with the horses’ owner, the pair was ultimately surrendered so they could get immediate care.
Both horses were in rough shape. Under their thick, dead winter coats were extremely thin, bony bodies. They were emaciated, their hooves had grown long, and their teeth were badly overdue for care. Kody also had a slight wry nose, and his teeth were misaligned, as well, contributing to their poor condition.
To begin their recovery, both horses were placed on a structured refeeding plan following UC Davis’ guidelines for refeeding emaciated horses. Because of concerns about their teeth and their inability to chew long-stem hay, they were given soaked alfalfa pellets instead of traditional hay. Fortunately, both tolerated hoof handling well, and once trimmed, their feet improved dramatically.
As soon as their health stabilized enough for sedation, they received critical dental care, vaccinations, deworming, and microchips. Kody was diagnosed with equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH). His teeth were stable and not causing any apparent discomfort, and he was eating without issue. None were extracted at that time.
Kody took months to rebuild his body. As he regained weight and strength, his personality came forward, along with plenty of energy. Turnout time became his favorite part of the day.
Before falling into neglect, Kody had been a trail horse. Once he regained health at AAE, he was evaluated under saddle and ridden around a dozen times. He was steady and dependable in familiar surroundings, though a bit rusty overall.
This spring, Kody’s journey came full circle when he met his new mom! He was adopted by a wonderful family, and his mom absolutely adores him. She shares regular updates about their time together, and it’s clear they’re a perfect match. Kody now has a little human brother and a handful of animal friends to keep him company, too.
After everything he endured, seeing him so loved, settled, and surrounded by “his” people brings us endless joy. We are so happy for this sweet boy!