Waylon Photo Essay - See Story in Description
Waylon was a 28 year-old chestnut grade Quarter Horse gelding owned by an Air Force Academy cadet in June of 2014. Spirit Keeper Equine Sanctuary (SKES) was contacted by the cadet’s mother who was concerned that Waylon was too thin and did not believe her son was able to take proper care of him. When SKES staff visited Waylon on June 11, 2014, to investigate his circumstances it was determined that he was being housed in a stall with an attached outdoor run and being fed hay twice daily by Air Force Academy staff. His owner made infrequent visits. Waylon was severely underweight, a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2 which is described as “Very Thin: Horse emaciated. Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes, transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae and ischii prominent. Withers, shoulders, and neck structures faintly discernible”. Waylon also had metal horseshoes on all four hooves that were in dilapidated condition and too small for his feet.
SKES contacted Waylon’s owner and arranged a meeting with him. He subsequently agreed to surrender the horses to Spirit Keeper Equine Sanctuary. While waiting on legal paperwork and transport arrangements, we provided Waylon’s owner and the Air Force Academy with Senior grain and beet pulp. We showed them how to mix it up into a mash and asked that they please feed it to him twice a day in the amounts we instructed.
Once the legalities were worked out and his brand inspection was conducted, Waylon was picked up by SKES staff and physically arrived at the ranch on July 3, 2014. An intake exam by our veterinarian diagnosed arthritis in Waylon’s right knee in addition to him being underweight. We were advised that his teeth were in poor condition and due to his age, he was unable to grind, chew, and eat grass or baled hay. Waylon was placed in a large paddock with a loafing shed and started on a diet plan of soaked beet pulp pellets, Nutrena Senior Complete feed, and alfalfa.
On July 10, 2014, Waylon got his shoes pulled by Spirit Keeper Equine Sanctuary’s farrier, and had his hooves trimmed. The farrier reported that he had really nice feet and which were good sized! The shoes were left on too long, and he needed a follow-up trim in two weeks as it was too dangerous to trim off too much at once. The farrier didn't notice any lameness or stiffness/pain in any of the legs except the right front which had a lump on the knee. Once Waylon’s feet were rehabilitated to normal he was able to remain barefoot with no issues and regular trims every 8-10 weeks.
At this point, in July 2014, Waylon was eating well and eagerly ate his beet pulp senior grain mix. We also introduced Chaffehay to him at this point and he ate some initially but subsequently passed it over; it takes some getting used to but is a type of hay that older horses are usually able to eat. We did not repeat the chaffehay once the first bale was finished, Waylon preferred his soaked beet pulp/senior mix along with alfalfa.
Waylon was looking much better within a month of our involvement. Waylon was at Spirit Keeper for 4 years when he suddenly died of what our veterinarian says was an apparent heart attack, suspected aneurysm. He was standing and eating his mash like normal and just suddenly dropped dead. He was estimated to be 32 years old or so, could have been slightly older but the veterinarian and equine dentist did not think he was any younger than that.
Waylon's story demonstrates the interconnectedness of the 5 Domains Model of animal welfare.
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The nutrition domain focuses on the animal's access to a proper diet that meets its nutritional needs.
The environment domain considers the physical environment in which the animal lives, including factors such as housing, temperature, humidity, and cleanliness.
The health domain evaluates the animal's physical health status, including the absence of disease, pain, or injury. It also involves providing appropriate veterinary care and monitoring the animal's overall wellbeing.
The behavior domain considers whether the animal can express normal behaviors and engage in activities that promote mental and emotional well-being.
The mental state domain assesses the animal's emotional state, including experiences of fear, anxiety, frustration, or positive emotions such as pleasure and comfort. It considers factors that contribute to the animal's overall emotional well-being.
The 5 Domains Model recognizes that animal welfare is influenced by various interconnected factors, including physical health, environmental conditions, behavioral opportunities, and emotional experiences. It provides a structured approach to evaluate and address animal welfare concerns across these domains, promoting a holistic understanding of animal well-being.
www.SpiritKeeperAnimalSanctuary.org