Vet + Farrier Info
We are so fortunate to have the highest level of vet care for our rescued horses.
If you ever want to ask about a horse or donkey in our care or inquire about their health, you are welcome to contact our vet team as they visit regularly and have eyes on our horses on a weekly basis. We are transparent in allowing people to come to see the horses as we feel all 501c3s should be held to the highest standard, a standard we hold ourselves to daily.
We encourage anybody donating to a horse rescue or sanctuary to ask questions, do your research and ensure your donations go directly to the care and feeding of horses and not anywhere else. We have rescued over 100 horses and more than 30 donkeys and mules - almost all of them are still with us at either our Malibu or Oregon location. You can message us to request photographs of any horse. That is the commitment we have to these equines in our care.
our VETS
In Oregon, we are taken care of by Bend Equine led by Dr. Shannon Findlay and her team.
DR. SHANNON FINDLEY
Dr. Shannon Findley is a California transplant who grew up in Gilroy, CA. She is an alumni of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she completed her bachelor's degree in Animal Science. She then graduated from UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Findley completed her internship at BEMC in 2010 and promptly fell in love with beautiful Central Oregon. She has been an associate at Bend Equine since 2011. Her particular clinical interests include internal medicine, ultrasonography, preventative medicine, neonatal medicine, and equine reproduction. Dr. Findley also has specialized training in large animal technical rescue that she received while heading up the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team. Ask her to show you pictures of her helicopter rescues! She has a strong passion for volunteering in international veterinary medicine (also known as equestrianism) and has traveled to Peru, Central Mexico, Nicaragua and Morocco.
In her free time, Dr. Findley can be found on the slopes, on the river, on the trails with her Arabian Cayenne, or enjoying just about any outdoor activity Central Oregon has to offer.
In Malibu, we are fortunate to have our equine vet, Conejo Valley Equine, minutes away from us. When a horse needs hospital care they are taken to Alamo Pintado Equine Hospital in Los Olivos, CA under the care of Dr. Erin Byrne, who is one of the most incredible and knowledgeable equine vets in the country.
MERLE DERVARTANIAN, D.V.M.
Dr. Merle received her B.S. and D.V.M. degrees from University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia, and completed her internship at Chino Valley Equine Hospital.
In her free time, Dr. Merle enjoys riding, running, cycling, and hiking with her dogs, Paulie and Emmy. She also enjoys spending time with her four-legged hooved animals which include two horses, two donkeys, and now a mule.
Dr. Merle’s professional interests include ophthalmology, internal medicine, wound management, lameness, and geriatric care.
ERIN BYRNE, DVM, DIP. ACVIM
From her hometown of Sunol, CA, Dr. Byrne moved to Davis to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of California, where she continued on to achieve her DVM degree four years later.
Following her veterinary education, she moved to College Station, Texas, to participate in the internship program at Texas A&M University, where she remained as a resident in large animal internal medicine.
After successfully completing the strenuous board accreditation process, Dr. Byrne became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and brings her expertise in internal medicine to the patients of Alamo Pintado Equine.
FARRIERS
We see foot care as an important and necessary part of taking care of wild mustangs.
We have many horses in Oregon that self-trim as they would in the wild living out on our 9000-acre ranch. They cover huge distances on rocky terrain and their feet naturally wear down. There are other horses who are easy to handle and we get their feet trimmed regularly with our wonderful farrier team.
JANELLE HIGHT
In Oregon, we are very lucky to have such rocky ground in places that the horses, for the most part, self-trim but the others are regularly trimmed by our incredibly knowledgeable bare foot trimmer Janelle.
We are the only sanctuary I am aware of that has a farrier on full-time staff. Janelle knows our horses as she is with them day in and day out throughout the year.
She is constantly checking feet and trimming where needed and we are so lucky to have her on our team.
SANTANA
In Malibu, our farrier is Santana, who comes every 6-7 weeks to check on the horses’ feet. We also always have him come see any new horse we rescue, straight after the vet so that he can follow any instructions she might have for foot care as many rescued horses come in with bad feet.
He is one of the kindest, gentlest and most skilled feet doctors we know. He works with horses so beautifully and takes time with care and patience on every horse he handles.
Pictured at right is Santana with beautiful Rhys. All the horses at Malibu stand well for the farrier and are easy to keep trimmed.