Ajax

Here is an updated photo of Ajax (AJ) with Nancy. AJ is living a happy, safe, healthy life, hanging out with best buddy Cheyenne.

Ajax is very happy in his home with Gary and Nancy. He and his horse friend, Cheyenne, are very bonded and enjoy the retired life – both being about 29 years of age. Ajax has hypothyroid and is on medication.

Ajax has found the perfect home! Nancy and Gary came to SAFE looking for a companion horse for their mare, Cheyenne. Her buddy had just passed away and left her very depressed. Nancy and Gary were quickly smitten with Ajax.

Ajax came to us in April in rough shape with a body score of 3 and an old eye injury. He had been passed around home to home with no one caring except a family friend who was trying their hardest to do right by this senior gelding. She was the one who reached out to SAFE when he had nowhere else to go. Upon arrival, we went right to work getting him back up to his ideal weight and having the vet check out his eye, which luckily didn’t seem to cause him pain. Ajax quickly became a favorite with his sweet nature and we discovered he easily got attached to his horse neighbors and would get upset when they were gone during their training.

When Nancy and Gary met Ajax for the first time, they were impressed with how relaxed and easy going he was. They loved him right there on the spot! Now they just had to wait until their mare, Cheyenne, had her eye checked out at the veterinary. There was a possibility she might need to have it removed and they wanted to wait for her to heal if needed. Fast forward about a week, and Cheyenne did need to have her eye removed. When they brought her home, she was very stressed. Gary called us, hoping to come pick up Ajax that day! We rushed to get everything ready, happy to help out a mare who had experienced so many stressful changes in her life and the chance to give Ajax a caring family who would love him forever and provide a wonderful life.

After only being at SAFE for one month, Ajax headed off to his new home in Maple Valley. His adopters were kind enough to send a photo of AJ at his new home when he arrived. He and Cheyenne bonded immediately upon meeting each other, and all is peaceful and happy at their farm. It was truly a case of love sat first sight for these two one-eyed horses. We’ll miss this sweet old fella but we’re so happy that our one-eyed gelding has found himself a one-eyed mare to hang out with!

We recently had the vet out to take a look at Ajax. His blood was checked for possible Cushings and luckily it came back negative. He also had a dental and at this point it is still inconclusive whether his eye is causing him pain or discomfort. Our vet took photos and will be discussing options. There is concern, because of his age, that eye removal may be difficult for him to handle.

Ajax is a social guy and gets attached to every horse in the paddock next to him. When they leave for training or come in to the barn at night, he gets upset. Recently, we brought in a new horse, Domino, a 25 year old Quarter Horse Paint. He was on quarantine on the property all by himself, so we brought Ajax over to help him settle in. Now the two get to enjoy grass turnout everyday with each other and are best buds.

Ajax and Domino stretch their legs

Best buds!

We have a new horse who joined our herd late last week: Ajax, a 23 year old QH Type gelding, was “rescued” some time ago, but for the last few years, he did not receive the care he needed. When his owners sold their farm, he was rehomed to someone who wanted him as a gaming horse, something he was far from able to be. The new owner tried to return him but his old owners couldn’t take him back. He was facing euthanasia when a caring and concerned family member reached out to SAFE, and happily, we were able to take him.

Ajax is in pretty rough shape: he’s thin and malnourished, with possible Cushings and an old injury to his right eye. His body condition score is a 3 so we are free feeding him timothy and alfalfa to get his weight back up. As he gets healthier, we will slowly add senior grain and haystack to his diet. Our vet will evaluate his injured eye to determine if we can make him more comfortable.

Despite his poor condition, Ajax is sweet and kind, and we are grateful for the chance to help him get healthy again. He seems quite happy in this new environment. And no matter who is lucky enough to adopt Ajax in the future, SAFE will always be part of his life to ensure that he always has a lifetime of safety, love, and care. Welcome to the herd, Ajax. We’re so glad that you’re here with us.