Our Horses
Sept. 2022 Pheonix arrives at WNCR with a #2 body score.
One month into his recovery.
May 2023. A little over a year into recovery.
Feb. 2024. Moving from recovery with WNCR into rehabilitation with EERC!
April 2024. Enjoying pasture time with the Enchantment Equitreks herd.
Meet Phoenix, the EERC flagship horse.
Gathering Evidence, a former champion who gave his all on the racetrack. After years of racing, Gathering Evidence was ready for a well-deserved retirement, instead, he fell into the hands of neglect and starvation. Walking in Circles Rescue (WNCR) was able to rescue him, where he earned the name Phoenix, symbolizing a firebird emerging from the ashes. It took over a year of careful care to bring his body back to a healthy weight, and now it is our turn to turn his recovery into rehabilitation. Although Pheonix is our first racehorse to enter the Enchantment Equine Rhablitation Center program, we know he will be one of many we will help.
Pheonix's journey from the bustling racetrack to our serene sanctuary is nothing short of inspiring. Here, he's rediscovering the joys of simply being a horse—grazing in lush pastures, feeling the sun on his back, and forming bonds with other rescues. Transitioning from a high-speed racer to a peaceful pasture-dweller isn't easy, but Phoenix is thriving. His spirit, once driven by competition, now finds joy in gentle care and daily affection. Every day, his personality shines brighter, reminding us why we do what we do.
How Can You Help Pheonix?
Phoenix’s physical needs will take roughly another year of rest and light work before he can be introduced to the riding aspect of our program. The cost of supplements, medicines, vet, farrier, and chrioptratic visits can be costly. Donations are certainly appreciated to help him on the road to rehabilitation.
The Road to Rehablitation
In addition to racehorse habits, Pheonix still has lingering physical lameness issues in his feet due to his severe neglect. Working with our vet, chroiprator, farrier, and trainers we have developed a plan to
Physical :
Treat pre-navicular diagnoses with OSPHOS injections.
Prevecox as needed for inflamation flare-ups due to Pedal Osteitis.
Biotin and other supplements to promote the healthy growth of his hoof.
Corrective and padded shoes for underrun heals and flat feet.
Chrioprtactic appointments to treat overcompensation in the shoulder girdle due to foot lameness.
Mental :
Race horses are high paced competetors. We have developed a training guide to engage Phoenix’s mind in a more thoughtful and precise way.
Our number one priority is slowing down. We start by creating new experiences from old habits. For example, as we introduce him to the western saddle, saddling doesn’t’ necessarily mean that he will be required to work. He’s learning to associate saddling with human interaction instead of human experience.
As he physically improves, we will start in the round pen, learning to move through all gaits quietly and on voice command.
His next step in groundwork is moving over and around obsticles to increase his confidence and body awareness.
He will be introduced to different trails as pack horse and wrangler horse with Enchantment Equitreks.
Our ultimate goal is to help Phoenix find his forever home at a trail companion through adoption.