SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Two horses found starving and abandoned in the East County are beating the odds. Sparky and Buttons are now recovering at Falcon Ridge Equine Rescue in Valley Center.
When the Falcon Ridge Equine Rescue first opened their gates to Sparky and Buttons, there was some doubt as to whether they'd pull through at all. But that was about four weeks ago.
"They're happy, and that's the biggest thing. They're happy and they are improving," rancher David Lee Archer said.
You can still see their ribs and hip bones, but Archer says the neglect was so severe they'll never be 100 percent again.
Their age also plays a factor. Sparky is close to 30, but still likes to roll in the dirt, while Buttons is 35-plus, according to Archer, and has a tougher road ahead.
"Out of the two she's going to be the hardest one to put the weight on because her age, just like us, their metabolism doesn't digest it and get all the nutrients out of her feed," he said.
The rescue is getting help from the San Diego Horse Coalition, and from their first days when they'd stand somber, to their now galloping high energy, the plan to rescue them is paying off.
"As they pick up more weight, you're going to see more personality, because they're going to start feeling better, better, better," Archer said. "You can see that he still has a lot of life."
Archer says the vet had to pull a total of five teeth from the horses, which also affects how they can feed.
While he does have hope they could find a good home, he admits they may end up living their life out at his ranch.
