Keeping Our Big Heads Safe and Sound – It’s Worth the Wait
/By Sue Cleland
Our four Big Heads – Sir Denver, Pouty Face, Escalade and BJ – are our largest residents. And like all HEEFS residents, we do everything possible to ensure they get the individualized care they deserve. But their size makes that all the more difficult.
BJ and Escalade
Pouty Face and Sir Denver
How it all started
All four were some of the earliest residents at HEEFS. In late 2014, BJ and Escalade were surrendered by a family who could no longer care for them and several months later, Sir Denver and Pouty Face made the 14-hour drive from a failing sanctuary in Quebec to live with BJ and Escalade at their forever home at HEEFS.
Over the past seven years, Denver, Pouty, BJ, and Escalade, have learned to trust that our daily care, gentle brushes, and enrichment activities only come from kindness and compassion.
“The best way to keep The Big Heads safe is to not put them in a situation where they would feel stressed, or feel the need to run and jump a fence,” explained Kevin Weil, Facilities Supervisor at HEEFS.
How It’s Going
Slowly, the Big Heads have demonstrated their comfort at HEEFS by taking food from our hands, playing together, grooming each other, and much much more. Pouty will spend a long time laying in the grass with volunteers who massage and brush him. He is very picky about the quality of kale but absolutely loves Dad’s cookies!
Denver prefers to not be touched so volunteers will sit near and have conversations with him about how handsome he is and how much he is loved. He is not a fan of Dad’s cookies and will shake his head from side to side if you offer one to him as if to say, “No, thank you!”
Escalade was a racehorse who is understandably fearful of people touching his head - but has greatly improved with time. We are now able to quickly put a harness on and trim his bangs. He seems to enjoy going for walks around the property, and he and BJ love apple treats. When BJ has to receive healthcare treatments, Escalade will demonstrate separation anxiety from his friend until he returns.
Regular Check-Ups
All residents receive a full health examination every six weeks by the HEEFS Caregiver team. There are also regular hoof trims, annual vaccinations, and vet visits as needed. To maintain that level of comfort and trust, we carefully plan their healthcare treatments and their movement between pastures. At approximately 2,000 pounds, our largest Big Head resident, Sir Denver, is a gentleman who cannot be forced into any situation he is not comfortable with.
“Cows, horses and donkeys are very social animals, and they may jump a fence if they were feeling trapped, threatened, or wanted to rejoin their herd,” said Andrea White, Animal Care Supervisor at HEEFS.
If any of the residents were to unexpectedly leave their pasture, there is a tree line and secondary fence line that would stop them from leaving the property. To be extra prepared, in maintaining everyone’s safety, we also have an escaped resident protocol in place which we hope to never have to implement.
“A lot of consideration goes into building our gates and fencing to make sure we can guide the residents around the property without them feeling forced. Whenever we move The Big Heads to a different pasture or to the chute for healthcare treatments, we make sure the movement is mostly their decision,” said Kevin.
Meeting Them Where They Are
BJ, Escalade, Sir Denver and Pouty Face are unique individuals with different backgrounds. While providing medical care is necessary, we do everything possible to meet them on their own terms. We must be patient and give them time. With each new day, as the Big Heads get more and more comfortable with us, they teach us in so many profound ways that it was totally worth the wait.
