Simba
Simba was rescued in July 2025 along with his mother Sarabi. They had been through an auction recently and ended up in a bad situation running out of time before heading to slaughter.
Simba is a 2 year old stud colt (who will be gelded once healthy) who was staying close to his mother’s side. Once removed to safety, he was timid initially but also calm with some approachability. He was also showing signs of coming down with strangles (a contagious respiratory illness).
Simba was “weaned” from his mom and each placed in quarantine areas since she too had been exposed to strangles. Simba has remained alert, eating and drinking well.
His initial veterinary exam included a plan to give him nursing care for the strangles infection, then to test him for halter training as it is unclear whether he had much handling in the past. He will need to be halter trained and familiar with more handling before certain veterinary tests and procedures can take place.
The next veterinary check up showed Simba to be brighter and friendlier; standing for pets of his face and shoulders and also allowing a halter to be placed on and led in his pen without any incident. The strangles infection had organized more into slightly larger retropharyngeal hard masses lateral to the upper airway.
Nasal discharge was mild and mostly right-sided with clearer airway sounds and no difficulty breathing at rest. Simba continues to eat hay well and holds his head at a normal level and has the normal alertness of a 2 year old colt. The walls of the lesions were not yet mature, but since this exam one lesion did open up a day or so later.
Simba was able to be palpated and it is confirmed he is a cryptorchid and will require the special surgery other than a normal castration. Until he is fully recovered from strangles and has time to ensure it is fully cleared, he won’t undergo the surgery (hoping October will be when it can occur).
In the meantime, he will have some basic handling to have him ready for a farrier trim in the near future and to help determine if he knows about being groomed and so on. He’s a sweet boy and everyone is looking forward to getting him well and letting him grow (he’s already showing signs of another growth spurt).
Update (October 2025): Simba is almost fully recovered from his strangles infection and after additional quarantine once the last abscess heals, he will be able to live next to other horses. In the meantime, he has his own turnout area and is always in sight of other rescues. He’s doing very well with basic handling and is a very sweet tempered horse. He is tentatively scheduled for cryptorchid surgery near the end of November.
Update (Nov 2025): Simba has remained clear of any last symptoms of his bout with strangles and all abscesses have healed nicely. He underwent castration surgery just before Thanksgiving and the procedure went smoothly with no signs of complications. After care instructions were followed meticulously and Simba was doing well.
Update (Dec 2025): Just under 3 weeks post castration surgery, Simba showed some swelling at one of the incision sites and a lump of tissue was protruding from the opening. His vet came out and diagnosed a rare post gelding complication — an infected sirrous cord.
Simba was placed on antibiotics for a few days prior to a new surgery on December 22 to remove the wad of scar tissue. This surgery went smoothly with some good news, but also precautions to beware of.
The vet will be following up on December 22, and again December 29 unless needed sooner if the healing up process shows any other issue.
UPDATE (2026): Simba has recovered from his castration surgery and subsequent follow on surgery to remove a build up of scar tissue. He continues with basic ground work and other handling appropriate for his age and improved physical condition. He will have additional veterinary care in April for dental checkup and vaccination. In the meantime, he is enjoying being friends with retired rescue horses Red, Lilla and Sarabi.
More About Simba
- Retired
- Dark Bay
- Colt
- 2023
- Andalusian
- Colorado