Lucky/Cocoa Arrived At the Ranch 10/7/21 in horrible shape.
LUCKY UPDATE - September 2026
Lucky Update – September 2026: A Long-Awaited Breakthrough
In 2021, Lucky came to End of the Trail Rescue after years of abuse and neglect that had been overlooked by the sheriff’s department, animal control, and local veterinarians. One of our barn managers stopped and asked whether he needed help.
He did.
When Lucky arrived, he was starved, emaciated, weak, and in obvious pain. His hooves were severely overgrown, his teeth were damaged, and he could not fully open his mouth. For four years, we have worked to care for him and understand what was happening inside his jaw.
Last week, Lucky traveled to Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins. We believed he would need major jaw surgery. A CAT scan finally revealed the truth: Lucky’s jaw had been broken, healed incorrectly, and fused. Over the years, his teeth continued growing in dangerous directions, locking together and preventing him from opening his mouth fully.
CSU called it “Lucky Day” when we brought him in. They cleared their schedule, and a team of three veterinarians and surgeons prepared to work on him all day.
But once Lucky was under anesthesia and the speculum was placed in his mouth, something remarkable happened. The veterinarians were able to open his mouth. They continued expanding the speculum, and his mouth opened farther and farther.
With Lucky fully asleep, the specialists were finally able to assess the situation. They discovered that his teeth – not the jaw itself – were the primary reason he could not open his mouth properly.
This is fabulous news!
Lucky will return to CSU on September 16 for dental surgery. The team will reduce and remove the teeth that are preventing him from opening his mouth. After surgery, he will remain at CSU for at least three weeks of rehabilitation. Massage and red-light therapy will help him relearn how to use his jaw and chew properly.
This is why, as a rescue, we do not rush directly to euthanasia before we understand the full story. Several veterinarians suggested that Lucky be put down, but we could not give up on a horse with so much spirit and courage.
We are incredibly grateful to the compassionate team at CSU for working with us to find a solution that can greatly improve Lucky’s quality of life. The veterinarians were deeply impressed by the care Lucky has received and by our willingness to go the extra mile to discover what was truly happening with his jaw.
Lucky has waited four years for this chance.
Now, at last, he is getting it.
Meet Lucky – A Story of Survival and Second Chances
When Lucky arrived at the Ranch in the fall of 2021, he was a heartbreaking sight. Starved, emaciated, and desperately weak, he had been surviving on nothing but instinct and sheer will. One of our staff members noticed him standing alone — a forgotten horse with overgrown hooves, hollow eyes, and a body so thin it spoke louder than words ever could. He had been called Cocoa, but when he came to us, we gave him a new name: Lucky. Because from that moment on, his life was never going to be the same.
Lucky was only 8 years old, yet his body carried the weight of years of neglect. His teeth were painfully overgrown and riddled with abscesses. His hooves were long and twisted. Every part of him needed help — gentle hands, patient treatment, and a team that believed he deserved a future.
And that’s exactly what he received.
We placed Lucky on a strict, nurturing feeding schedule, offering small meals every four hours to help his fragile body rebuild. Farrier visits, intensive dental care, and constant veterinary oversight became part of his new routine. Slowly, day by day, Lucky began to heal. He learned what it felt like to be safe… to be cared for… to be loved.
Today, Lucky is nearly unrecognizable from the horse we first met. His ribs are no longer visible. His coat shines. His eyes are bright. And that sweet spirit he kept buried under years of suffering has finally emerged — gentle, trusting, and full of hope.
Lucky isn’t just his name. It’s his story.
He is a living reminder of why we do what we do, and when the time is right, he will be ready to find a forever home that cherishes him as much as we do. For now, he continues to thrive here at the Ranch, surrounded by people who are grateful every day that we found him when we did.
Lucky still needs our help. Because of the severe abuse he endured before coming to us, he continues to struggle with ongoing jaw issues. Our team has been closely monitoring his condition, and to make sure he gets the very best care, we’ll be taking him to a specialist on the Front Range for a more in-depth assessment.
We’re committed to giving Lucky every chance at comfort, healing, and a brighter future. Lucky’s journey is proof that with love, care, and a second chance, even the most broken hearts can heal.
Lucky today
