2026 Giving Trip Day 3: Between Two Volcanoes

Field Report from the 2026 Texas Equitarian Project ~ Sponsored by FullBucket

Photography by Michael Pintar

The road climbed gradually into Alotenango, a community nestled between the peaks of two volcanoes. As we ascended toward the worksite, a cinderblock wall bordering a school came into view, covered in murals hand-painted by locals. One caught the eye: an image of a volcano with coffee beans and a village at its base. The text read: Si cuidamos la tierra, la tierra nos cuidará - if we take care of the Earth, the Earth will take care of us.

It felt like a message meant for us. If we care for one another, we all will be cared for too. The mural’s wisdom was an extension of our FullBucket Forum conversation that morning, which had centered on gratitude, particularly gratitude for the small things in our lives that would be easy to ignore or miss. Recognizing small things with gratitude can grow exponentially, not only within ourselves but through our interactions with others.

The Earth Exhales

The municipality had already set up tents to provide shade for the dental exams and procedures. Approximately 45 animals were gathered with their owners when we arrived - a mix of horses, donkeys, and mules. Representatives of the municipality were present throughout the day, expressing their appreciation for assistance with animals so important to their people.

As we gathered with the students and professors from the veterinary college into our morning circle, the volcano behind us began to rumble. A huge cloud of ash and smoke rose into the sky, almost as if the Earth was exhaling just above us.

For the locals, volcanic activity is part of daily life, with intermittent plumes and rumbles occurring seemingly every hour. For those of us visiting the area for the first time, or revisiting after some time away, the resonant rumble of the volcano and its emissions were both humbling and inspiring simultaneously.

Learning from the Mules

In days prior, the team had worked primarily with horses and few mules. Day 3 brought a different mix, providing the students and team the opportunity to work closely with Concho on mule handling.

Mules seem to have a much stronger opinion about being handled. They require a very respectful approach, particularly when so many of them haven’t had their legs handled and lifted in the ways required for a full, thorough physical exam, unlike most of the horses. Concho’s expertise as a farrier, veterinarian, and natural horseman made him the ideal teacher for these moments.

The Work

Body condition was again widely variable, with some working animals having very low body condition scores and others in excellent flesh, inviting the ongoing conversations about nutrition that are central to this work.

At the dental station, one horse presented with a parrot mouth, a severe overbite relative to the mandible. This condition creates significant problems with chewing feed into small bits for ideal digestion and produces wear patterns in the teeth that can limit normal range of motion, further decreasing the ability to grind food. The dental team, Luis and Will, were able to help this horse by addressing some of its dental wear issues.

Dr. Leslie Easterwood examined and treated an eye issue, one of her specialties in practice. She did an amazing job communicating her findings to the students and including them in the examination process and communication with the owner. It’s particularly important to diagnose and treat ophthalmic issues early, as these can progress very quickly.

A Student Finds His Confidence

One student in particular, Alejandro, was fully engaged at the dental station. He took the dental float, kindly donated for our use on this trip by Horse Dental Equipment (HDE), and learned to use it well under close supervision and instruction from Dr. Luis.

It was wonderful to watch his face transition from a tight, nervous expression to a more joyful, confident one as he moved through the mouth with the instrument. These are the moments that make the teaching mission tangible. watching a student cross from uncertainty into competence in real time.

Alejandro wasn’t the only one stepping outside his comfort zone. Will Franklin, Dr. Rob Franklin’s brother, has served throughout this trip as Dr. Luis’s dental assistant. Will had a childhood love for horses but has never worked with them professionally and is not in the medical field. On Day 3, he learned how to safely administer an intravenous injection to a horse. He did it on his first try.

It was a huge step forward, learning to do something his younger brother has done thousands of times over a 25-year career as an equine veterinarian. Watching the two of them work together on horses for the first time, it was clear Will was gaining an even deeper appreciation for the depths of skill and talent Rob brings to his work. Brothers, side by side, one teaching and one learning.

Joven Contra Adultos

One of the highlights came at the end of the day: a game of soccer with four preteen boys from the village, Brian, Eddie, Jimmi, and a friend who was reluctant to introduce himself but clearly enjoyed the match. The dirt field. Kids versus adults.

They all screeched in celebration when one of our team members suggested joven contra adultos.

Brian played the entire game in flip-flops, his right one flying off his foot every time he kicked the ball. No frustration was expressed by anyone. It was just Brian having fun, doing the best he could with what he has. The lost shoe was never a limitation to joy or participation. He was all in, no matter the circumstance.

What an amazing message, one each of us continues to experience and become more aware of in ourselves as the trip progresses. Afterward, we settled into ice cream bars from the local tienda together, a fitting end to a day that began with a message about caring for one another.

The team, once again, was a well-oiled, integrated machine of international coworkers, a celebration of unified focus on service for the horse and its people.

Tomorrow brings another community, another chance to serve.

The Texas Equitarian Project is collectively sponsored by FullBucket, the Texas Equine Foundation, and the Foundation for the Horse, with additional support from Boehringer Ingelheim, Zoetis, MWI, Precision and Wickliffe compounding pharmacies, and HDE and Yeti equipment suppliers.

If this work inspires you, please consider supporting equine health initiatives through the Texas Equine Veterinary Foundation or the Foundation for the Horse. Your donations help fund vital programs including student scholarships and volunteer initiatives focused on working horses in developing countries.