2026 Giving Trip Day 7: San Andrés Itzapa on the Street

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

Today's clinic unfolded directly on the street, set up on concrete in front of the local primary school. The municipality closed the road to make space for the work, transforming a busy thoroughfare into a temporary veterinary clinic. Dentistry tents went up along the curb. Supplies and vaccines were staged across the street. Traffic noise, machinery, and dust filled the air.

A concrete plant nearby ran at full capacity. Dump trucks unloaded rock. Equipment clanged. Motorcycles and horns passed constantly. Despite the chaos, the horses stood quietly, steady and patient in the middle of it all.

Across from the clinic, a newly constructed outdoor fútbol stadium overlooked the scene. Compared to previous days, the horses in this community were thinner overall, carried heavier packs, and showed more saddle sores, lameness, and nutritional deficits. Many owners arrived cautious and unsure, needing extra time and explanation before vaccinations or sedation for dental work felt comfortable.

Setting the Tone

The day began with the FullBucket Forum, led by Dr. Ciera Guardia. The reflection focused on using time, skills, and resources with humility and love in service to others. One simple reminder guided the work: above all, love each other deeply.

That message carried through the day. In patient conversations with hesitant owners. In teaching offered without ego. In teamwork that stayed calm and steady despite the noise and constant motion of the street.

The Team and the Work

The clinic was staffed by Dr. Embry Simon and Dr. Lindsay Deacon from Littleton Equine Clinic in Colorado, equine professionals Scott Giebler and Christina Lawton, Pete Christianson, and Dr. Fernando Motta, an ambulatory veterinarian visiting from Pennsylvania.

Shade was limited, with only the farrier tents offering brief relief from the sun. Temperatures were warmer than previous days, adding to the physical demands of the work. Leadership and communication were critical to keeping the clinic running smoothly.

Dr. Simon and Dr. Motta worked closely together, guiding fifth-year veterinary students through physical exams, body condition scoring, vaccination protocols, blood draws, and dental evaluations. As the day progressed, students grew more confident, stepping into hands-on roles while asking thoughtful questions.

Cases That Defined the Day

Twenty-seven horses were seen during the clinic. While the number was smaller than the day before, the medical needs were more complex.

Pack wounds and thin body condition were common. Many horses showed foot issues related to angular limb deformities and long-standing imbalance, requiring careful farrier work to support animals that carry heavy loads every day.

One case became the emotional center of the clinic.

An older gray mare named Sorpresa arrived with severe weight loss, significant muscle atrophy, and sores over her hip points from frequent lying down. She moved cautiously and appeared unstable behind. Examination revealed a rotated coffin bone in her left front foot that had penetrated through the sole, exposing sensitive tissues.
The response was focused and deliberate. Wooden clogs were applied to both front feet to improve alignment and protect the sole as healing begins. Sorpresa was vaccinated, including tetanus and rabies, dewormed, and sent home with pain medication. Local farriers, already trained and deeply invested, made a plan to monitor her closely in the weeks ahead.

As her pain eased, her demeanor changed. She softened, began to play, and nudged at a farrier’s hat and Concho’s hair. The farrier team gathered proudly for a photo with her afterward. Care did not need translation.

Teaching in Motion

Education unfolded continuously throughout the day.

One horse presented with a congenital wry nose, unable to breathe through one nostril but otherwise in fair condition. Another arrived with a chronic draining tract on the face that had persisted for nearly a year. Oral examination suggested the tract did not communicate with the teeth, though dental floating was performed to address sharp points and cheek irritation. The tract was flushed, and the owner was taught how to clean it daily using a dilute betadine solution. Antibiotics were started to help resolve the infection.

Teaching moments emerged organically. When a student asked about wolf tooth removal, Dr. Simon explained why it was not indicated in an older horse. Moments later, that same student shared the explanation with classmates, bridging language gaps and reinforcing learning.

In another moment, Dr. Simon calmly reassured a hesitant owner that dental floating would not involve tooth extraction, just relief and improved chewing. Trust followed clarity.

Human Connection

Because the clinic was set in front of a school, children lingered nearby throughout the day. With a mother’s permission, Scott offered donated clothing to a young girl. A bright pink shirt and cheetah-print leggings fit perfectly. She put them on immediately, jumping in place as her face lit up.

Joy like that does not distract from the work. It deepens it.

Closing the Day

By the end of the clinic, the heat had taken its toll. Before leaving, the team stayed until Sorpresa’s care was fully completed, wanting to be present for the entire arc of her day.

The drive back was short but quiet, marked by the kind of tired that comes from focused, meaningful work. Tomorrow, the team heads to Santa María de Jesús, known for its large mule population and another dense, working environment near a school.

These early days have helped the group become a unified team, moving carefully and deliberately so that as the pace increases, the work remains safe, steady, and grounded.

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.