2026 Giving Trip Day 8: Under the Shadow of Agua

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

Today we traveled to Santa María de Jesús, a community known for strong working mules and for the kind of need that does not hide itself. When we arrived, mules were already lined up and waiting, their presence steady and unmistakably purposeful.

The clinic was set up on a concrete football field in front of a school. Everything about the location demanded focus. The footprint was tight. The approach was steep. There was only one entrance and exit, requiring animals to navigate a curve in and out of the space.

Outside the clinic boundary, life continued uninterrupted. Working horses and mules passed the entrance constantly, hauling sugarcane, wood, rocks, and building materials up and down the hill. The MAGA group had already numbered the animals and begun organizing the flow when we arrived, though our supplies were still en route.

The Clinic Takes Shape

Because of the tight space, the flow of the day had to be deliberate. Farriers were positioned along the long side at the center of the field. Intake supplies sat at the far end to the left of the farrier area. Dentistry was placed at the short end, anchored to the soccer goal and farthest from the entrance to keep movement as controlled as possible.

We were met by a large group of second-year veterinary students and new professors coordinating education. As the van was unloaded and before it even had to leave, Dr. Jacquelyn Garabito was already briefing students, setting expectations for safety and learning in a high-energy environment. Once unloading was complete, students were formally introduced to the team and the structure of the day was explained.

The biggest challenge at this location was the confined working area combined with very strong, not well-handled mules.

Setting the Tone

The morning’s FullBucket Forum was led by Dr. Lindsay Deacon and centered on Ephesians 2:1–10. The message was simple and grounding. The only reason we are here is by grace, and the ability to serve comes not from our own work, but from that grace.

That theme followed us quietly throughout the day. Poverty in this community is intense and visible. Children wore heavily soiled clothing. Shoes did not fit. Holes existed where there should not be holes. Gratitude here feels less like an idea and more like a weight you carry.
What little service we can provide is of immense benefit, even when it feels small compared to the scale of need.

The Work

We saw forty-two animals today, mostly mules, with a mix of horses and a few donkeys. Many were thin, in poor body condition, and carrying pack wounds.

Even under-conditioned, the mules were powerful. Safe restraint required creativity and teamwork. Soccer goalposts were used as anchor points for ropes so dentistry, wound care, and injections could be performed without putting animals or people at unnecessary risk.

One of the most significant clinical moments involved a young chestnut stallion whose owner came with a clear request for castration. He described dangerous behavior toward other animals and members of his family. Dr. Fernando Motta coordinated a standing castration, taking the concrete footing into account. Laying the horse down would have increased the risk of injury during recovery. A standing procedure offered the safest option in this environment.
For many students, this was their first time seeing a castration performed standing rather than under general anesthesia. Dr. Motta narrated each step, explaining not only what he was doing, but why. The education extended beyond students. Owners and farriers nearby absorbed the decision-making process in real time.

Education in the Field

Despite being second-year students, growth throughout the day was remarkable. Many arrived hesitant and unsure, with little equine handling experience. By the end of the day, their posture had changed. Hands steadied. Voices carried confidence.

On intake, Dr. Embry Simon began sending students directly to owners to gather history, then return to the doctors to round on their findings. Owner concerns, observations, and physical exam notes were presented clearly. This approach improved efficiency and gave students meaningful responsibility.

With that structure and support, students delivered intramuscular injections for vaccines and deworming with confidence they did not have that morning. After the castration, they asked thoughtful questions and maintained appropriate distance, showing they were learning not only medicine, but judgment.

Human Moments That Stay With You

Late in the day, we were called to a mule with a catastrophic injury. She had been hit by a motorcycle and suffered a broken leg. The family had reached the point of euthanasia not from lack of care, but from lack of access. Paying someone else to perform euthanasia would have cost money they needed to replace the animal.

We were able to anesthetize the mule and provide humane euthanasia on the family’s property, at the bottom of their hill under the shadow of Volcán de Agua. The mule’s owner, his wife, was devastated and profoundly grateful. She shared a tearful hug with Dr. Jacquelyn Garabito and Dr. Ciera Guardia. No translation was needed.

It was one of the saddest situations many of us have witnessed, and also one of the most important. Taking away suffering is still care. Sometimes it is the care that matters most.

And then there was Mush.

A small jenny arrived with an eleven-year-old boy who spoke her name like a secret he was proud to share. Mush adored him. He crouched between her front legs, hugged her neck, and cuddled her like a dog. She welcomed every bit of it. When adult men approached, her ears pinned and her intent was clear. She was his.

Together, we safely worked with her, provided needed veterinary care, and trimmed her feet. The boy’s gratitude was quiet, steady, and enormous.

Closing the Day

By the time we packed up, the emotional tone of the day had shifted. The euthanasia came late, and it weighed heavily on the team. The drive back was quiet, not because there were no words, but because some days change how gratitude settles in your chest.

We returned to Antigua with a deeper awareness of how fortunate we are and a renewed commitment to keep showing up with steady hands, humility, and love, one animal and one relationship at a time.

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.