Day 6: First Day With The New Team
A new dawn broke over San Andreas Itzapa as our second team stepped into the rhythms of service established by Group One. This fresh ensemble brings together an impressive mix of expertise: from University of Georgia's dental specialist Dr. Rachel Green and equine technician Alec Green, to Houston's Pete Christianson with his endless supply of dad jokes and steady support. Dr. Matt Moskosky from Fredericksburg leads alongside Dr. Ciera Guardia, whose dedication to Guatemala's working equids spans back to 2016.
The team's diversity is its strength – Dr. Fernando Motto brings his "Jedi Master" skills and vital translation abilities, working alongside Anna, our cheerful vaccine preparer and record keeper, and AnaRosa, whose eleven years of veterinary service experience proves invaluable in bridging language barriers. Dr. Jessica Dunbar arrives from Colorado with her passion for dentistry, while Dr. Ashley Whitehead from Calgary stands ready with her EKG and wealth of teaching experience. Scott Giebler and Christina Lawton from Antech/Sound, Nyla, a fourth-year veterinary student from Oklahoma State, and the legendary Concho with his unique blend of horsemanship, veterinary, and farrier skills round out this remarkable group.
The morning air buzzed with anticipation – that familiar mixture of excitement and uncertainty that comes with any first day. Would the horses come? What challenges would emerge? Yet as the community began arriving with their working companions, the team quickly found its rhythm, with each member naturally settling into their role.
Two cases particularly highlighted the importance of our work. A six-year-old horse arrived with a story written in pain – a draining tract along its mandible that had persisted for two years, previously dismissed as an unhealing snake bite. What began as a routine examination transformed into a revelation: tooth 407 had five open pulps requiring extraction. In another case, a two-year-old presented with a fractured mandibular cheek tooth, barely erupted. Drs. Dunbar and Green tackled both cases with skill and creativity, even improvising with antibiotic-soaked tampons to pack the surgical sites.
As the day progressed, we treated 31 horses in total, addressing the usual spectrum of needs – from hoof care to malnutrition – while distributing vital minerals to support these hardworking animals through the year ahead. What began as a group of strangers transformed into a synchronized team, each person's skills complementing the others' in service of these essential animals and their families.
The early finish to our day offered a moment to reflect on important lessons learned, particularly about the value of thorough examination. Even when initial observations seem unremarkable, proper sedation and investigation can reveal critical issues requiring immediate attention.
As the sun sets on our first day together, we look ahead to tomorrow's promise. Each sunrise brings new opportunities to serve, new cases to solve, and new connections to forge with both animals and their caretakers. From the volcanic slopes to the valley floors, we know more working equids await our care, more students eager to learn, and more owners ready to embrace better ways of caring for their four-legged partners. Tonight, we rest, knowing that tomorrow will bring its own unique challenges and rewards as we continue this vital mission in the heart of Guatemala.
