Everything we do here at Plasvacc USA revolves around the health and happiness of our donor animals. Cared for at our ranch in Templeton, CA, our horses come from many different backgrounds, and each has its own story and distinct personality.
We are proud of our donor herd, and always make sure they are happy and well cared for. We thought you might like to meet some of them:
Elvis
Show Name: Viva’s Las Vegas
Age: 16
Height: 16.3 hands
Breed: Holsteiner
Favorite Snacks: Fuji Apples, Carrots, Peppermints
Favorite Hobbies: Jumping and bossing the other horses around
Elvis came to the United States as a 4-year-old from Charlot Farms in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Originally purchased as a jumper prospect, Elvis developed into an exceptional hunter instead. He has competed in the Amateur Owner Hunters at all major shows in California, won numerous championships and year-end awards, and has wins at the National Hunter Derby.
He came to Plasvacc after fusion surgery failed to alleviate spinal cord compression in his neck, and since then Elvis has been one of our most efficient plasma donors for Equiplas R. He has donated countless units of plasma, each one potentially saving a life by providing antibodies to Rhodococcus Equi for foals.
Elvis is quite the character yet manages to stay out of trouble, while remaining a fan favorite. He now lives in his grass field happily eating all day, bossing his buddies around, and donating plasma when he has the time.
Cooper
Age: 24
Height: 15.1 hands
Breed: Quarter Horse
Favorite Snacks: Horse Cookies
Favorite Hobbies: Steer Wrestling and eluding any human trying to catch him
Farrier Chad Krainock donated Cooper to Plasvacc in 2014, to retire him from his steer wrestling days. Chad acquired Cooper when the horse was eight years old, and they competed in PRCA Steer Wrestling rodeos for many years together. Cooper has won the Ventura rodeo twice and placed at many other major PRCA rodeos. He also volunteered as an “Exceptional Rodeo” horse which helps children with special needs to be able to ride rodeo horses.
Now almost 25, Cooper donates for our Equiplas and Equiplas WNV (West Nile Virus). Because of his gentle temperament, he is sometimes used as a babysitter for new horses in the barn.
Ginobili
Show Name: Ginobili
Age: 16
Height: 16 hands
Breed: Thoroughbred
Favorite Snacks: Carrots
Favorite Hobbies: Running
In 2009, a sad, skinny, broken-down four-year-old bay gelding was bid away from a killer buyer in a livestock auction. He was rescued at the request of Tranquility Farms, a retirement ranch for Thoroughbreds located in northern California. His name was Ginobili, and he was a veteran of 14 races with earnings of over $157,000 who ran his last race at Hollywood Park on December 20, 2008.
After a stay at Tranquility Farm to become healthy once again, Ginobili joined the Plasvacc USA donor herd in 2010. Since then, he has donated numerous units of plasma and lived on grass pastures making friends and enjoying his retirement.
Our donor horses are critical to ensuring that every bag of plasma we sell is of the highest quality, so their health and wellbeing are our top priority. To learn more about how we care for our donor horses, and the important role they play in our process, visit our donor herd page.
