“On its Last Limb”, Tree Trimming day at The Wildhorse Ranch Rescue

By Ritchie Rhinehardt

It had been several weeks and the rain and wind just kept coming.  The skies were dark, filled with clouds that kept Mother Earth saturated with more moisture than the parched ground could absorb.  An old tree in the rear of Wildhorse Ranch Rescue (WHRR) property swayed back and forth as if it were dancing out of sheer gratitude for the long awaited rain.  Creaking and cracking, shedding branches from its massive trunk, that old tree was on its “last limb”.  While the tree might have been grateful, we here at the Ranch were concerned.

This particular tree was well over one hundred years old and showing its age.  Towering high above three important structures, the tree was a threat to not only the buildings but to the very animals which this organization struggles to protect.  One downed limb could potentially devastate the Ranch and create an enormous expense financially and through loss of life.  We had to take action and act quickly.

Wildhorse Ranch Rescue contacted many local landscape companies via email and explained the severity of our particular situation.  We explained that we were a 501C3 charity organization and were in desperate need of donated landscaping services to address this imminent threat WHRR was facing.  Only one company responded to our plea. 

The very next day, Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management arrived at the site to assess the situation.  Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management is a local Gilbert, Arizona business that provides its services to the surrounding areas.  We were extremely impressed with the knowledge this company’s employees possessed as well as the speed that this generous company replied to our plea.  The WHRR staff learned very quickly from Professor Potts of Caretaker that this tree was dying and had to come down in order to protect WHRR property and animals.  Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management immediately scheduled services for the middle of February, 2010.

A few weeks later, on a cold, rainy and windy Saturday morning, a volunteer crew from Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management arrived at WHRR to address the dying tree.  Some volunteers from WHRR were also present and attended the safety brief provided by Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management, where we were given instructions on hazards and procedure to follow in order to avoid injury or potential death.  Hazards of equipment, falling debris and basic common sense were explained.

There were people in hydraulic lifts cutting branches, people on the ground with ropes and chainsaws.  Volunteers were pulling large branches to the tree chipper to be cut up into a near fine powder.  It was apparent that this was like watching a choreographed dance.  Everyone associated with Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management knew what to do, where to be and what their job was all the while keeping WHRR staff members, the property and each other safe from the grand task at hand.

Because of the generosity of this local Arizona business, WHRR was able to save our structures and potentially the lives of the animals that we protect.  We are forever grateful for the services provide by Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management for their knowledge and commitment to our community.  On behalf of Wildhorse Ranch Rescue, thank you to the staff and volunteers of Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management for your services.

Wildhorse Ranch Rescue

11811 S. Lindsay

Gilbert, AZ  85296

480-503-5497

www.whrr.org