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Greetings
We have a new addition to the rescue center - a tiny, two-year-old
miniature horse who is, unfortunately, already going blind.
We'll tell you more in a later issue.
This month I'm showing you a letter from a reader in The
Netherlands whose horse has a similar issue as our Faith.
I'm afraid I have some sad news about
my two old kitties, Amy Sue and Otis James.
Thank you!
Nina Arbella, Chief Manure Mucker, Eye of the Storm Equine
Rescue
Dear
Nina,
I read your incredible story about Faith on your Internet
site. It gives me a bit of hope that I can save my horse.
I own an 11-year old quarter horse mare with a very badly
injured deep flexor tendon between the fetlock and the hoof,
and possibly lower. The tendon is not completely ruptured
yet, but it does not look well. I want to try everything to
keep her with me. I know I won't be able to ride her anymore,
but she deserves a nice life so I want to try to give her
that. I was wondering if you could write me more about Faith's
treatment. Maybe this can help my horse.
Thank you very much,
Jolande
The Netherlands
Dear Jolande,
This is a very serious and life threatening injury. The most
important thing is to stabilize the leg as soon as possible
to prevent further injury. We used a Kimsey Splint. Horses
were not created to be three legged. Because of the weight
of their bodies and the structure of their legs, it is almost
impossible for a horse to function on three legs. The opposite
one will soon break down from carrying the weight of half
of the body.
It is important that the injured leg be fitted with a cast
or splint so it can bear some of the weight some of the time,
while still immobilizing the injured area.
In Faith's case, she wore the Kimsey Splint for six weeks
or so until I could arrange for a crane, farrier, and veterinarian
to come to put on a special shoe designed by our farrier to
support the back of her leg and set her toe back on the ground.
He also put a heart bar shoe on the good leg to help support
that foot.
Faith's x-rays looked like a bag of dislocated bones. The
tendon ruptured somewhere deep in her foot. Her hoof just
bobbled loose on the end of her leg. She walked on her heel
with her toe pointing up. (See "Saving
Faith," for the whole story and additional
photos of Faith and the special shoes for details.)
This shoe saved Faith's life. Tendons take a very long time
to heal. It has been three years and I am still very protective
of Faith. I don't trust her to not hurt herself again. She
is young and healthy and her own worst enemy. But after all
this time she walks without a limp. All her muscles have returned
to normal and she is absolutely beautiful. The heart bar keeps
that leg sound.
Not every horse will handle confinement well. In Faith's
case I am with her all day, everyday to keep her company and
cater to her every whim and need! She has handled this all
very well. No one thought she would. In my experience, horses
can adjust to anything, given time. Faith has become my best
friend through all this and we are very bonded to each other.
Take advantage of your situation and let love help to heal
your horse as well. It is the most powerful force in the universe.
You did not mention which leg was injured. It if is a front
one, you will probably have to make some kind of boot to keep
her from stepping on the heel extension with a hind foot.
Faith and your mare may have wear their special shoes for
the rest of their lives.
Nina
 Amy
and Otis, Good-Bye
With the greatest of sorrow, in the last two months I have
had to say good-bye to my oldest and dearest friends. At the
age of 19, Amy Sue and Otis James have left my life.
They were cats. Their love and constant devotion to each other
for 19 years should be an example to us mere humans. I called
them my "little old married couple." Amy Sue was
always the leader of our little pride of cats through all
those years, Otis her loving suiter.
As they grew older and more feeble they were always together.
They cleaned each other in the spots they couldn't reach themselves.
Amy Sue never wanted Otis out of her sight. Fortunately, she
died first. It took two months for Otis to fade away and join
her in death.
He used to do what I called his serenade to his lady love.
It was a purring, singing, chirping sound. He did it only
occasionally and only in the presence of Amy Sue.
It was the coldest of days in the winter, too cold for Otis
to sleep alone in the barn after Amy Sue's death. I took him
home to my apartment to live out his last days in comfort.
He was deaf and very unsteady on his feet, but moved as quickly
as he could as he looked for her while he sang his song. He
did this for hours, as if sooner or later she would hear and
come back to him.
The stress of losing his lifelong companion immediately began
to take its toll. His little old body was wracked with seizures,
several each day, until he could no longer get to the kitty
pan. There was no dignity left for him. It was time for me
to let him go.
I always said that if I could find a man who could love me
as much as Otis did, I would be the happiest woman in the
world: someone who would look at me the way did with his beautiful,
adoring face, someone who would be as devoted to me as he
was to Amy Sue.
And so I held him as he fell asleep in death. With sorrow
and love I said good-bye to one of my oldest friends. We should
all be loved like that, just once.
I'm always happy to talk to people who call Eye of the Storm
for advice about horse care. But it's become a bit of a problem
if people leave messages and I have to call back long-distance.
We really have to focus our limited funds on horse supplies,
not phone calls.
I still want to talk to you, but please, call back if you
don't reach me. Or, if you're willing to make a donation,
I can call you back long-distance. Thanks for understanding!
-Nina-
978-897-8866
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