Ptara

Ptara is a very elegant Polish mare that came to us when she was 16.

We found out later that she was grass foundered at about 6 years old. When she arrived she was wearing shoes that had been on since last year. They had to come off, and when they did her feet turned to baby powder. She then developed one of the worst abscesses I have ever seen. Her whole heel separated with an infection that would not go away. While soaking her foot 3 times a day she rotated the coffin bone.

In the meantime she was “roaring”, and seemed to have uncontrolled “fits”- cysts on her ovaries from being on regumate during her show years. The abscess finally cleared so we could put a shoe on her, and then she developed an abscess on her other front. We kept thinking WHAT NEXT?

While watching her “napping” one day she appeared to go to sleep standing up and then she fell over. Our vet diagnosed her with narcolepsy. We were all wondering how much more of this Ptara could take.

After a year of care and one thing after another, Ptara was finally well again. She is now the sunshine for Kim, who is her best friend, and her other horse friend Lady.

Delta

This now wonderful 12 year old quarter mare came to us as an owner surrender. Her owners had no money for feed and she was terribly emaciated. As I walked into the dark barn she turned towards me and her look told me she’d given up. Delta was severely dehydrated and in desperate need of food. Every bone in her body stood out. Reportedly pregnant, we knew it was a desperate situation. Not having been wormed the feed she needed could only help so much, but worming her in the shape she was in could kill her. After three months of tender loving care, enough feed and double the water intake of a normal horse she finally decided she would stay with us . Everyone that meets her falls in love. She knows she is in a safe place but is still looking for her forever home.

Update: Delta has been adopted by Gant and Melissa Renick!

Darla

Darla and her daughter Strawberry came to us from a “home with good intentions, but little experience” of horse ownership. Her owner first contacted us to tell us that Darla probably needed to be put down, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She asked if we would use our knowledge to try to save her, or at least alleviate her pain. The owner had given up.

Darla had gotten tangled in a fence a few years ago. Tragically, she had completely torn the heel bulb off her left front hoof. The injury exposed her to the elements and infection. She also developed a very deep crack on the inside of this foot from exposure. The Owner’s farrier told her Darla had thrush, someone else had told the owner to treat it with bleach (this type of treatment kills any healthy tissue). The owner applied bleach every day for years. In addition the farrier had been putting shoes on both her front feet that were two sizes too small for a 1300 pound horse. Over a few years of mis-diagnosis and improper attempts to treat and cure the problem, the hoof deteriorated to the point of putting Darla’s life in jeopardy.

When Darla arrived at the rescue, it was discovered that a nail had been driven directly into the crack, with every movement it irritated the whole foot. We called our vet, who pulled the shoes and cut away at the crack and was able to find healthy tissue. He also declared she had white line disease, not thrush. The leg was x-rayed to determine how extensive the damage was. Our farrier arrived the next day. He put on backwards shoes to support the heel bulb that was missing, and we soaked the foot twice a day for the infection. Our farrier declared her fit to ride as soon as she had enough foot to support her.

After a long time of care to improve her health, she has been adopted by Chip Burkett. Darla has a forever, loving home with people who care for her damaged hoof as part of her daily routine; when it is wet they keep her in the barn to prevent further deterioration; they pamper her like the queen she is and are THRILLED with the new addition to their family. Her hoof has grown out completely and they are able to enjoy riding her. Our farrier continues her care, as well as that of a second horse who is Darla’s companion. For the previous owner, a novice working with unskilled people, Spring Creek made it appear easy. However, with skilled farriers, vets, and knowledgeable horsemanship skills, this story has a very happy ending!

Colton

Colton came to us 3 weeks after a dog had chased him through a fence. Half the size a yearling should be, severely starved, terribly scared of humans, in pain from his injury, wormy and dehydrated.

Our vet cut off the proud flesh from his wounds, cleaned up what was left of his back legs & left us with LOTS of antibiotics. Never having been handled the activity in the barn sent him to the corner to cower. Although he moved away from any human, he watched with amazing interest everything going on. When his legs had started to heal, and the weather grew warmer, it was time to start haltering, handling and worming. Some of the other colts were first, Colton stood in the corner of the barn and watched. After 3 of the other horses were introduced to a chute, haltered and touched the humans were tired, figuring Colton had already been through so much we would leave him for another day. As we began to put things away, pleased with the progress the other colts had made, Colton came forward, looked at us, and put himself in the chute! The intelligence and understanding he demonstrated was AMAZING. Although he cringed when touched, he dropped his head, licked and chewed, and let us groom both sides and halter him. After 6 months his legs are still healing. He’ll never grow to his full height due to early malnutrition but will be healthy and happy when he finds his forever home.

He still watches & takes in EVERYTHING we humans do. He knows he is “Colton” but still has a problem with trust. He spends more time with us humans than his horse buddies. He is looking for a patient, loving home.

Update: Colton became a gelding 1/07, he has become one of the most social horses at the rescue, he is our greeter for every new horse that arrives ( especially the ladys!) He now asks for attention from his human caretakers, likes to be groomed, hates to be ignored. We expect him to really blossom this summer & become all that he can be!

Updated as of 5/08/08: At this time Colton still has BIG trust issues, & continues to keep a fear level way above normal. So for the time being he will continue to be a "permanent resident" until such time he can trust someone other than his one person.