Yesterday someone asked me why only one of the horses is wearing a blanket. Well I actually did an entire video about horses wearing blankets just a couple of weeks ago, so within that is a condensed little masterclass on everything about making the decision to blanket horses. But the reason that horse has a blanket on is because he does not feel well. It has not been that cold here this winter (very unusual) so the horses for the most part have not needed blankets to protect them from the weather. But he needs extra help.

This horse was given to us at a young age, a cast off from the racetrack, because despite his impressive pedigree (his father was 2nd in one of the Triple Crown Races), he was born with a slightly crooked hoof so they didn’t think he could hold up to the rigors of race trainer. The big gelding is actually our best trained horse. For those of you who have been around horses, you might know how magical it is to have one that does anything you want when you just think of it, because he is so exquisitely sensitive to body language and so eager to do what you would like.
However, he has also been extremely spooky and accident prone his, as well, which is why he is so sensitive, but also why he has suffered several serious injuries over the course of his life.
Once we were taking him with a group and a lot of little children on a nature walk. He stepped down onto an entire section of down barbed wire fence. When he picked his hoof up, the entire length of fence popped up too out of the grass, except he was attached to it all. He panicked and tried to pull away. But even all of his strength was no match for 100 year old barbed wire rusting on the ground and attached to several posts, now broken off, but still holding all of the rows of wire together. It was a terrifying moment.
He panicked and threw all of his weight backwards, which in essence caused the barbed wire caught on his hoof to begin to saw nearly ⅓ of his hoof off. After sending children to neighbors houses to beg for help, meaning wire cutters so we could free the now exhausted and bleeding horse, we finally got him free.

I thought for sure I needed to put him down. The idea that he could heal from such a catastrophic injury seemed impossible. By then several people showed up to help. A cowboy friend of mine patted me on the should and said, ‘your a dang good vet, you can save him’. So I took a deep breath and got to work.

After several months of treatments, strict confinement, and antibiotics, he did heal. But with a significant limp and now forever needing special shoes to help him stay comfortable.

As if that is not enough, now he has developed bladder stones, so he is constantly in discomfort and groaning to urinate despite all the medications we try. So he is losing weight no matter how much we feed him, so he has a blanket on to help him conserve body heat in this weather and to pamper him some because he is struggling.

I looked at him the day before yesterday, and I really wondered about his quality of life. This is not something I want to think about. None of us ever do.
I am grateful for the blue blanket that was donated to us for him. I am grateful for all the lessons he has taught me. I am grateful he is still here today because he might not be soon. I am grateful for all of the comments I received on yesterday’s short, which is a new, pleasant development. I am grateful I was invited to attend the Rocky Mountain Koi Club party last night, it was so fun! I also got to speak to a few people about horses, and might even get us a new volunteer.
So today is a new day. It’s Sunday, a day of rest, spend with family, and regroup for the week. Did you say something nice to yourself yesterday, or do something nice for yourself? I sure hope so, and if not, you still have time today. In life we are always surrounded with difficult decisions and choices that we sometimes don’t want to make. So today, give yourself a break from it all and just be in the moment. Smell the air. Watch the sunlight filter through the trees. Contemplate the wildlife that lives outside without any help from us, amazing, isn’t it? Today, you Animal Loving Angel, I do indeed hope you have a day that ends up so much better than what you are thinking, right now. And if you at all are able to help us in any way, please send us an email or donate here https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Resqranch Wishing you a Sunday you won’t soon forget. God Bless You!

Catch all of our good morning videos at www.YouTube.com/@the1DrQ