Velvet's Story....

Velvet came to us through a volunteer who found her laying in a field. Upon checking back on her it disturbed the volunteer that the horse still was not on its feet. She inquired about it with the property owners and found out that the horse had been laying out for 3 days. They left her and were not giving her anything for pain. No vet was called. She was just being left there to die! They discussed the mean ways they could dispose of her. It was appalling! The upset volunteer kept checking back and told the people about our program in hopes we could do something about this mare. The horse didn’t belong to the property owners, they were caring for it for someone else. (Yikes!!!) Our volunteer asked how to contact the owner about Velvet. In talking to the owner we discovered she didn’t have the knowledge or experience to care for this animal and no money for vet bills. She agreed to donate the horse, and it was very obvious to all of us involved no one else there had any intention of helping Velvet at all. They said the coyotes were starting to come up and nip at her! This was a very hard situation for our many volunteers, the vet, and the farrier. These people had no compassion or concern for Velvet. Not an ounce of empathy for her obvious pain. Needless to say we all met at the property and prepared her for the move. The vet felt her slim & only chance of survival was to get her out of there! Our concern was she was too far gone for us to really help. But, Velvet had that look in her eye. She had responded to our volunteers, and with as much pain as she was in, she still tried!

The following day when she was more stable she was moved to her rescue foster home.

The first few nights were touch and go. We thought we were going to lose her or would need to put her down. But, she still had that sparkle in her eye. She was eating everything in sight, drinking etc. We watched her around the clock, checked on her, got her food, water and got her up occasionally.

Velvet had numerous open pussy wounds on her that needed to be treated. One was 2 inches long and about 4 inches deep. We had to clean it 3 times a day with a peroxide/water wash and flush the puss out of it. It had gone untreated for so long that it may have gone septic. This was likely the reason the mare was down to begin with!

Her blood work came back. It indicated she had not been getting food for quite some time. Her body had used up its fat reserve, and had started on her muscle. With a human that takes 3 weeks. ( So how long for something the size of a horse with out food? ) Velvet seems to be progressing. She is getting up easier, still wanting food and water, and nickering for cookies! She is on the course to rehabilitation. She still has a long road ahead of her, and the out come is not yet known. But we are all rooting for her, and she is trying with everything she has. She hasn’t given up so neither will we.

After all this she will deserve a good home to live out the rest of her days.

I think of the scripture from Proverbs: “The righteous man cares for the needs of his animal.”

I think “needs” are more than just the physical ones, they need our compassion too. For all who have been involved in Velvet’s rescue & the fight for her recovery... Thank You! She has shown us all that love can give them the will to fight! No matter what the future holds, she is a special horse who has touched the heart of many!

WE STILL NEED DONATIONS TO HELP COVER VELVET'S VET BILLS! ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE! THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO THE CARE OF THE ANIMALS. NONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE PAID!

This is the wound that almost ended this horses life. It was very infected! When we got to her she had many open sores but this was by far the nastiest! It was at least 2 to 3 inches long, and was almost 4 inches deep! It had to be flushed out numerous times a day. After almost 3 weeks it is now almost completely healed.

Here is Velvet brushed & wounds treated.

Still need to get a picture of this. She is looking SO good!