Wind Dancer

[Rowdy]

Wind Dancer, a.k.a. Windy, is an 8 month old Mustang-Appaloosa cross. Eva found him and fell head over heels in love with him when we went to pick Dreamcatcher (previously known as Boxer) up. His name at that time was Archie. He was malnourished because his dam, Olive, was very ill with a virus and could not recover with him nursing. Eva earned $100 in one month to purchase him. We brought him home in early Oct 2009 when he was 4 ½ months old. She immediately renamed him Wind Dancer.

I deployed later that month. With me gone and Windy away from his mother, Eva and Windy found comfort in each other. She can often be found snuggling with him in the pasture, or hugging him in his stall.

We are working with the vet to get him healthy. He came loaded with parasites, and very underweight. His thick coat disguises his condition—his hips stick out and his ribs can easily be felt. He is finally up to 277 lbs, about half of what he should weigh, but he seems to be doing well. We have a long road ahead in getting him healthy, but he has the unconditional love of one very special little girl with a huge heart to see him through the rough times.

- Rowdy

Eva and Wind Dancer 5.jpg

[IMustBeCrazy]

Does Eva have any idea how lucky she is? I would have KILLED to have been able to snuggle my very own horse at her age!

[Rowdy]

I hope she doesn't take it for granted!

Wind Dancer's first day home e.jpg

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Rowdy I think this is one of the most beautiful and touching things I've ever heard And what a beautiful blaze Wind Dancer has.........sigh.....

[Rowdy]

White eyelashes on the left and black on the right...stunning! He didn't get a blue eye out of it though. Profeta has taken it upon himself to act as a bodyguard for the little guy, and even let's Windy steal grass and hay right from his mouth!

Wind Dancer and Profeta a.jpg

[Madge]

He'll be quite the looker when he grows up! Your daughter is VERY lucky!!

[Rowdy]

Yes, he is a looker--the vet said, "You won't miss him coming!" That little pot belly he has is from the parasites. We are working with the vet to remidy that problem.

Wind Dancer came down lame in the front right a couple of days ago, and is warm in the area of the sesamoid. We are soaking and watching it closely. The vet wants to see if the problem will resolve itself before we x-ray or anything. So far, he stands squarely, but favors it when he walks.

Send those prayers for healing!
- Rowdy

[IMustBeCrazy]

probably slipped in all this danged mud! My two were running and bucking and sliding yesterday. Won't be surprised to see one of them limp today! My prayers are with him.

[fxtrtrgrl]

Wind Dancer is beautiful - your daughter is one lucky young lady. How is the leg/foot doing?

Lyn

[Rowdy]

He is worse today, really trying to keep weight off the foot and not standing square. I will have the vet come out and look at him. I wouldn't be surprised either if it was a result of this slippery mud. Dang stuff!

[Beth]

Sounds like he might have an abscess. They can develop in the feet from trauma like a stone bruise. The lameness becomes progressively worse until it opens to the surface and drains. They usually require treatment with daily epsom salt soaks and antibiotics after the vet or farrier opens it to drain. They usually recover from them well though.

[Rowdy]

Thank you, Beth. That might well be the case. We do have some rocks in the pasture, and he was kicking his heels up pretty good out there. I have been amazed at how sweet he is about the epsom salt soaks. He just stands there munching on his grain, foot in the bucket like it feels GOOD. Even the first time, he just accepted it like it was part of his daily routine. I think Eva's interaction with him these past few months has led to a special trust. He was so skittish and unapproachable when we first got him; he has come such a long way in a short period. It is wonderful what love can do!
- Rowdy

[Beth]

All of my babies have been imprinted and handled from birth. When D'Arcy stepped on a nail and required daily soaks, she stood there like a trooper and usually ate her dinner during the soaks. She was just a yearling at the time. Alannah came in with her eye swollen shut one day when she was a yearling as well. She required eye drops several times a day. I had no help during the day, but it didn't matter. I could apply them myself, I didn't even need to put a halter on her. They reflect the treatment they receive. Good luck with your baby. Bute helps a lot with the pain.

[Rowdy]

Unfortunately, we haven't had any of ours from birth. In spite of the late start, I think Eva is doing a splendid job.

Wind Dancer is EXTREMELY lame today. I took a video and sent it to the vet; she wants to do X-rays and an ultrasound first thing in the morning so we can try to determine what the problem is. It might be something minor, but we want to rule out anything serious. I had to confine him to his stall today and he was super about it; he stayed down most of the day. He is really avoiding placing any weight on that right front foot. The trailer ride may be pure he!! for him tomorrow. I will bring Rhythm along as a travel buddy to ease the stress a little.

I wish I could take the pain from the little guy and make it mine instead...
- Rowdy

[Beth]

It.really sounds like an abscess to me now. Hope everything is ok...

[Rowdy]

Oh, Beth, if only is was something as simple as an abcess...the sad news it that he has "a cartilage lesion with an apparent chip in the right fore fetlock on the medial ridge of the third metacarpal" in the vet's words. He has similar damage on the left, but without the chip. He will probably require surgery to fix these problems; his severe malnutrition is the probable cause (the cartilage didn't grow right). The vet is sending the x-rays to an equine joint specialist for consultation.

Today's assessment alone cost nearly $600. I'm scared to death of the cost of bilateral surgeries! Please pray that we can make this happen somehow. This little guy deserves the chance to live pain-free, and I can't let Eva down. I don't know how we're going to aford this. Why does money have to be so darned important???

I've never had such a bad headache in my life.
- Rowdy

[Beth]

I'm sooo sorry Rowdy. I know that if anyone can help, this group can find them. You and your family are in our prayers...

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

OH No Rowdy - I'm so sorry to hear this - we will help you however we can - please know that

[IMustBeCrazy]

so is this like the chips race horses get? How scary for you and Eva. Many prayers headed your way.

[Rowdy]

Thank you all so very, very much. Your concern is a huge lift--I have spent the day feeling like I got kicked in the stomach.

On a brighter note, there is some good news, too. The vet gave HUGE kudos to Eva for her treatment of Wind Dancer. He has gained 22 lbs and is up to 299, the swelling is way down in his legs, he is much more alert, and he is so friendly and touchable. He was absolutely wonderful during the exam, only pulling away once when the vet wiggled his joint in a way that caused the chip to bind.

The way the vet explained it is that the chip is like a rock in your shoe. When you get the rock moved to where it doesn't poke you, you are uncomfortable, but you can still walk. When that rock rolls under your foot, suddenly you can't any more. That explains why sometimes he seemed OK, and at other times he was acutely lame. In fact, he got off the trailer walking with only the slightest limp, took about 25 steps and turned right, and was immediately unable to walk again. I actually spotted the chip in the joint on the x-ray before the vet did; she was focused on some damage to the sesamoid bones (bilateral, but will heal on its own) when I pointed the chip out to her.

I am still waiting to hear from the joint specialist, who should get back to the vet within 24 hours. He will recommend a path ahead for treatment. Please keep those prayers coming, both for Wind Dancer and for Eva. She is taking this hard. I am trying to convince her that it isn't her fault, and her love and devotion are the best part of his recovery.
- Rowdy

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Poor baby - that sounds terribly painful!!!! We'll help how we can.....poor little guy.

[snowshoehair]

Well, good news is that he is young. Youth is always helpful for anything that involves the bones. Perhaps just removing the chip will do the trick for him...

[Rowdy]

Lori,
You are right, with youth on his side he has a great chance of recovering. At least now he has a home with a safe stall, plenty of food and water, and a little girl who has given him more love than he has ever known. I know everything will work out.

Still no word from the equine joint specialist...I don't know how soon I will hear something with the weekend upon us.
- Rowdy

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Keeping the little one in my prayers.......working on something to help

[Rowdy]

Wind Dancer is in good spirits today, but his pain is obviously worse. He barely hobbled outside to be hand grazed, and only wanted to come right back in and lay down. At least he still has a good appetite. I hope we hear from the specialist very soon. I hate to see him hurting like this.

We have found someone looking for a horse trailer and so we will sell ours--that will give us a little money to start with. We still need a miracle though--keep those prayers coming!
- Rowdy

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Prayers always..........much love

[Rowdy]

I got word from the specialist today; he recommends surgery sooner rather than later. The specialist also said, "I am somewhat concerned about the long term soundness due to the severity of the lameness with these lesions. They may be quite large so I don't think that there is a guarantee that the foal will be sound following surgery but clearly removing the debris will be necessary to have any reasonable shot at a sound animal..." Wind Dancer is a foal that desires to be active, and I am afraid that he will only do more damage to the joint if we wait.

Regarding future soundness, Eva took that information very well. Whatever is in store for this little colt, we will stay within his limits. If that means he can never carry a rider, then that is as it is; he will always be loved here. There is nothing wrong with having a loving--and loved--companion horse. Believe me, with Eva to love him, he will have a far better life than many sound horses!

The surgery alone will cost $2,075 for both fetlocks...that doesn't include board where they do the surgery, or medications, or any other expenses, but is only the cost of the surgery itself.

[Rowdy]

Surgery is scheduled for this Thursday, 11 Feb at Ocala Equine Hospital in Ocala, FL. The surgeon will be Dr. John Madison, an equine joint specialist. We'll take him down there the night before, and we don't know yet when he will be able to come home again. This would be a 4.5 hour trip under normal conditions, but with a colt in pain, it might take much longer.

[Annabreher]

Surgery is scheduled for this Thursday, 11 Feb at Ocala Equine Hospital in Ocala, FL. The surgeon will be Dr. John Madison, an equine joint specialist. We'll take him down there the night before, and we don't know yet when he will be able to come home again. This would be a 4.5 hour trip under normal conditions, but with a colt in pain, it might take much longer.

Poor boy! On a positive note, Eva is learning so much about horse care. He seems like such a sweet boy. Both him and your family are in my prayers.

-Anna

[Rowdy]

Anna, you are so right. Eva currently has her sights on becoming an equine vet, so this is wonderful experience for her as she grows in maturity and wisdom.

Here is an update that is also good news: the $2,075 surgery cost includes 1 night of boarding at the equine hospital and medication during the surgery itself, but no additional nights boarding (he will be there a minimum of 2 nights), follow-on medication or care, or other expenses. The total cost will be much higher.

Keep the prayers coming. We'll find a way to pay the bill somehow.