Update to my horse's healing hoof- pics may be gross to some

Dear Angel;

Earlier today, I sat down and read, often through tear-filled eyes, each and every one of the 120 posts on your fascinating, and multiple-emotion-illiciting, many months-long thread. I was utterly moved by so many factors...

From your strength and "never say quit" attitude, to the same in your strong and so heartily spirited April! She obviously knew beyond ALL doubt that she was loved, and so clearly loved you just as much. That is why she kept progressing and doing better and better every DAY!

I felt the need to write to you tonight and share with you the degree to which everything you went through not ONLY terrified me (how could it NOT?), but simultaneously inspired me beyond belief. In today's all too often "throw away" world, where people are literally afraid of committing to anything, up to and including the long term care and devotion required to nurse their very ill beloved animals/companions/fur-children back to health. Sadly, even when it is not THE ONLY OPTION, more and more people today who HAVE the financial means to do otherwise will make the decision to put their horse down, in the name of, "I'm not strong enough to go through what will undoubtedly be required in order to get this creature back to where they were pre-accident/injury", JUST the opposite, thank God, from what you decided.

From what it sounded like, despite a likelihood that all would turn out for the best, you had far from a guarantee that she would be back at 100%, or even close. Yet you gambled on yourself and your love for her, as well as on HER internal drive to get well and her love for you. What a BRAVE and unusually strong woman you are! I have also heard the same from so many respondants in this thread...so much bravery, and the voices of folks whom, like you, if faced with the nightmarish situation you were, would have also bet on their horses to win! Such an inspiration reading this thread was to me!

I can tell that your example may very well be what aided in empowering MANY horse moms on this site to realize that if (and God forbid, when) the chips are ever down in their own lives as low as they can seemingly go, they may just have the strength to be able at that time to say, "NOW is when I am going to MAKE this WORK!"...because Angel did it...I can DO IT, TOO! What an awesome achievement.

I would imagine that throughout your future, each time a serious difficulty is encountered in your life, you will have it engrained in your heart and mind that never ceasing to fight is the right way to handle it. So few of us are given the opportunity to find that out ahead of time...the only tragedy is that learning this lifelong lesson involved pain for your beautiful April, as well. If that could have been avoided, this would have been the perfect life affirming lesson...

I imagine you two will share a bond now that many horses and their moms and dads only dream of sharing. She KNOWS that YOU (along with your amazing vet, farrier, boyfriend, and mom, of course!) SAVED HER LIFE. She won't soon forget that. God clearly had a firm hand in this, and once He saw what YOU and your mare were willing to sacrifice for one another, it was as if He literally said, "I will make sure this woman and her fur child are blessed with daily improvement and healing, and I will ensure that everything moves along positively, just as it should..."

Anyhow, I don't mean to be wordy...I can't help myself sometimes. Your story is an amazing one. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to be a tiny part of it through reading it, and I believe I learned a HUGE life lesson, as well, from what you all went through. May God CONTINUE to bless you and April along the path of life wherever it may lead you both...together!

Wow. What a thread. What a journey! Being new to this site, I was able to read start to finish...without the anxiety of what would happen next, how April's progress was going...if something drastic happened that would change the recovery...and having to wait to find out.

I am so happy for you and April...what a special bond to have. We go the extra mile for our horses because they are an extension of ourselves...they become part of us, and no one wants to give up on that.

I hope that you still post the occasional update...because you have had an amazing journey with your beautiful mare! It's an inspiration to all of us that are forced to make decisions like you had to make.

Sorry I am a bit late on this update- too much to do and not enough hours in the day!!! Thanks soo much for the awesome comments. It really is amazing the amount of support I have gotten.

April had new shoes put on the 10th of April. She is still in a bar shoe but it is much shorter as she doesn’t need as much support help. Also it is appearing that she is going to grow a full hoof back!!! How the hoof will look as it grows back is still unknown but there is evidence of a heel coming in.



We also went to an open pleasure show together this weekend. We had 12-17 in each of our classes and finished top 4 in everything (4th place due to a slight bobble by me in the English equitation pattern). Earning the 1st place finish in showmanship was just amazing as we have been struggling with April wanting to rest her left hind during the inspection. It has been repetitive practice that has helped fix that and she is moving with me better than she ever has. Together we had 1 first place finish, 4 second place finishes, 2 third place finishes, and 1 fourth place finishes and ended up highpoint for the day!!!!



I just cannot believe how far April and I have come together over the years. I bought her as a 2 year old and over the last 7 years we have experienced blood, sweat, and tears together (as on many attempts she tried to kill me with her “people trust issues”) and for things to finally start to come together is great. Other than a couple rides on her from family, I have been the only one to exclusively ride her so we know how to push each other’s buttons!!!

Thanks again for the awesome comments and support. I will continue to send updates as things progress.

That's fantastic! Her hoof looks great. Glad to hear she's doing so well.

Backtohorseback- Thank You soo much for your post. I was able to see it the day you posted but just didnt have quite the time to write back.

The financial side of the entire process was definitely a concern from the time the vet was called to even now. I know I asked repeatedly to the vet how much it was going to cost and what he felt his chances were going to be for riding again (I really didn’t want her to have the life of a lame pasture pet). I wasn’t even concerned with her ability to show again, just that she wouldn’t constantly be uncomfortable. I was lucky enough that my dad (I do not live at home anymore and growing up was responsible for my horses so I think that is why he was willing to help) lent me the money to initially cover the first bill (the emergency call, surgery, etc) until I could get my end figured out without just dumping it on a credit card. I was able to sell some items of mine, pick up hours at work, and make custom jackets to get my dad paid off and to handle the rest of the bills (mostly just farrier now).

The time commitment was immense- it pretty much shut down my entire summer last year from going anywhere (which I am not complaining since she was my responsibility). Other than my boyfriend and my mom I just could not mentally hand her care over to anyone without the constant worry of how she was doing. Being in a very basic boarding situation it was hard since she wasn’t just in my back yard to check on her. It caused issues with the boyfriend, family, and friends- but she was my full concern and in the end it has been worth it

In the beginning I was afraid to open this thread when there were updates because I was so afraid there would be a set-back. Todays post is AWESOME! GO APRIL!!!!!

Woot!!!

She's looking so good! I'm so happy for you to be able to have your horse back and healthy, she's come so far! I love seeing how well she's doing every time this thread is updated.

Congratulations, on your show and April's foot. Just the best news:)

Thanks again everyone for the support and amazing comments :)

Here are the 48 weeks since accident pictures. Her hoof is looking really good and there is more evidence of hoof growing on the heel. The farrier still isn't sure how strong the hoof will be but none the less there is some growing.

If anyone in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities needs an awsome farrier let me know.... I highly recommend April's "Angel" that saved her and made her sound again



The frog is looking really good



Side view- you can see the indent of where it came through the cornet band.



Back view



Look who got a new show halter (an no she is NOT spoiled )