Earlier this month, I told you about our April Bucket Fund Virginia Range (Nevada) wild foal, Sinclair. You can read that story here.
Now, we have 3 more critical foals. Goliath, the giant foal with contracted tendons who couldn’t stand to nurse. Oscar, the foal who got mixed up in a scuffle and ended up with the wrong band at 24 hours old… Stitch, the newborn who was caught and severely injured in a barbed wire fence.
I know many of us are without jobs (me, included… I understand). But if any of you can spare a donation, it would be so greatly appreciated for this all volunteer LRTC Team who goes out and administers – hoping to NOT have to make a decision based on finances instead of what the foal needs.
All donations are 100% tax deductible. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
Goliath: born too large with contracted tendons so he couldn’t stand, Oscar: separated at birth by a scuffle – ended up with the wrong band and no mother, Stitch: newborn caught in barbed wire fence
THEIR STORIES…
GOLIATH: Goliath was found laying on the ground with his mother keeping watch. He couldn’t stand. When the LRTC Team found him, they realized that his feel could not flatten in order to walk. The vets think that perhaps his mother didn’t give birth earlier when she was due – because of horrible weather – and she held onto the baby. He got too big and his tendons contracted.
In any event, the team found him and brought him to the emergency vets where he was given plasma, meds to release his tendons, milk replacer… and splints. The Team worked night and day to help Goliath recover. LRTC members are sleeping with him and feeding him every two hours. Now, he is walking! In fact, they say he is a terror!
Goliath got his name because he is huge. (The dam looks like she has draft in her, for sure!)
The LRTC Team saved this baby.
Goliath, who could not stand or nurse… at the hospital awaiting his plasma, meds and fluids. You can see how his feet are pointed downwards…
After plasma, meds (to release his tendons), fluids and splints, Goliath is UP and walking! He is HUGE for a 2 day old foal!
Here he is! Prince Goliath! He took over the mattress that the LRTC Team member was using to sleep between feedings!
OSCAR: Oscar, a newborn, was found wandering around by himself, tagging along with the wrong band. Team members know his dam was from a different band. The Team rounded up the baby and brought him to his correct band. By that time, his Mama was dry and not interested in him. So, the Team brought the exhausted and failing baby back to the hospital for plasma, fluids, meds and overnight care. LRTC members are sleeping with him and feeding him every two hours.
Oscar got his name because he loves a blue trash can at the LRTC facility. He stands next to it and will only take his milk when held next to the can.
Just last night, they put Oscar with Sinclair. They are deciding if they will be friends.
After gathering Oscar and bringing him back to his mother… she wasn’t interested. It must have been many hours since his initial separation. The LRTC Team took Oscar into the hospital for plasma, fluids, meds and feedings after his mother’s rejection. He was exhausted.
The next day, at the LRTC facility, Oscar bravely walks up to other horses – which is probably how he ended up separated from his mother…
This is how he got his name… he loves his trash bin. He stands next to it and wants to be fed next to it.
Sinclair and Stitch spent last night together… they still are deciding if they are friends (look at those ears!).
STITCH: Stitch was found caught in a barbed wire fence. He was bleeding out. The team was able to stave the bleeding until he was brought to the hospital and stitched up. He needs to be kept in a facility in order to administer continued anti-biotics to resist infections and check on his wounds, so he could not be released back to his dam.
In a bittersweet moment… there was a nurse mare who had lost her foal in a nearby town. The LRTC team brought little Stitch to this nurse mare to see if they would connect. And, THEY DID!
Now the nurse mare and the LRTC Team is caring for this baby boy.
Stitch got his name because he was bleeding out and needed lifesaving stitches. (Another piece of good news – the rancher whose fence injured this foal, agreed to take it down.)
Tragic scene for the LRTC Team…
So frightening… baby had a severe cut on his leg from the barbed wire (the rancher agreed to take down this fence).
The LRTC Team could not stop the bleeding themselves so they had to bring him into the hospital for surgery, plasma, fluids, antibiotics…
Stitch had to be watched for his wound opening and infection, so he could not be released. However, the LRTC Team found a nearby nurse mare who had lost her foal to mother this baby. They are a perfect pair!
THE LRTC – ALL VOLUNTEER – TEAM WORKS TIRELESSLY. THEY NEED FUNDING TO CONTINUE ADMINISTERING TO THESE BABIES… TO MAKE SURE LRTC CAN PROVIDE WHAT THESE FOALS NEED, AND NOT HAVE TO TURN THEIR BACKS.
All donations are 100% tax deductible. I know many are not able to work now… I totally understand. But if you can donate, it would be so greatly, GREATLY appreciated.
