First of all, I wanted to thank you all for buying so much of my jewelry and really helping me carve a big chunk out of MT’s hospital invoice! I started out owing $7800 and through your generosity – and jewelry splurges – you’ve really helped add to my payment schedule and I am now down to $2800! That is huge progress in 8 weeks of trying.
Thank you!
MAMA TESS UPDATE! – The relief part…
The Founder Warrior came today and both of us had a bit of trepidation because last time she was here (3 weeks ago), we weren’t sure what was going on in Mama Tess’ good foot… There was serum leakage and she was sore.
To be honest, we still don’t know what is going on… We just know it isn’t the bad thing – a bone infection.
MT has an odd area near her good foot’s hoof wall that is slightly oozing and painful, but it doesn’t have any odor and it isn’t identifiable as anything in particular.
We took Xrays today and luckily, they didn’t show any bone deterioration in her right so we are relived that it is probably not a bone infection.
Phew.
Double Phew.
We still don’t know what is going on… but at least it isn’t the worst thing. And if it isn’t the worst thing, I can deal with it. ;)

This is her right foot (the good one). It looks fabulous from this angle. Perfect. Just LOOK at that sole growth! Thank you Theraplate and Enzion Hoof Supplement!

This is the mystery spot on her right (good) foot. We don’t know what it is… It isn’t odorous. It has no pus. It seems like serum. I could be a serum pocket. We have no idea. She doesn’t like us poking at it. (It was difficult to take a photo with her moving.)

Comp Xrays. On the left side is her right foot 3 weeks ago. The right side is today. Luckily, there is no bone deterioration or infection plume. Still a mystery, however.
HER LEFT FOOT
The left foot is growing sole like crazy (Thank you Theraplate and Enzion Hoof Supplement!). She was trimmed 3 weeks ago!
The piece of wire on top of her hoof wall is to indicate the top of the massive hole. The next time we take a side view Xray, we can measure her hoof wall growth.

Yes, this is her bad left foot. It is still not forming well adhered lamina, but, it is growing sole like crazy and so far, so good with the hoof wall growth…! The metal wire will help us measure her hoof wall growth after the next visit in 3 weeks.
Tess’ left foot coronet band is producing hoof wall as well!
I don’t think it is growing as fast as her sole – and it is certainly lumpy – but it is growing because the huge hole is lower than it was 6 weeks ago.
You can see the hoof wall growth in the photo below.

The left side was today – the right side was 6 weeks ago. You can see that the hoof wall has grown – albeit lumpy and deformed. It is growing!
We found no foul odor, although the underside hole – which is almost impossible to photograph – looked a bit angry.
Because the underside of the hole looked angry and because that side is the closest to the actual coffin bone, I decided to quit using the Koppertox. I felt that it might be hurting the new tissue. So, even though the surgeon wanted me to use it, I have switched to what the Cornell vets suggested: EquiSilver Veterinary Wound Spray. (No affiliation. They don’t even know I ordered it for MT…)
Of course, I am applying massive quantities of THE BALM from Equispa. I just love it and love what it did to heal Bodhi’s atrocious and huge wound. So, now I spray the EquiSilver into Tess’ wounds, I saturate a gauze and stick it in there and I also put THE BALM around the edges so it will melt onto the open sores with the heat of her feet.
And then I wrap like crazy!

This is the underside of her left foot. You cannot see the depth of the hole because it goes in and towards the left. It is a large hole.

This is the Xray of her surgery site today. You can see the cavernous hole that isn’t obvious from her sole pics.
THE TRIMS
The Founder Warrior was able to remove so much foot again on this visit! I am amazed at the growth in just 3 weeks! Again!
In fact, there was so much growth, MT was relieved after we trimmed her heels. IN THREE WEEKS!
It was obvious that MT’s stride was (easily) 40% better after the simple trim!
Trims are very important…

Here she stands today, watching the Founder Warrior leave… Tess was visibly more comfortable after her trim today – and it had only been 3 weeks since her last trim! This girl is growing foot!
MAMA TESS FUND – KIT CARSON SET… STERLING, MOTHER OF PEARL. Heavy, OOAK, Awesome!
When I lived in LA and was just starting out as a commercial producer, I frequently hung around a store called, FREE HAND. It had the most incredible jewelry from gifted artists. One of them was a fledgling Kit Carson. Now he is very famous, but then, he wasn’t.
Anyway, this robust sterling and Mother of Pearl set isn’t signed. But, it is his. I remember distinctly because I had to put the three items on layaway until I could afford them… so the experience is still in my mind clearly.
Not all the parts are exactly the same size – which is something I love about this set. You can totally tell that he made each piece. Even the earrings are different sizes if you put them next to each other.
It is time to let this set go for MT.
Sterling silver. Mother of Pearl. Original art by a young Kit Carson. Not signed – but he made them all.

Original Kit Carson designed and created Sterling and Mother of Pearl trio. 8″ bracelet, Ring 6.5. Earrings are pierced.
1) KIT CARSON ORIGINAL, HANDMADE STERLING AND MOTHER OF PEARL EARRINGS: Mother of Pearl, Sterling. Handmade by artist Kit Carson (himself). I won’t even tell you what I paid several years ago… ;)
SOLD! THANK YOU, MARSHA!
If the link doesn’t work, that means it has sold. Thank you!
2) KIT CARSON ORIGINAL, HANDMADE STERLING AND MOTHER OF PEARL RING: Heavy sterling and Mother of Pearl. Size 6.5. The band is 1/2 inch wide! The Mother of Pearl Cross assembly is the largest in the entire set. This was hand made by Kit Carson although it isn’t signed. I absolutely fell in love with this young (at the time) artist when I saw this ring. If you look on the internet, you can see see that his items are of very high value.
TO PURCHASE THIS RING, CLICK THIS LINK. $135 (shipping included)
If the link doesn’t work, that means it has sold. Thank you!

Original Kit Carson Sterling and Mother of Pearl ring. He made this. 6.5. Band is 1/2″ thick sterling.
3) KIT CARSON ORIGINAL, HANDMADE STERLING AND MOTHER OF PEARL 8″ BRACELET: This is one of my favorite pieces because if you look closely, you can see that it was hand done. It pieces are not identical. Each one is hand done so each one is different. Very cool. I paid $450 for this at the time… If it was signed, it would be worth a lot right now – but he was very new and didn’t sign it. Heavy sterling and Mother of Pearl 8″ bracelet.
SOLD! THANK YOU, JENNIFER!
If the link doesn’t work, that means it has sold. Thank you!

APRIL BUCKET FUND: Can we help relieve the burden of 19 horses to feed and upkeep from her grieving family?

I love reading the MT updates and would love to know how the hole got there was it an injury or was it surgery the other foot I do wonder could it be what we in the UK call a corn my section B show pony was laid up for a long period with a leg fracture and he developed a corn on his other foot due to extra weight bearing just an idea I am sure you have already thought of that keep the updates coming