Last month, we had two Bucket Fund Horses…

1)  The first May Bucket Fund was Aria, the little filly who was born with a horribly contracted tendon.  It was thought that she needed surgery, but all involved decided to start with a DynaSplint.

The Horse and Man Group paid for the lease on the DynaSplint ($500) and also paid an additional $500 towards the future vet visits for fittings and checkups.

2)  The second May Bucket Fund was for LRTC who desired a Hast Equine Water Rescue Harness for flash flood season – and beyond.

Here was their response when the money was raised:

“Wow!  You guys ROCK!!!!  Thanks!

Willis”

UPDATE ON OUR JUNE BUCKET FUND MARE, KATE!

Thank you all for allowing me the do-over to tell Kate’s story properly yesterday!

You all rallied and Kate’s owner is overwhelmed and very appreciative!  Thank you all for your prayers, good will, comments, emails and outpouring of support!

Here is the latest news as of this evening from Leah:

I saw Kate today.  It was right before she had a cleansing and you saw in the photos the gunk that was coming out. The incisions were the ugliest that I’ve seen so far, but her attitude was good. A couple friends came with me and brought treats, she ate them up and was getting feisty for more. I loved seeing some of her old self coming through. :-)

The gas pocket was from the base of her neck up to her head. They’ve opened up 4 spots so far, the one along her esophagus is the biggest.

Here are the least graphic photos.

 

I’m writing again today about Kate, Our June Bucket Fund Horse – the horse injected with gasoline by some crazy person while she was in her own pasture –  because I think she deserves it and I think I let her down yesterday with my initial Bucket Fund Posting…

Over 40 thousand people read my post about Kate yesterday.

But, out of those 40,000+ readers, I was only able to motivate 7 of you (Thank you so much!!) to donate toward her vet bills.  (Prayers and Good Will always accepted and appreciated!)

7 out of over 40,000.  Yikes.

I’m thinking that this mare became a headline instead of somebody’s beloved horse…

So, I’m going to try again.

I don’t want to let this owner down.  I cannot imagine having these unexpected and excessive vet bills because some idiot did this insane deed.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE!

 MEET SWEET BABY, KATE! – THIS IS THE MARE (when she was a baby) WHO IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE RIGHT NOW.

Kate is the one and only foal her owner, Leah, has ever raised.  She is out of Leah’s beloved riding mare, was born on the property and both dam and Kate still live together.

Kate is the owner’s baby, literally.

 

Pooped after all that work!

WHAT LEAH (Owner) HAS TO SAY ABOUT KATE – WHO IS STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW IN THE EQUINE HOSPITAL…

I love Kate for so many reasons. First I love her mom, Hailey, and wanted to carry on all the great qualities that she possesses (sweet, calm, caring). I even had a mare and foal shower and had more people come to that than would’ve come for an actual baby shower. I watched Hailey intently and when I saw signs of her foaling, I spent the night out in the barn with her. First night, no foal. Second night, and coldest night of the year, Kate arrived. She was almost a leap year baby, but was actually born around 1:30 am on March 1 instead. During the delivery I even had to assist my mare as one hoof wasn’t coming out. My vet arrived when Kate was around 12 hours old and said that she was a big baby. She is my first and only foal, so she looked just right to me.

Kate has always been a spunky girl. She loves to run around and be near you. At around a year, she carried her first person (a family member’s small child). She took her first step, looked back, seemed to shrug it off, and continued walking. She never offered to buck, just walked on. She grew quickly, but was all legs, so I didn’t try to ride her myself until she was closer to three years old. She was still a bit gangly and awkward, so I just spent time with her on the ground until she was four years old. At four we did start doing short trail rides each month and at five we progressed to longer rides and more frequently. She just turned six years old a few months ago and we were really starting to trail ride, camp, and have fun at home and away.

Kate is such a sweetie. All the folks at Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital where she is being treated love her and dote on her like I do. Even through all she’s been put through and the pain she must be in, she has been so well-behaved. She knows that she is being helped and welcomes the help. She has her ups and downs as we go through the various procedures, but is keeping her sweet spirit. I enjoy spending time with her there in her stall and hope that she will be coming home soon.

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE HOSPITAL!

(From Leah)

Kate is being helped 24/7 at Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital.

They are cleaning out the incisions several times a day. This is done gently and often from the inside of the incisions so that any necrotic tissue is expelled. Once the areas have been flushed out, then various mild cleansers and medicines are applied. They then put Vaseline around the areas to try to keep the exposed tissue moist and keep debris from entering. They are taking her vital signs often; any abnormalities and the vet is right there to address the issue. Kate also receives banamine twice a day to try to keep inflammation down and make her more comfortable. The main thing is keeping an eye on her. She gets 24-hour care, someone is checking in on her at least every 15 minutes. Since this is such unchartered territory, the veterinarians/surgeons are taking it one day at a time.

THIS LOVING OWNER HAS HUGE, UNEXPECTED VET BILLS DUE TO THIS HORRIBLE INCIDENT – her mare isn’t just a headline…

Please, if you can, donate your Starbucks for today… every little drop in the bucket ADDS UP!  (Thank you!)

If you receive this post via email, click here to donate!

OR… HOW ABOUT SOME ‘JEWELRY WITH A PURPOSE’?  All proceeds from the sale of this jewelry will go to Kate’s Bucket Fund!

1)  JUNE BUCKET FUND STERLING PENDANT ON LOBSTER CLAW:  Front side has a Bucket with hearts coming out of it, the back side says, “Horse Gods Thank You”.  Comes with a peach colored pearl for the month of June but you can request a white or pink pearl.  $38 (includes shipping)  CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE FOR $38

June Bucket Fund sterling pendant or charm that can be clipped onto anything… includes peach colored pearl (or you can request white or pink). Front is a bucket with hearts coming out of it, back says, “Horse Gods Thank You!” $38!

2)  JUNE BUCKET FUND STERLING PENDANT ON LOBSTER CLAW (without pearl):  Front side has a Bucket with hearts coming out of it, the back side says, “Horse Gods Thank You”.  $35 (includes shipping)  CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE FOR $35

Bucket Fund Pendant without the pearl… $35

3)  Garnet faceted beaded necklace with sterling findings and pearl bead incased in an antique leaf setting…  Necklace is 16″ and the pearl drop is 2″:  $110.  (includes shipping)

This is my necklace that I am donating to Kate’s cause…

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE FACETED GARNET AND PEARL NECKLACE FOR $110.   (If the link doesn’t work, this necklace has sold.  Thank you!)