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Home > Articles > Lovie's Story
Lovie's Story
Success Story sent in by Rose Muffett
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Lovie survived nine days without food or water, trapped by a fallen tree.
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WIZZARDSAPRILLOVE aka "Lovie", our registered Arabian mare, 9 years of age, was
missing for 9 days. We searched for her from June 6, 2002, 7 AM, until she was found approx.
5 PM on June 14, 2002. 500 acres is a lot of area to search.
Another mare of ours was badly injured, it appeared to be a cougar attack.
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Lovie had fallen off a 180-foot cliff and was found approximately 60 yards from the small trail. She
was trapped by vine maple and was pinned down by a tree across her back. She couldn't move. No water exists
on that hillside, she may have eaten a few maple leaves, the ferns were untouched that were
within her reach.
Where Lovie was trapped in the vines
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She had to be cut out with a chain saw, then another trail made to take her out below
the area she was in, no way could she be taken out the way she went in, it was straight up hill.
Our immediate concern was her severe dehydration and her wound on her loin/back area,
our Vet's worried that the log put too much pressure on her spine and caused part of it to die,
restricted the blood flow, it's a possibility according to our Vet.
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Over the next 2 months, Lovie showed courage in fighting a severe infection. Dehydration
took a toll on her entire body too. I stayed with her day and night the first week. She had
countless injections, banamine for pain, naxel for infection, etc. she willingly accepted
each injection as if she knew that I was trying to help her. She grew stronger each day, her
appetite increased and her bodily functions seemed to return to normal. She still showed lameness
so on July 5, 2002 our Vet decided to radiograph her feet and legs.
The first set of radiographs showed a rotation in her coffin bone (foot), As advised we had
our farrier follow strict instructions to put special shoes on her front feet to avoid further rotation.
She became even more lame. The following week our Vet advised that a different shoe should replace the
first set, these had pads on the bottom. Her lameness progressed.
Last X-ray from August 5th, 2002
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On August 5, 2002, our Vet returned for more radiographs. The news was not good, what we
thought was an abcess at her sole was the coffin bone penetrating through. This is usually a death
sentence for a horse. But, not for my Lovie, I could not lose her to a foot problem, not now. Laminitis
is VERY painful, yet she never gave up, most horses would have just laid down and refused to move. Lovie
didn't do this, she fought her painful feet and continued to stand and walk on them.
Update: August 5, 2002. Lovie isn't doing too well. She is in a full blown state of founder
(laminitis). Her xrays show a rotation of her coffin bone from last month, this bone has now penetrated
through her sole. This is VERY bad news. We are looking at treatment options, this mare still has her
strong will to live. She isn't laying down much, she's standing.
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Our Vet spoke with Dr. Redden, an expert in laminitis, he wanted to cut her flexor tendons, this
would make Lovie a cripple. I began searching the internet, I had to help my mare. I was there at her birth,
I raised this mare, I just couldn't hurt her anymore by cutting her tendons. I knew that her heels had to
be brought down so the coffin bone wouldn't penetrate any further, I did a lot of research and spoke with
the best of the best concerning equine laminitis. There were several options, the last being letting her
go. Lovie was fighting for her life, I knew this, and decided that as long as she wanted to fight this that
I would stand beside her.
Update: August 12, 2002. We decided to go with the treatment method of the natural hoof trim.
Martha Olivio, who studied under Dr. Hiltrud Strasser (Germany) and is Certified to use this method happened
to be passing through our State, she personally came today to trim Lovie. Andee drove better than 2 hours
each way to see this mare, and I know will continue to follow up with her as much as is needed. Martha was
headed north, but instead went four hours each way out of her way to see and trim a beloved mare in trouble.
Her coffin bone is now parallel to the ground. I'm praying that this works. Lovie is still pretty sore, but
standing more than laying down, and is also very hungry-a good sign.
Update: August 14, 2002. Andee (formerly Beatty) Conrad, a Eugene Oregon farrier who has embraced this
methodology came to see Lovie this evening. Andee trimmed Lovie's hoof- the bars and heel again, with laminitis
these areas of the hoof grow very fast.
After several trimmings, Lovie is now trotting and cantering in the pasture. George Stark is studying
this method and continues to keep Lovie's feet trimmed properly. He says her sole is growing back and her hoof,
which was all mushy from the frog to the toe, is now solid. She doesn't limp badly, and she is no longer on any
antibiotics or painkillers. I even think someday she will be able to be ridden again.
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