Misty

Misty's story as it first appeared in the April 2022 newsletter.   Often we hear sad stories and this is one. The couple had the two horses. They rode and took care of the horses for  many years. The couple aged to the point where the horses had to be kept in a smaller field so they could be cared  for and fed. Over time, the health of the couple deteriorated so much that both had to be moved to a full care nursing home. The care of the horses fell to their son. He commuted between Raleigh and Union County to care for  them, but had no interest in horses and didn’t know how to properly care for them. 

Both horses are Tennessee Walking Horses. Raisin is a 30 year old roan mare and you could call her a paint with  all the white on her. When you look at her body, she is beautiful….until you look down at her hooves. The hooves  show more than laminitis, she is foundered.  Then there is the 14 year old Misty who could be a cover girl, she is so pretty. A beautiful black coat with a white  streak in her mane, a mostly white tail and high white stockings, she is gorgeous. However, her hooves are in worse  shape than Raisin’s.  

We arranged for radiographs to be done as soon as possible and our worst fears were realized. Both horses are severely foundered. Miracles have happened here before and these two horses need a miracle! For the best possible  results, the two horses need to be trimmed every three weeks with periodic radiographs to evaluate the results of the  trimming. The veterinarian drew blood from the horses before the morning and evening feedings in order to test for  thyroid, insulin and Cushings. This was the best test to determine a possible cause for the foundering.  

The test results showed that both Raisin and Misty have Cushings. They are on Prascend that is a Pergolide product. Normally the horses will need to be on the medication for the rest of their lives. The cost is $2.00 per day per  horse. HPS presently has two other horses on Prascend.  

The cost for farrier care, medication and radiographs will be between $800.00 or $900.00 every nine weeks. It was  important to have the radiographs done before the farrier came the first time to care for Misty and Raisin. The  shoes were then removed from the two horses.