Over the Rainbow
Sometimes, the best thing we can do is give these horses a soft place to land and to be okay knowing they got to enjoy their final days.
Odin
When Odin came to us, he had been loved, but was in great need of some groceries. It took some time to find the right nutritional balance to help bring his weight up safely given his history of laminitis and a heart murmur, however, after several months, he was finally in good condition. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma, so we knew his time with us would be short, but it didn’t stop our volunteers from showering him with all their love and attention.
At a whopping 17.1 hands high, this gentle giant was a barn favorite for his sweet, goofy personality and easy-going temperament. He was a generous teacher who taught many of our newer volunteers the basics of leading, grooming, and horse care.
Unfortunately, he sustained an injury to his front leg, the source of which our veterinarian was unable to diagnose, but which was clearly causing significant distress. In order to spare him undue suffering, we made the decision to let him go earlier than we had hoped.
Your horse and human friends alike miss you, our sweet old man.
Penny
We had to say good-bye to this dear old soul in May of 2022, and while our hearts break from her loss, we were so lucky to get some time with this feisty old lady! Penny was one of the fortunate ones who was loved by her family for 29 years full of kids and 4-H adventures!
When she came to us as a beneficiary of Tolkien’s Fund, she had severe navicular that made walking difficult. We partnered with our vet to try treatments that would help, however, we were unable to find any that could enable her to walk without significant pain. Penny crossed over in the company of volunteers who treasured each day we were able to spend with her. We remember her for her irresistible fuzziness, kind eye, and indomitable spirit.
Pascal
Pascal was surrendered into Mountain Shadows’ care by a family in Colorado that could no longer care for him. He was a massive sweetheart with some fun, fancy buttons under saddle, though he presented with stifle issues and experienced periodic bouts of lameness.
Pascal soon became a barn favorite, an excellent ambassador and patient teaching horse who was especially doted on by our newer and younger volunteers.
He loved turnouts and light trail riding, and, after gaining weight and improving in soundness with lots of time from volunteers with strengthening exercises for his stifle, was put up for adoption.
In the fall of 2021, however, Pascal’s mood began to change. He began to kick and bite at volunteers with whom he had previously been good buddies and actively rejected attempts to handle him. Under the recommendation of our veterinarian, we tried several courses of treatment to try to alleviate his discomfort, but none provided relief.
Unfortunately, over the next few months, Pascal’s condition continued to deteriorate. He gave clear signs that he was under persistent and significant distress, though we were unable to identify its cause.
The Board of Directors made the difficult decision in January of 2022 that the most humane option was euthanasia. A subsequent necropsy revealed lesions throughout his brain and body that were likely contributors to his change in personality.
We thank you, our sweet, old boy, for the time we had with you, the gift of your vivacious soul, and all you had to teach us!
Tolkien
Tolkien was a gentle giant of a former rodeo pick-up horse. This handsome gelding soon had our hearts as we tried to help him through his lingering head-shyness and what proved to be an intractable case of lameness.
Tolkien entered the rescue as an owner surrender from Wyoming on Halloween of 2020. A veterinary evaluation with x-rays revealed severe ringbone and bone chips, with only a tentative prognosis for recovery. We decided to give him his best chance, however, and so pursued the treatments recommended by our veterinarian, including physical and pharmaceutical interventions. While he had some good days, unfortunately none of these courses of action proved effective for long-term relief of his pain.
It was with very heavy hearts that the MSER Board of the Directors ultimately made the decision to end his suffering by euthanasia. He crossed the rainbow bridge with many treats and friends at his side in early December of 2021. To honor him, MSER established Tolkien’s Fund, a resource that enables the rescue to give care specifically to horses with lameness issues. Please consider donating to support this important part of mission for at-risk equines!
Bird
Bird was a 27 year old off-the-track thoroughbred registered under the name “Dance O War.” She had over 60 career starts making her “Warhorse.” Bird was sold through a meat auction in early October 2019 with a body score condition of 2 and under the title of a 25-year-old quarter horse. We were able to find her true history by looking up her lip tattoo.
After MSER took her in, she gained substantial weight and was a barn favorite. She passed away on March 6th, 2020 after a severe and sudden colic episode surrounded by many who loved her.
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