The horses who deserve better

Driving past the property you’d see crisp fencing and the well-kept lawn, and in a lush pasture, a beautiful paint mare. Sure, she was alone - but her coat had a bit of sheen from the grass, she was standing, and her weight was ok. From afar, it looked like she was living the good life.   

Then one day in June, we were asked to join the Animal Humane Society and the Dakota County Sheriff's Office to help the pretty mare in the pretty pasture.

Because when you stepped closer, you’d see the years of neglect in the state of her hooves. Then you take stock of the fear and pain across her face, the way her body is braced - rocked back onto her hind end, her back hunched as she tried to find some comfort from severe laminitis.

Apache in her field

Look closer still, and you see the years of knots throughout her mane, the sores on her hips from hours of lying down to avoid the pain, afraid to endure the agony of standing back up again. The hundreds of ticks covering her chest, within her mane and tail, across her belly and covering her udders - hinting at the heavy parasite load she carried inside.

Charges were filed against her owners.

Treating a neglected horse

Once loaded into the trailer, this beautiful and sad girl made the trip directly to Cleary Lake Veterinary Hospital Equine - and though she struggled to maintain her balance, she was brave and kind and tried to do everything we asked her to do. Afraid, but kind and willing.

Throughout her exam, our optimism remained guarded. Her hooves had been neglected for more than a decade, we knew there was damage - but we tried to hope. She was groomed, the ticks removed from her body, the entire clinic staff surrounded her with love, kindness, care, comfort, and gave her a name. Apache.

No more pain

But then we saw the x-rays... Such significant rotation, her navicular bone was visible in farrier view x-rays. The damage so severe, even with aggressive farrier care and treatment it would result in her prolonged pain. Apache deserved more than that. She deserved love, she deserved kindness, she deserved comfort, she deserved better- but most of all in that moment, she deserved peace.

So with her dignity intact once again, Apache was set free.

Loved in her last hours, she was reminded that she mattered.