08/04/2023
I want to share a very special “all hands on deck” barn story this morning. Kandis and I have the most amazing boarders and associates. We feel blessed to have them in our lives. A HUGE THANK YOU to some very special caring folks who just happened to show up at a vulnerable time and didn’t hesitate to seamlessly step in to help make a bad situation easier to handle.
It is said that if there is a way to injure themselves, horses will find it! Unfortunately, we brought a horse in from the field only to find she had a badly injured leg. Our vet just happened to be here, only because she was picking up her dog that we were taking care for the day. Here also was our massage therapist who had just finished tending to a couple of horses. Then who should pull in but another boarder. The owner of the injured horse was here, but she is 8-½ months pregnant and not in a position to help with some of the physical demands of caring for a thousand pound injured horse, even though she is an experienced emergency tech in the equine field!
What took place immediately, was volunteer teamwork that was nothing short of amazing. Quickly and efficiently, everyone was assigned a task - holding the mare in place, holding a light in just the right position so the vet could see to administer meds and stitches, helping with leg wraps, assisting the vet with handing her needed supplies, and all the little things that crop up in dealing with the above.
Unfortunately, it was soon determined that the mare needed to be sent to Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital, a two-hour run from us. We have access to two horse trailers and two trucks. It’s 9:00 pm, and the owners of both trailers and trucks have to be at work very early in the morning. Both truck/trailer owners were willing to transport the mare, but it would mean practically no sleep for either driver before going to work.
Not a problem for this group of super volunteers! The owner’s husband doesn’t have a truck and trailer, but he is capable of hauling. Our boarder (who had to be to work early) just bought a brand new 3-horse trailer and hasn’t even used it yet! “Take my truck/trailer and get your horse to Pilchuck!” How’s that for an unselfish gesture!
A happy ending: There was great concern that the potential of the injury would be career ending or worse, but the update came back with the best of news. The mare will be OK! She comes back home today!
