MOON SHADOW UPDATE
Yesterday, Moon Shadow was down a lot throughout the day and last night. He did not drink through the night and he has no interest in eating this morning. His body temperature is also decreasing. Dr. Ryan has been called out to the farm and I will update as soon as we have additional information.
Please keep this precious boy in your Prayers.
Jeanne
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I checked on MoonShadow through the night last night and each time I did he was resting. But in the morning sun I was happy to find him up and looking at the barn. It’s amazing how quickly they learn where food comes from. His refeeding program is a slow process. One of my biggest concerns is what may have been fed to him, and how much, before we picked him up yesterday. I am sorry to say that based on new information, I think that Twilight may have been fed to death. Or perhaps it was a combination of she was too far gone when her last owner took possession of her and then she was fed too much too soon. We’ll never know. In any event, it was a tragic situation and I just hope and pray we get through the next couple of weeks ok with MoonShadow.
He’s really thin – almost as bad as Twilight. And if he were body clipped you would see how thin he is.
He has rain rot and is sore all over.
You can see at the end of the crescent moon the dent in his skull. It doesn’t seem to hurt him when I touch it.
He has an issue in his back left and there are some recent scars along that leg. We may have to have x-rays done of his left stifle – he can’t put weight on that back left leg but for a few seconds at a time.
No fat. No muscle.
Hopefully, he found his way to us in time. And Twilight was his guide – may she find comfort knowing that he is here.
His feet were done today but need more work. MoonShadow was so weak that he could not stand longer than a few seconds on any foot. The podiatrist will be back next week to trim some more.
I really couldn’t get any good angles in photos to show how thin he really is but I tried. I couldn’t brush the unhealthy hair off – he was too sore in some areas.
He is truly a sweetheart. We want him to have some down time for a couple of days. Hopefully next week we can have his teeth done – his mouth has many ulcerations in it that we can see. I don’t want to think about the ones we can’t see.
He held his head a tiny bit higher today. And there seemed to be a little more light in his eyes. I don’t know if he will make it or not but we will do everything possible to help him. And we are only able to do this because others care. God bless all of you that are helping with his care costs and by keeping him in prayers and sharing his story. He has a long road ahead of him. We invite you to join us on his path to recovery. We’ll be posting updates so everyone can keep up with his progress. And if you’re in our area stop in and visit. See what your donations are doing – how you are helping us to help the horses.
We are not sure that the “Salt” we found data on is this horse. Tomorrow we will to read the tattoo again. The “Salt” we found data on is a chestnut and this horse is a bay. We need to do more research. But it doesn’t change anything – Twilight’s MoonShadow has had a terrible life for quite awhile. When I think about how cold and hungry he must have been in the cold months – even recently when it went down to 38 degrees at night – it makes me very sad. When I think about him watching Twilight wither away to nothing, likely wondering if that too would be his fate, I get sick. No horse deserves this. Ever.
I’m very glad he is here with us. I pray that he recovers – please keep him in your prayers too.
Salt made it through the night. He was down a lot and I was worried about colic. But I think he was both exhausted and relieved. Today is the beginning of a new life for him.
I’ve named him “Twilight’s MoonShadow”. As I sat with him last night while he was resting I looked up at the sky and the stars were everywhere against the black sky. Looking up – just above MoonShadow – I saw a beautiful, very bright star that shined just to the right of the crescent moon – almost as the moon was cradling it. MoonShadow has a white crescent moon on his forehead and I’m sure he was Twilight’s friend that stood over her for the days she was down before I got the call to help her. How sad he must have been to watch Twilight slip away. And how he must have felt that it was only a matter of time for him. Twilight held on for us until we got her home that night. And once at the rescue I went into the trailer to check on her – she lifted her little nose a tiny bit, eyes fading to cloudy blue, she gave a little knicker as I kissed her one last time, and she was gone. We love you Twilight – always. I’m so sorry Twilight that we didn’t get to you in time. And I’m so sorry that we didn’t know about Salt while we were there – and he was only a few yards away from us, in the dark. But we will do our best to help your best friend who is now named in your honor. And now you fly with the angels sweet girl – we’re so proud of you.
Moonshadow – your life has just begun. You have a new family now that will do all we can to help you to grow strong – we want to see the will to live come back into your eyes. The crescent moon I found on your forehead brought about some relief for me – like a feeling that this is where you are supposed to be and that Twilight had a hand in it. She’s that bright and beautiful star in the sky that is watching down over you.
Thank you all for caring about this sweet boy. We’re trying to find out his history. He isn’t the TB “Salt” that we found in the database. But we will keep researching. Today, if he is up to it, he will get a hooficure. Dr. Ryan and I will be reviewing his blood work today. MoonShadow is drinking and I groomed him as he ate his little mash this morning. I would love to give him a bath. We’ll see what the day brings.
Meet “Salt.” When we got there to pick him up he held his head down – his neck leaning against the fence like he was trying to disappear. No water and living on sand. No hay. The left side of his face has a big “dent” in it. Body sores. Lip dangling. Puffy eyes with flies and gnats. Thick unhealthy coat. Terrible feet that smell horrible. Ulcerations in his mouth. Dull eyes that seemed to have wandered away from where he was.
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You can see the indentation in his skull. We may never know what happened.
Salt is now here – he almost fell coming off the trailer. Dr. Ryan has examined him. Salt (he will have a new name when it comes to me) is a 1 on the Henneke scale and even without the blood work back yet Dr. Ryan says some of his organs may be borderline. Salt can’t shut his urine flow off – there is just no muscle. When a body is deprived of food it feeds off of itself – the fat goes, the muscle, then organs. Death isn’t far behind.
Please say prayers for him. I’ll update more later but I need to get back out and finish up things before it gets dark. If anyone would like to help sponsor him it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for caring.
We are asking for help for a very emaciated TB gelding that needs help NOW. This boy is at the same location that Twilight came from. If we don’t pick him up by this evening AC will seize him.
Would anyone like to help with this boy in memory of Twilight? We need sponsors – $350 for immediate needs. And then monthly sponsors for routine care after. Dr. Ryan is coming to check Lacey this afternoon and we want to get this boy here ASAP so Dr. Ryan can vet him too. The TB’s registered name is Salt. He won $125 in his racing career.
Donations are tax deductible and no amount is too small. Please go to our “Donate” page on our website – www.bhfer.org.
We have a potential home for Montana that will free up a space – please pray that this home comes through. And please pray for Salt.
We are looking for 15 ounces of colostrum for Lacey’s yet to be born baby. She’s dripped so much we’re concerned there may be not be any. If anyone is in the Ocala area and has any extra please contact me. I may be overly concerned (because of our experience with Joy last year) but I am having Dr. Ryan come to check Lacey today.
Watching Lacey be a bit more agitated today – rolling, scratching her tummy, standing facing downhill, dripping milk, and looking at me as if to say “is it time yet???” I decided to do the Predict A Foal Kit test strip. All squares were green when starting out. This is our result.
This is the kit we use. The squares were all green before the test.
So when do you think Lacey will foal? Please keep eyes on her at http://www.marestare.com/fcam.php?alias=beautyshaven and don’t hesitate to call us if you think anything is going on. Our last mare to foal was Joy – that was a heartbreaking experience – it was a dystocia. We almost lost Joy.
The lump on Gentleman’s neck is a mass that you can somewhat manipulate. It is by the esophagus and jugular vein and surgical removal is not an option. We are not sure if it had anything to do with the choke or not but it likely did. He has been getting mushy meals and he’s drinking. His attitude is better today but he’s pretty much just stayed in the aisleway of the barn. We measured the mass and will be keeping an eye on it. Please keep our Gentleman in your prayers.
Lacey is getting antsy. Lots of rolling today and scratching on the hay bales. She’s still dripping milk. I was surprised she was able to get up from her rolls! 
I’m not sure she is going to wait for May to get here to have her baby! Please don’t forget about her fundraiser: https://www.bhfer.org/events.html
Our beautiful Aaleyah Belle. She’s doing great.
And look at little Peggy Sue! I don’t know why she was running but she had a great time. She is doing ok and the stifle surgery helped. But the doctor was amazed at how she endured the pain of the original fractures and that she is managing as well as she is. Some days she isn’t as active as others. But she is always there to greet you and to ask for a hug. She really is a sweetheart the big beautiful eyes.
Morning Star, Baby Girl, and Indy got out yesterday morning and loved their little adventure.
Buttercup is doing great and is as beautiful as ever! Gary is doing a great job with her and she is ready for a forever home.
Archer, one of the 3 Amigos, had his first hooficure and he needed it! Archer is a 7 year old Standardbred that is as sweet as they come. He is going to make someone a very nice horse. We don’t know anything about his past but he does not have a tattoo. He came in pretty thin a couple of weeks ago and needs to put on at least another 200 lbs but he’s looking better each day. He’s a tall boy – at least 16.1 hh – we’ll stick him to see. Dr. Bess did his teeth yesterday. All of the volunteers love him – he has a puppy dog disposition. The other 2 Amigos went to their new home, together, a couple of days ago.
Dr. Bess checked out Lady’s teeth and opted to wait to see if she is pregnant before working on them. We won’t have the results back from Lady’s pregnancy test until tomorrow. Dr. Bess says she thinks Lady’s odds of being pregnant are 60/40.
We still have 4 Paso mares that need homes ASAP. Please check out the latest on our Anthony Herd Page on FB. https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/172714409506468/
Gentleman’s vet bill is about $250 including a new bottle of Banamine – donations totaling $135 have been received to help with it. If anyone would like to help with the balance it would be greatly appreciated. We had buy hay today – total bill of $1077. Yesterday a load of shavings for here at the rescue was $240. Yesterday a load of shavings for the Paso mares – $200. Dr. Bess was here yesterday to do Archer’s teeth, coggins, and a pregnancy test on Lady – $170. The podiatrists will be here on Saturday and at least 6 hooficures will be done. It all adds up quickly and we need continued support. Donations are tax deductible and no amount is too small.
Don’t forget that Lacey is up on MareStare – we appreciated eyes on her so we can get some sleep at night! http://www.marestare.com/fcam.php?alias=beautyshaven
We truly appreciate everyone’s support and continued prayers for Gentleman. God bless and have a wonderful evening!
I do want to take a minute to share that Dr. Bess was here today to work on Archer and Lady Jane. Lady Jane really does have a big belly despite being able to count most of her bones. A pregnancy test was suggested – we should have the results back tomorrow.
Is she – or isn’t she?
I did call Dr. Ryan to come out this afternoon. Some of the obstruction had resolved itself before I called him but there was enough still there to be concerned. So, Gentleman got sedated and tubed. The rest of the obstruction that could be cleared was – that is the good news – the nasogastric tube passed through the entire length of the esophagus. The bad news is that there is a lump – a cyst or tumor still there that may have helped cause the obstruction by pushing on the esophagus. He is having a tough time swallowing water and is on a liquid diet for now. I’ve got a call into Dr. Ryan to see if an ultrasound would help to determine what the lump is.
I’m so thankful that Marie got me as soon as she knew that Gentleman refused his feed this am. I was out rounding up the 3 kids (Morning Star, Baby Girl, Indy) that were supposed to be in the arena that escaped somehow. As soon as I got to Gentleman he led me to the gate that goes into the paddock where his shelter is. Nikole had been locked in there for feeding time. We let Nikole out and GMan in. I watched as he walked to his shelter and he stood for a minute – I could see discomfort in his eyes. He walked to an area in the sand and wanted to lay down but he didn’t – I went over to check him out and could see a lump on his neck. Then he started to cough and I called Dr. Ryan. I massaged GMan’s neck while Bob got some meds. After administering Gentleman the meds we took him to a stall. The rest of today has already been told but I’m afraid this isn’t over yet. And if Gentleman isn’t swallowing any better by morning and if he needs fluids he will get them.
Someone asked me today how much today’s vetting cost is and I don’t know – I never thought to ask at the time but I can find out tomorrow. If anyone would like to help it would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be called into the vet’s office at 352-237-6151 and should be noted for Gentleman. We do need to buy another bottle of Banamine. I’ll have to cost that tomorrow – we get that someplace else as it’s less expensive.
I wanted to get an update out about all here today but didn’t have a chance. I’ll try tomorrow. We love Gentleman so very much – please keep him in prayers.