Garnet was rescued by Hanaeleh a little over two years ago. Her previous owner was moving out of state, and couldn’t afford to take Garnet with her, but wanted to make sure that Garnet got a safe home. Her concern was compounded by the fact that she believed that Garnet had COPD, and was unable to breathe sufficiently. The owner had kept Garnet from doing much more than a walk for the three years she had owned her, as Garnet would start to wheeze and could not get enough air.
We tried putting Garnet into the arena for just a few minutes so she could stretch her legs and explore the arena, but she began trotting around on her own, and had such difficulty breathing in just a few seconds that we were concerned that she would pass out or even die.
We knew that this was no quality of life.
We tried antibiotics for a few weeks, but nothing improved, so the vet decided to scope her larynx. They discovered that she didn’t have COPD! Instead, there was an infection that had caused her larynx to become severely inflamed, and she was breathing out of a very small area, about the size of a nickel.
We soon learned that there was only one option, and that was surgery. We immediately crafted a plan to raise enough funds so Garnet could breathe normally again.
Thankfully, Hanaeleh’s wonderful supporters stepped up and we were able to raise all the money we needed to pay for her surgery!
By the time that we got her to the hospital, the surgeon said that the area had swollen even more, now down to about the size of a dime. If Garnet hadn’t come to us, and if we didn’t have proactive vets who recommended surgery, she would not have survived.
Garnet in the hospital Sept 2021
You can read more about her surgery and her stay at the equine hospital here.
Fast forward two years, and Garnet is now 20 years old, and is a sassy, and (as the vet calls her) spicy mare!
Garnet lives with her best friend, Rylee, and loves to run around the arena! Now that she is feeling better, she has gained quite a bit of weight and muscle, and no longer looks like the strung-out horse who arrived that first day. Her coat has turned a lovely red-brown color, and her dapples shine in the sun.
We work Garnet both in the round pen and the arena, and we often put in trot poles so Garnet has to focus and work a little- because all she wants to do is buck and run around! Garnet also sometimes gets a proverbial bee in her bonnet when she isn’t worked regularly (like when we humans have a week-long rainstorm!), and will rear or buck when we are leading her, so we only have a few experienced people work with her. Most of the time, however, she is very well-behaved and enjoys being groomed by Susan, one of her special volunteers.
We have ridden Garnet a few times in the arena, but it is obvious that she has been charroed, (you can read more about Charro abuse here) and we just think that it’s safer for her and for us to let Garnet exercise at liberty and enjoy the rest of her life as a retired horse.
Garnet had been through a lot before she came to us, and everyday we make sure she lives out the rest of her life happy and healthy.
Did you know that you can sponsor Garnet for as little at $10/month? Your sponsorship will help pay for her vaccinations, hoof trims, vet visit bills, dental treatments and of course, treats! Click here to learn more and/or to sponsor Garnet!