07/01/2025
🐴💔 On June 18th, we were asked to join the Animal Humane Society and the Dakota County Sheriff's Office to help with a humane case involving a severely neglected paint mare.
I cannot emphasize enough - body condition is NOT the sole indicator of neglect. Were you to pass by this property, with it's crisp fencing and well kept lawn - you'd have seen her from afar. Seemingly living the life, beautiful and flashy paint mare standing in her lush pasture. Sure, she was alone - but her coat even had a bit of sheen from the grass, she was standing, and her weight was ok - so SURELY she was well cared for on such a well maintained property.
But then you step closer, and as you approached - her YEARS of neglect became immediately apparent 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 hinds, back hunched, just trying to find some comfort. Look closer still, and you see the years of knots throughout her mane, the sores on her hips from hours of laying 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.
Once loaded, 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 with everything she had to do what we needed her to. Afraid, but kind and willing.
Throughout her exam, our optimism remained guarded. Her hooves 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. 🧡
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 in tact once again, Apache was set free. Loved in her last hours, she was reminded that she mattered. I cannot thank our friends at Cleary Lake Veterinary Hospital enough for loving her so immediately and so completely right alongside me.
GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary is a registered 501c-3 charity organization (88-1660703) All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE and go DIRECTLY to the horses of GRG Ranch.
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