At HFH they see all kinds of horses with all kinds of injuries. Certainly all of the horse standards: leg, bite and hoof injuries as well as a range of sores, lice, worms and complex dermatitis. All the things that horse owners generally see and treat.
One difference is that the severity of these injuries is usually greater and they frequently have been left untreated for a very long time. So simple leg injuries come in as deep tendon sheath infections requiring months of antibiotics and bandaging. Its all part of a day in the life of the rescue.

Once in a while they get horses with extreme or unusual problems. Like a hoof growing out of a pastern or a completely eviscerated forehead or a congenital maxillary sinus tumor in a 10 year old horse or a shattered hock in a mini horse. Some of these problems take years, many surgeries and many thousands of dollars to resolve. HFH believes that once a horse gets in the door it is their responsibility to fix it if at all possible, regardless of time or money. Of course usually lack of money increases time but as long as the horse is willing they will not give up.

Over the next few weeks I will try and document these unusual injuries as a resource for others encountering similar problems. Check back here on a weekly basis for any updates or new stories

Look for articles about the following conditions:
⁃ Injury from a trailer accident confused with brucellosis (Windy)
⁃ Maxillary sinus cyst resection, flushing and magical resolution (Isabella)
⁃ Paraphimosis due to starvation and injury, updated treatment protocol and long term solutions (Oscar, Bobbie, Kelsey)
⁃ Untreated tendon sheath infection (Josie)
⁃ Displaced hoof coronet section with multiple unsuccessful surgeries (Haley)
⁃ Refeeding syndrome in a pregnant mare (Faith)
⁃ Intractable lice in a large population of starving horses (Anita Miller)
⁃ Severe hoof deformities due to long term confinement on an uneven floor (Jonah)
⁃ Brood mare with a broken pelvis and lacerated vulva (Angel)
⁃ Unresolvable soft tissue breakdown in the hind legs (Pete)
⁃ Seizures in an elderly horse (Dahlia)
⁃ Full coffin bone rotation (Humphrey, Brass)
⁃ Damaged eyes and the enucleation of the eye decision (Chance, Diva)
⁃ EPSM and a starving horse (Uma)
⁃ Feeding ramp up causes bone spavins (Eli)
⁃ Shattered hock in a mini horse (Rowdy)



JM