The A-Maize-ing Story

In June of 2007, Equine Allies, Inc. was contacted about a horse out of our immediate area that was to be "put down" because of a "roaring" problem since birth.

The six-year-old breeding stock paint mare named "MAIZE" was malnourished and physically depleted, with a body score approximately at 2 (severely undernourished).

She also could not walk forward without having respiratory problems and was observed rarely moving in the turn out, mainly standing in one spot until food was no longer available within reach. Thinking the worst, the mare was transported to the Duluth area for immediate evaluation and hopefully for rehabilitation, if that was possible.

Turned out in a new field, rich with grass and plenty of fresh water, Maize, over a few days and with the help of excellent veterinary and home care, began to venture a bit further for her food supply and started to enthusiastically eat pelleted food loaded with recommended supplements.

In approximately one month's time, Maize appeared to have gained well over 200 pounds, and at that weight, became a candidate for reconstructive surgery on her left and right arytenoids to relieve the respiratory distress she had endured since birth as well as reduce the effort needed to perform simple tasks (walking, eating, drinking).

With highly significant intervention in her pre-surgical care as well as major communication with the University of Minnesota's Veterinary Medical Center by North Ridge Veterinary Service of Sturgeon Lake, MN, the University was willing to evaluate, at no charge, the diagnostics needed to determine if Maize could be helped by surgery. The evaluation showed Maize as having an upper airway that was nearly completely blocked. The left side being paralyzed and the right side abducting but with huge effort, the University donated to Equine Allies the needed hospital care and surgery that would provide Maize with the quality of life and hope for a future she so desperately needed.

Following surgery in late July, that included a tracheotomy, Maize started on a journey that only she could take. Post surgical care included surgical site treatment, highly soaked food and hay, hand walking as she recovered and trach site treatments, as well as a variety of post surgical antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Although Maize did suffer a few setbacks in recovery, her will to live, willingness to cooperate with her caregivers and tremendous heart (both figuratively and physically) put her on the good side of recovery. Two and one half months post surgery, Maize was running and bucking in the field (never witnessed before), learning excellent ground manners (her willingness to work with people has never wavered) and generally becoming a "horse", having a lease on life she never before could experience.

Ready to begin a new chapter of living, Maize enjoys life at the home of her new foster parents, Rick and Melissa E., and their children, together with her very dear friends "Kola" and "Misty" and the rest of the animals that share a wonderful life at the E's farm. This is a success story that we all can be proud of, one that required a team effort, lead by a horse that showed a stoic and open heart together with caregivers, both professional and volunteer, that didn't give up. Life is good particularly when it was so close to being lost.

We would like to sincerely thank Kathleen J. of Proctor, Dr. Delores Gockowski of North Ridge Veterinary Service, Drs. Erin Malone, Anne Nicholson, Mary Boyce, Micky Trent and student Stacy Lewsion of the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center, Rick and Melissa E. and all of the volunteers and contributors to Equine Allies that made this effort possible. Without the time, knowledge, donations and perseverance of a widely accomplished and strong team, this mare would not be alive today.

HURRAH FOR MAIZE!! HURRAH FOR MAIZE!!

Emma and I

June 30, 2008

This story will start out sadly but like most good stories, does have a happy ending. My very first horse was a 4 month old Arabian weanling that I named Pookie. Yes, he had a long and fancy registered name but he was always really Pookie. His entry into my life was the culmination of a life long love of horses and the final realization of a dream. Things came together just right and he was mine. A few years after his arrival I was lucky enough to be able to get his mother Sunshine and so we three settled down into a lovely busy routine that lasted for 24 years.

Pookie had some issues but I was unprepared for the inevitable result. Perhaps we are never really prepared to lose a dear friend. He had a tumor that blocked his intestines and so was put down to spare him further pain and suffering. It was a devastating loss for both me and for Sunshine and took us both a long time to come to terms with.

When my head was relatively straight again (a state I strive for but seldom achieve) I wondered how does a person commemorate a friendship that was so long and so enjoyable? Well, I could go and buy another horse but somehow that just didn’t seem right. While these thoughts were chasing themselves around in my brain, I saw an ad for Equine Allies asking for adoptive and foster homes for rescued horses. Hmmmm – this made sense to me. How better to commemorate Pookie and the joy he gave me than to offer my farm to a horse that needed a place and some love.

I got the information, filled out the papers, worried until Beth made her “home” visit. Oh, you just can’t begin to imagine the paranoia trying to see the farm through someone else’s eyes. It’s an old farm, nothing fancy, full of sheep and goats, alpacas and a crabby llama, rescued ducks, chickens, one old horse and two fat mini donkeys plus assorted dogs and cats, all of which are loved and spoiled. Well, we got the OK and then came the visit to meet Emma.

Emma when acquired by Equine Allies, Inc., November 2007.

Ah, how to describe that first impression. Please remember I was used to Arabians, fast, small, snotty horses full of love. I was told that Emma was half Clydesdale, half Thoroughbred. However, I did not really comprehend this until I saw her and realized I could not see over her back and could easily walk under her head. There she was, shaggy, thin, big dark eyes full of kindness. It was love at first sight for me although my husband (not a horse person) was very, very quiet on the way home.

Emma arrived in February after getting clearance from the vet. There was some huffing and puffing on the part of Sunshine and the two donkeys as this ginormous creature walked into the pasture. Emma fell madly in love with my husband who headed for the nearest snowdrift, Emma right on his tail.

Emma has been with us now for 4 months – she shed out that shaggy coat and just gleams in the sunshine. She’s gained some weight and has the funniest high pitched neigh for this big girl. We’ve been slowly learning about each other and I’ve had to remember what it’s like to have a young horse around.

Emma likes being brushed, will tolerate her mane being combed and gets very antsy when her tail is combed. She does not like fly spray but likes being wiped. She gets very embarrassed when she does something rude and is trying very hard to learn some manners. As my farrier said “She doesn’t disrespect people – she’s just in her terrible twos right now.”

Emma in June of 2008

And yes, she is. Even though Emma is three, she’s finding out that life is good, that there is food and she doesn’t have to be hungry. That hands are kind and voices are soft. On a sunny summer morning, you can see Emma run through the field, the epitome of sheer joy and high spirits. She has an easy canter, a bone breaking trot and a gallop that truly takes your breath away. And she knows she is home.

Oh yes, we still have a ways to go and things to learn about each other and there will be moments when Emma will misbehave and be what she is, a young healthy horse. But it is a road we will travel happily together, Emma and I.