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We received a call last week about this boy. His time had run out at the farm he was at in Ocala and the trainer/owner who was at TBD did not have the funds to keep him at another farm.

Today Witch's Trail arrived. Before he arrived we were told that his original vet felt he could not race but could be ridden. He had a problem in his backend. Someone who saw him in Ocala suggested he may have EPM but there were never any tests done on him or a vet report. We spoke to the owner after he arrived because we were so appalled at his condition. After I sent the pictures the owner told us the horse did not look like that last time he saw him in March. In March he was in Tampa and very heavy and in good shape.

Davey has wobbler's / cervical vertebral spinal cord compressive disorder. Also the left rear has a tarsal valgus deformity with clinical bone spavin swelling, which he has always had.

Nutritional imbalances and physical trauma are two causes that are the easiest to control. Nutritional imbalances can be avoided by feeding a balanced ration that meets the nutrient requirements for the particular class of horse being fed. For more information on feeding, consult the nutrition series ASC 111-115. Physical trauma usually results from injury, particularly when a young horse is tied up for the first time or when a horse is cast in a stall.

The doctor said that Davey will always have pain. Even being a companion horse would be painful for him. He most certainly SHOULD NOT be turned out in a pasture. I cannot imagine the pain he was being in a pasture, which also may account for his weight loss.

I was asked if I wanted to put him down Saturday and a part of me did. Just coming off of having to put Sienna down I really did not want to prolong the emotional pain but the other part of me overruled and said.. Let's give him the best week of his life. Let him know how loved he is, let him he goodies all week long...loved on, pampered and then we will do what is right. We will keep him medicated so that he is not in pain and although that is not the way for a horse to live for the rest of their life he is going to have the best week of his life..

I am so angry for so many reasons. I cannot believe that not anyone is Davey's life ever took the time to find this out at a younger age. I mean come on.. we are a rescue and we have very little, the racing industry has so much more than we do and they never took the time to check this out. It was never about the horse in Witch's Trail's life it was only about the race and that makes me angry. If you cannot afford to put the time and the money in to find out what is wrong with your racing Thoroughbred then maybe you should not be in racing. Although I am so happy that we are able to do what is right for Davey I am so angry that we are also put in this position. The last thing we want to do is end a life.. especially such a young life.

Follow up from today ( Sunday May 31, 2009)

For some reason Davey has really touched us all.

Barbi came out today to give him a bath, carrots,apples, grooming and lots of love. It was interesting and Barbi I do not mean to talk about you but when I would look over I could see the look on her face, even when we were talking it was not the normal Barbi. It was hard to be there it is very hard to be around Davey because he is so loving and happy.. you lose yourself in him and completely forget and then it hits you. But I thank Barbi for putting aside her own feelings of hurt to spend time loving him. The thing that is so hard and Barbi will tell you, you cannot be around Davey and say he is a dying horse. He gets excited when the trailer pulled up, he gets excited when Baby Leonardo went out to his paddock... he whinnies.. he nuzzles... he is really happy and enjoying life. Barbi and I were talking and she said "we need a miracle." I told her well I am still feeding him his vit. e and selenium and I made up his weight gain formula. But I have to tell you I had resigned myself to the fact that he will have to be put down. As he walked away back to his stall Barbi and I could both see the problem and when he passes manure he has to shift his weight.

I went in the house and I cried which is all that I have been doing since yesterday after each time I am with Davey. For the first time Brad cannot help me either because he is where I am... he is feeling the same way and usually Brad is not like that. He is usually very black and white, but this is just not fair to this horse. This is not a dying horse.. we have never seen a horse with such a will to live. Barbi just kept saying before she left "there has to be something" "I can't believe there is nothing that can be done" " we need a miracle." Then about an hour later I was out with Davey and it hit me..." WHEN DID WE QUIT BELIEVING IN MIRACLES?" This entire rescue is filled with miracles... Billy is a walking miracle, he had a 5% chance of survival and I was told by everyone to put him down.

There is not an expiration date on Davey. If we can keep him comfortable and make sure he does not fall and do more damage and if I can keep his gut good while he is on bute... maybe.. just maybe we can find an answer.

What I am hoping is that after we write the article that we are working on, everyone can send it to whomever they know. Racing Periodicals, Universities, vets ...anyone you can think of that may be able to help with Witch's Trail. He really deserves a chance..

FOR UPDATES ON WITCH'S TRAVEL PLEASE VISIT HIS DAILY JOURNAL

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