Fireworks and Horses Do NOT mix

On the 4th, there was the "typical" local celebrations, food, fun and fireworks. Each nyear at night, I make sure I'm home. So that If and when the horses freak out and bust through the fence, I can catch them and settle them down. This 4th was no exception. I was home. Fireworks were let off, the horses didn't freak to badly, a little running around and such, but not much fan fair all in all. Or so I thought.

Early on the 5th, Sabrina came running into the house and said she thought one of the horses was hurt really badly. It looked like she had a broken leg is what she said. She saw another horse kicking the tar out of her and Tink fall.

The only thing we could come up with is at some point someone had lit off a firework close enough to really scare the youngun's and they freaked out.

I contacted a vet and designed a treatment plan specifically for her, that would work IF she had had a soft tissue injury/ puncture wound / infection. I had hoped that treating her with meds and a LOT of hosing would help the swelling go down and prayed that it was a soft tissue injury.

Today, I knew from the first moment I set my eyes on her that it wasn't a puncture wound that eluded me or a soft tissue injury. The swelling had grown significantly. Originating from her stifle the swelling went all the way down to her hock. I called the vet for Xrays. The first vet came out and did regular xrays. Then hussled back to the clinic to develop them. To no avail. She came back with Dr. John and the digital radiograph.

The new pics were taken, and lo and behold there were breaks. The stifle was on the opposite side of where it was supposed to be. The growth plate was fractured, the tibia was fractured. It was bad. The injuries were so bad, that she could not be saved. No matter how much I would have wanted, no matter how much money it would have cost, it would have all been in vain.

Rest in Peace my sweet little gal. I will always remember you and you will always hold a special place in my heart. I'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge some day.