Devastating News

 

We got a call late this afternoon from Makenzee's horse trainer that her beloved horse, Lady, had a twisted bowel and was dying. They asked us to bring Makenzee over as soon as possible to say her goodbyes.

I went over to the barn at 3:00 pm and took lots of pictures and video while Burt went to Salt Lake to pick up Makenzee. Lady was very lethargic and laid in the fetal position or flat on her back the entire time I was there. She did get up once and had a very small bowel movement but the damage is up near the top of her small intestine and though it may have relieved some pressure, they weren't hopeful that it helped her. About 4:30 pm, Lady took a turn for the worse and the horse trainer called the vet to come and put Lady down
because she was suffering so much.

When Burt picked up Makenzee, he told her what was happening to Lady and he said her little body just melted into the cushions of the backseat and she sobbed all the way to the barn. When she arrived she was very, very tearful and although she walked right to Lady, she was slow and hesitant in doing so. I stood in awe and was amazed at the bond between my daughter and her horse.

Lady was very close to death and when Makenzee walked into the barn and she heard Makenzee call out her name, Lady lifted her head up high and looked around for her. When she saw Makenzee, she slowly got up on to her feet and Makenzee buried her face in Lady and cried. It was very touching to watch Lady rest her nose on Makenzee's shoulder. It was also very heart wrenching to watch my daughter grieve!

Just before Makenzee arrived, the vet got there and he asked Makenzee to put a halter on Lady. She stood near her and did her best to calm her while the vet gave Lady two shots to help relieve the pain. They were hopeful that Lady was showing some spunk since Makenzee's arrival and decided to hold off on putting her down.

The vet also did an extraction but wasn't overly successful. He also put a tube down Lady's nose which fed all the way into her stomach and then he pumped some oil and mineral water into her. When he unhooked the tube from the water all the water came back out into the bucket and it was also green, which meant that she still had feed in her stomach from over 24 hours ago. (Her stomach should have been empty). It also had a very strong, almost vinegar smelling odor and he said that was a bad sign as well.

It's almost 10:00 pm and Makenzee is still holding vigil over her sweet horse and has no intention of coming home tonight. Burt is there with her. He said that Makenzee has laid on the ground with her horse and cried and she has walked her around and around the arena hoping that it will help her intestines start working again.

We are hopeful that the medications are working and that they are helping Lady relax so that her intestines can start working and moving again. We have offered up many prayers tonight and will continue to do so for a miraculous recovery!