Update on Rio.
12-15-2021
We are happy to report that Rio is doing so well, she is even leading on a halter and lead rope now! Sean was able to cut the flap of flesh off her chest and give the whole punctured and cut up area a good flushing medicated bath. We are so happy that Rio is learning to put her trust in Sean and is accepting the wound treatments well. Sean said she has a very kind eye and all this girl wants is to be loved.
12-14-2021
Today Rio was picked up from the vet hospital. The bill was $1,338.08.
Jingles turned out to be just what Rio needed. Rio rode quietly for the 9 hour drive from Oklahoma with little Jingles standing quietly up against Rio. As we had hoped, they bonded right away, both girls being recently weaned from their moms.
When our trusted hauler took one look at Rio, he asked us if we knew just how bad her wounds were. He said they were much worse in person. Sean offered to take Rio to his place and give her the wound care and love she needs. When Sean said that he felt like Rio needed him and that Rio might just be what he needed too, we realized this was God working in Sean and Rio both. Sean went to vet school and he has many years experience caring for injuries of very expensive Thoroughbred racehorses at the racetrack and at home. He comes from multi generations of horsemen. with more knowledge and abilities than most.
Rio and Jingles unloaded off the trailer and settled into their small pen quickly. Sean was able to clean her wounds and pet her some. He said Rio did not even think about running through the fence surround or jumping it and she was not crazy like the people responsible for her injuries had said. Sean said this filly wants to be friends and is looking for love. We are so happy she is in his expert hands right now.
12-13-2021
Today we decided that it might be a very good idea to save from the Oklahoma kill pen, a quiet, well adjusted, very friendly mini to keep Rio company on the long drive home from Oklahoma and the entire time Rio is in quarantine and receiving wound care. The vet agreed that would help Rio. We asked the advice of a fellow rescuer to help us select the right mini. We saved little Jingles, a champagne paint that was said to be a boy, but ended up being a girl - all the better! Thank you everyone who helped us save Jingles. She turned out to be just what Rio needed.
12-10-2021
Rio's wounds are continuing to be cared for by the vet. She is getting a little better about being touched on the muzzle and lips so sedating her orally has been working.
12-8-2021
Rio is still traumatized over what has happened to her at the negligence of the quarantine/transport people. She will need a lot of time to overcome this. It is taking several vet techs to help restrain her and clean the wounds.
The vet has given us the okay to pick her up on Tuesday morning. We are currently fundraising for the remainder of the vet bill and for transport to central Texas from the Oklahoma City Equine Hospital. If you can help with this expense, we would really appreciate it.
12-6-2021
Today the vet was able to get Rio sedated enough to clean and examine her wounds. There is a 6 inch gash that is full thickness three centimeters deep on the right side of her abdomen. a puncture in the left side of her neck from a t-post, a puncture on her right rear leg, and a deep t-post impalement puncture in her chest along with shredded flesh on her chest. Her legs. body and face are covered in wounds, many of them full thickness wounds. We are disgusted with the blatant disregard, negligence and resulting trauma of those responsible for what happened to Rio. They have no business offering quarantine for horses. Rio will need to stay at the vet hospital a few more days for wound treatment.
12-5-2021, 11pm
She arrived at the equine hospital a little while ago. The vet called us a few minutes ago to give her observation. Rio is very stressed, her adrenaline is spiked and trying to touch her now could cause a stroke. Observing her from outside the exam stall, the vet can tell there are full thickness lacerations and many partial thickness lacerations from what appears to be barbed wire, and a possible t-post injury to the front of her from sometime earlier today. The vet can't see underneath Rio right now, and she can't tell from outside the stall if there are any cut tendons or ligaments, but initial thoughts are that the full thickness wounds appear in areas with no tendons or ligaments. They are going to try and get Rio to eat some grain with sedation in it to take her edge off and get close enough to give more sedation and take care of her wounds. Our saving grace is that Rio is at a vet hospital receiving care. She will need to be there a few days. We have no idea how high the vet bill will be at this time. If you are willing to help us with the vet care costs, we would be most appreciative.
Update! Please keep baby Rio in your prayers.💥🆘We have been informed that our new weanling filly Rio, who was picked up today from the kill pen and taken to quarantine, somehow got out of the place they put her in, ran and clearly got cut up by a barbed wire fence. She is unhandled and extremely scared. 😥 We will need vet care funds. Poor little girl! 😭 Will you help please? Any help is greatly appreciated. Updates will be shared as we know more.
We found this baby girl at Stroud Kill Pen in Oklahoma on December 5, 2021 and knew we needed to help her. No babies should EVER be taken to a kill pen. With the approaching cold front we knew we needed to get her out of there soon. Today, December 6, 2021, you all helped us to get her bail paid and her transport paid to an Oklahoma quarantine facility. Thankfully with the current temperatures being 29 degrees with the wind chill and falling, our transporter was able to get her picked up right away and brought to his quarantine facility in Oklahoma. We really appreciate all of our donors who help us save horses that others have thrown away. This is a true labor of love, nursing them back to health, helping them overcome what trauma has happened to them and then finding them forever homes or accepting them into our sanctuary for continued care. When this little girl is done with her quarantine stay, baby Zephyr who is her age, will be here waiting for her. Thank you donors for making this all possible.
