If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ve seen pictures of Lacy, 8yo dun Divide Basin Mustang mare and part of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador herd.
Lacy is gaited, gritty, opinionated and up for any challenge or adventure. She’s been my main riding horse for the past 3 years. “‘Though she be but little, she is fierce.” – That sums up Lacy.
This month marks 6 years together. She was the first branded Mustang I ever gentled, a gangly, fiery 2yo with lots of heart and even more personality. She’s never held back on expressing her opinions, and we sure haven’t always seen eye to eye.
Last month, about a week before I left for Elko, Lacy came in from pasture limping, pretty sore on her left hind. I gave it a little time… No improvement. A trip to the vet revealed a partially torn ligament in her hock, edema and lots of inflammation.
The vet said “She might be fine in a couple or three months, or we may have to make to make a quality of life decision, just depends on how well this heals.” ‘Quality of life decision’ is a nice way of hinting at euthanasia. Not something I wanted to hear.
The outpouring of support Lacy has received since then has been incredible. Tay and Jennifer Martin put ointment and back-on-tracks on her every day while I was gone, Gina Sorrell Kuttrus k-taped the sore hock, our farrier Cassie Krzeczowski donated magnawave treatment that Ashley Boyington has been administering, and Maya Suzuki LAc drove for hours to do acutherapy and moxibustion on Lacy.
Meanwhile, Lacy is penned up with all the hay she could want, and gets to go on short hand walks. I turn to absolute mush when it comes to this mare that can do no wrong (my opinion, most people who know her would tell a different story), is my friend and adventure partner.
She’s handling living in a cage better than I’d anticipated. It’s bothering me more than her it seems, seeing the princess stuck in a small pen. After a couple of weeks of being pretty quiet, she’s all attitude again, and that makes me so happy.
She’s delighted about attention and oh so helpful when it comes to feeding, watering and pen cleaning. She tries to sneak out every chance she gets. We’ve tried letting her roam. Someone just can’t pace herself, so no more of that.
Lacy is on Equioxx and scheduled for a steroid injection. Thank you to everyone who has worked on her, given advice, and sent good thoughts her way. It is so much appreciated. If all goes well she’ll be chasing cows and climbing mountains again come spring.
