Light the Avenue

PLEASE HELP!! Vet bills are now over $8,500.00!!

September 2007 - My name is “Light”. I’m not Barbaro, but I’m a nice horse who paid my dues at the track and ended up with multiple chips in my knees, ending my career. I was owned by one of the leading breeders here, but they didn’t want me back so I ended up with Pam at GEVA inc. I’ve been here for many years, since I can’t do much with my knees in the condition they’re in. However, I was getting along really well with the group of horses in my paddock. (I can’t call it a pasture because we don’t have irrigation and there’s no grass, just dirt, but we’re fed really well.) About a year or so ago I decided to take an old 30 year old gelding, Charlie, under my wing as his guardian. Believe me, that was a chore. I have bites and scrapes and bruises for running interference for him, and he really shows little appreciation, but I know he likes it ‘cause he really depends on me.

Well, last month a got a really bad bellyache. I was down in the morning when Pam came out to feed and I yelled to her. She took Charlie up for his morning mash. I got up to go over there, but the pain was so bad I had to lie down again. Pam came right back after taking Charlie up for his mash, and checked me out and called the vet. It was some time before she got here, but Pam kept walking me to try to help me feel more comfortable. I felt lousy. My stomach hurt big time! Wow!

The vet finally got here and tubed me and all, but things still weren’t right. So, I ended up taking a trailer trip to UC Davis. That was a challenge also, since Pam no longer has a truck and trailer to get us horses us there in an emergency. Her truck and trailer are “antiquated” and no longer road worthy, so she’s dependent upon finding vanners on the spur of the moment, which isn’t a nice situation in an emergency.

Well, we got lucky that day and a van came and got me and we hauled up to UC Davis. They tubed and probed and x-rayed and scanned and came back and said they “thought” there was a stone (enterolith) that needed to be removed. So, Pam had to decide whether to proceed with surgery or not. It was one hell of a decision! Our funds are minimal, but how can she deny an otherwise healthy horse the right to live, especially when he’s acting as guardian to an elder in the herd? But, how can she rationalize spending the money on surgery for a horse when we need that money for the maintenance of the other horses with GEVA.

Ultimately she decided to proceed with the surgery and fortunately it was successful. I came home and have been a good patient. We had a BIG scare last week when I got a bad impaction, but the vet came out and oiled me and I finally passed the impaction and have been doing well since.

However, we have huge vet bills from UC Davis, and some from the local vets. Any help would be most appreciated. I really didn’t mean to cause her this extra expense when I know her funds are so limited.

I’m here in print for those who want to view a handsome horse, even after surgery.

10/1/07 - Well, I thought I was doing well until I started to get another bellyache last week. I just couldn't get comfortable. My appetitie was good and I was doing everything as "normal", but I just didn't feel well. Pam noticed this and took me for walks and I heard her call the vet for consultation. Bottom line was after four days of this I ended up taking another trailer ride to Davis. Again Pam was lucky to get a ride for me on short notice after some refusals 'cause they weren't available.

Pam keeps telling me I'm a "good boy" and I guess I am. I got into the trailer without a fuss and suffered the ride over California's abominable freeways full of potholes and ruts. We got to UC Davis in the afternoon and they put me through the same tests again. Wow! I've been here, done that, and I don't like doing it again.

Pam left me here after the preliminary tests so they could do more. I really didn't want to stay, but she went off without me. I hope she'll come back because I really don't like this place. I feel quite abandoned and I don't feel well and that makes it even worse. I don't know anyone here and don't really know why I'm here, but I am.

I know Pam can't afford this extra expense of my being here and the tests, and possible exploratory surgery, etc. I just hope they figure out what it is!! I'm tired of bellyaches!! They hurt bigtime!! I'm no wimp, but I don't like these bellyaches. They make me drop to the ground, like NOW, to try to get rid of the pain. I don't know how to explain it, but's it like somebody just put a knife through your gut, or they just set off a firecracker in your gut, or some such thing. It HURTS!!! I've got scrapes to show my discomfort. Pam has tried to keep me on my feet, but she's no match for me at 1,000 pounds plus.

Anyway, this is an additional plea for help for my bills so Pam can keep me alive. I'd really like to live! I'm a good horse, and after all, I have to take care of Charlie!!

Please help me stay alive. I really do deserve it...

Thanks,

Light the Avenue

10/14/07 - Thanks to all of you kind and caring people who donated to GEVA for my vet bills. I know Pam couldn't afford them, but I'm sure glad she gave me the chance to "hang around" for a bit longer. I really didn't mean to cause all the trouble, but unfortunately I can't take care of myself. So, THANKS SOOOOO MUCH to those who helped!!!

Here's the latest on how I feel. It's been a week now that I've been back on feed with absolutely no hay. Boy it was a hungry couple of days while they cleared my system out. I wanted to eat in the worst way, especially some good alfalfa that I haven't been able to eat since my surgery. But I heard her saying she wanted to see if the hay was causing the blockage. Wow, it's been driving me crazy not being able to munch on hay. I get so bored! I'm a horse. I should be eating hay. BUT I haven't had a belly ache since they cleaned me out. I'm back up to full rations now, but without hay and it's working.

I sure would like to be able to go back to where I was before the surgery with a nice diet of alfalfa, mashes, etc., but I'm not complaining too much. This food is good, I feel MUCH better, I get fed five times a day, and get lots of attention in the barn and hand walking and I'M STILL ALIVE. (Whew, that was close!!) I hope this feed routine continues to be good so I can stay alive.

Thanks again for the help, Friends.

I remain indebted to you,

Light the Avenue

11/20/07 - Wow, I know Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away, and I’m giving thanks for still being here and feeling well. I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I really missed my hay. But, you know what. I got a great note from a cute feline, Roxanne, who also sent me a picture done by this guy Monet that was of hay fields. She also told me how to handle the stress by “inhayling and exhayling”. I tried it, and I think it might have worked. I’ve been out on pasture for the past week. Aside from fretting about being so far from my old pasture mates, I’m adjusting. My old charge, 30 year old Charlie, is out here with me, and he still bullies me. He’ll never become civilized, but it’s nice to have his company again, even if he doesn’t appreciate mine.

I must admit I’m a bit hurt that I had my problems with the surgery and all, but not many came to my rescue. I said in the beginning that I wasn’t Barbaro, but I’m told I’m a nice horse. I heard Pam saying the other day that she’d received very few donations for me and the costs of my surgery. Sometimes people sure know how to hurt a guy. Anyway, I don’t like complaining, but I really feel slighted that not more of you cared about me and my situation.

However, in the meantime I hope all you people have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope I’m still around to wish you a Merry Christmas…

Light the Avenue

12/19/07 - Well, it’s been another month and I’m holding my own and feeling pretty good about it. Pam has been putting me out in pasture with my old buddy Charlie. He’s as grouchy as ever, but it’s nice to be out with him again. We’ve been getting our mashes out there and there’s some grass. But wouldn’t you know it, now that I’m out on pasture there hasn’t been much rain, so the grass isn’t growing very fast. Pam gets mad at me because I want to stop to graze on the way back to the barn. She says I’ve been out in pasture all day, so why do I have to stop to graze on the way home. (She’s usually tired and grouchy, like Charlie, by the end of the day.)

Anyway, I have something to brag about too. My picture is on the postcards that went out asking for end of year donations. I must say, I look the part of the handsome fellow I am. Nobody else here has had such exposure. I might even become famous, but I don’t want to get too excited about it. Some nice lady donated the cards. They’re really nice and I’m sure glad she chose my picture for them. Maybe I can autograph a few! I sure hope they generate some donations for Pam.

I had an early Christmas present too. Pam started giving me some of the droppings from the alfalfa, the leaf that falls off when she’s feeding. She’s been mixing it in my feed tub and it sure tastes good. I haven’t had any bellyaches either. We’ll see how it goes.

But my wish has come true. My last note said that I hoped I’d still be around to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Well, we still have a few days until Christmas, but I’m still here today to make that Merry Christmas wish to you all. Have a Happy New Year too, and I hope I’m here for the next New Year to send another wish.

March 10, 2008 - Wow!  Where does the time go?!?!?  I’ve been meaning to get back to you all to give you an update on “me” and my progress, but I’ve been having such a good time, I haven’t done it.

I don’t even remember when I talked to you last, but since then, things have been improving regularly.  I feel good, look good, except for the mud ‘cause I LOVE to roll in the mud when I’m turned out.  It really cakes on me and I look like an adobe clad figure.  I still have to go into the stall and run at night so Pam can make sure my inners are working okay, but I’m out in the paddock all day with Govie.  He’s an old class horse that I’ve decided to bully, but he takes it.  I think Pam may make other arrangements, if I don’t shape up.

But, she’s got me back on HAY!!!!  Okay, it’s not a full ration, but she’s been increasing it slowly over the past month.  It’s grass hay, so it’s pretty soft and not much stem.  But it tastes SOOOOOO good!!  I haven’t had a belly ache or anything.  I’m still getting my other rations too four times a day, so I’m almost in horse heaven for food.  I even heard her say that if I don’t show any problems in the next week or two, she might turn me back out in the big paddock with my buddies and the POND, in which I loved to swim and splash around.  Old Charlie is in there too, so maybe I can get my old job back taking care of him.  I’d like that.

So, I’m hoping that my belly behaves and I can get back to being a normal horse.  That would be sooooo nice.

I really want to thank those of you who have contributed to my hospital bills.  I know Pam still has a huge expense there, but she has said how much she appreciates the money she has received.  Personally, I want to send a really loud snort and neigh of thanks to those few of you who helped.  I’ll stand on my hind legs, which I can do quite well, and raise my head and shout your praise!  I hope you understand what I’m saying.

So, please keep your fingers crossed that all goes well these next couple of weeks with my hay intake, and then I’ll be a free horse again, able to play with my buds and swim in my POND.  Oh, how I miss getting down and dirty in the mud!!!!

Thank you all for your caring and help…

Light
(Somebody said I preferred the name Freckles or Star.  I’m not sure about that, but at this point I’m so bored I’ll try anything.)

April 11, 2008 - Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, OH BOY!!!!  I’m out in my old paddock.  Oh boy, oh boy!!!!  It feels so good, but my old buddies have really been picking on me.  Even old Charlie has shunned me, my old ward.  However, I have my pond and I’ve gone for a swim, and I’m a happy horse.  So far I’m eating a grass hay/alfalfa mix, 80% grass.  It hasn’t bothered me.  I’m still getting my senior mash three times a day, and my gut’s been working well.  I hope it continues to do so, ‘cause I don’t want any more bellyaches, and I know Pam doesn’t want me to have them either.  They’re expensive, not to mention painful!!  It’s great being free out here to run around, swim and play.  I like being a horse here.

Thanks for your interest,
Light

April 13, 2008 - Well, my old buddies have shaped up, kind of.  They’re not picking on me big time any more, and I’ve become quite aggressive about it.  Maybe that’s why they’ve backed off.  Anyway, Charlie has “chummed up” again, so we’re back into our old role, I being his “guardian”.  Pam said I’m beginning to look like my old self – I have bites and scrapes all over me.  She doesn’t know where I get them, and I’m not going to tell her. (They’re still picking on me, but I can take it!)

My belly has been good.  Every day when I go up to the barn for my “senior mash”, I pee and poop in the stall so Pam knows my inners are working.  I hear her complain, but I know she’s glad to know that everything is functioning well.  That’s my way of letting her know.

So, folks, thanks to those of you who contributed toward the vet bills to keep me alive.  I AM VERY MUCH ALIVE AND ENJOYING IT!!!  The expense is still there for the surgery and follow-up, but your donations really helped Pam.  I thank you for her.  I like being alive, thanks to your caring.

So, tomorrow I’ll continue taking care of Charlie, but first we’ll go up to the barn for the breakfast mash, then I might go for a play in the pond for awhile, then it will be almost time for the lunch mash up in the barn again.  I’m glad she’s continued to keep me on the mashes.  I think they help my stomach.  After that it’s playtime again until dinner.  Not a bad life, and I’m SOOOOO glad to still be alive to enjoy it.  Life is good here with GEVA!
Come check us out.  We’ll accept all treats and donations.  I’m the handsome bay that was on the postcards.

I’ll catch you all later,  It’s time to go splash in my pond…
Light

April 19, 2008 - Wow!  Tonight I even had some alfalfa.  Let’s see how I digest it.  It tasted soooooo good.  I hope I don’t have problems with it.  I think Pam is trying to “test” to see how much I can tolerate.   So far we’ve been doing well.  I still go up for my mashes, do my “poop” to let her know I’m okay, and so on.  I sure like being out in the paddock with the pond again.  The guys are really being okay now, and I’m actually bullying some of them.  That cute gray mare, Chilly, I think has a crush on me, but that’s okay.  I can handle it.  She is cute and I can handle “forward” women.  Eat your heart out!!

It was too cold and windy for a swim today, but I’ll be back in touch…
Light

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