Main fundraiser photo

Veterinarian Bills for Beth Claes




This is Nestle Quik.. And my sister's best friend.



I am doing this fundraising with some protest from my sister Beth Claes. Others have suggested this or offered help, but my sister has graciously told them no. She feels uncomfortable asking for or accepting help.

Her horse, her best friend Nestle, became sick New Years Day and she did everything she could to try and save him. Money was not a thought at the time, and she asked the Saratoga Equine hospital to do everything they could for him.

The following story may be long, but it will help you understand why she went above and beyond to try and save her friend. Although she would never take any of it back and she would do it again in a heartbeat, I feel that if others are offering to lend a helping hand, accept it. Every dollar will help the with healing process. She has already started working 2 part time jobs, along with her full time job, to cover the expenses that incurred. I am doing this in hopes that this will help with the finances and help my sister move forward to maybe opening her heart and her home to another horse.
Thank you to everyone who take the time to read this page. Please forward to everyone you know.


(Please note: the amount that we are asking doesn't not even cover all the bills..)




My Brother-in-law wrote the following:

The story of Nadia Mist...a.k.a. Nestle Quik

Once there was a racehorse named Nadia Mist. He spent summers in the Finger Lakes and wintered in Florida. Not a bad life, but Nadia wasn't really cut out to be a racehorse...in fact his scouting report mentioned that he would 'stop abruptly'...not exactly a quality to look for in a racehorse. In spite of this, he did manage to win one race, and he won by a wide margin. But I think Nadia was holding back on purpose because he knew something better was out there waiting for him...
Nadia ended up in the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption program in 2010. As fate would have it, Beth had just lost a thoroughbred shortly before this and found herself ready to bring another into her life. Her first thought of Nadia was that he had an ugly head...but he had a very kind eye, which was very, very important. So, in April 2010 Nadia was loaded on the trailer and Beth brought him to his new home.
The first order of business was a name, as Nadia was not a fitting name for a boy. The only requirement Beth had was that his new name start with an 'N'. Several names were kicked around, and then 'Nestle' was mentioned...and since he was an ex-racehorse, how about 'Nestle Quik'? The name stuck, and the rest is history.

Beth wanted to show, and more than anything wanted to jump. Nestle was green. But he was very smart, and very willing to learn. Many training lessons ensued, with each of them learning from the other. Nestle listened to Beth, Beth listened to Nestle. There were times when signals got crossed. There were times when she learned that 'stops abruptly' was not an exaggeration. They worked through these things together. Ever important trust grew between horse and rider, and the bond became stronger and stronger. Beth began to refer to him as 'Mr. Nestle', a true indication of the respect she had for him. They grew into a championship team, although it never mattered to Beth where they placed in a class. She knew more times than not that if Nestle wasn't doing something right, it was because she wasn't asking him correctly. She also learned that Nestle absolutely loved to jump! The 'ugly head' had turned into 'handsome'.

Nestle's trust in Beth was so strong that he would do (or at least try to do) anything she asked of him. He would show. He would jump. Trail class? No problem. It wasn't all work - he got plenty of play time also. Hunter-pace, gymkhana, trail rides, parades, AG awareness days at the local schools, 4H horse camp, Otter Creek, Brookfield, bareback rides, cow sorting - he did it all. Whatever it was, Beth knew that if she asked, he would try. Nestle knew that if Beth asked, it would be safe for him. He would even pretty much load himself on the trailer when it was time to go somewhere.

Beth would challenge him with new things, but she would never push him to far. He wouldn't be competitive in a gymkhana because she wanted it to be fun for him - to be competitive would have made it too much like work. He also loved hanging with his buddies at home - Missy, Rosie and Tony. You couldn't help but stop whatever you were doing to watch when they started racing and running and bucking and playing. More times than not, it was Nestle that got everyone started.

AG awareness days were the best. Kids would mob all over Nestle, and he loved it. There was a day in Amsterdam where a couple of kids actually ducked under his belly to get to his other side...and he didn't so much as flinch. We did keep a sharp eye out after that to make sure it didn't happen again, just to be safe. One of the fondest memories was when a blind student was brought over to Nestle so that he could feel a horse. The reaction of the boy was priceless when he stroked his muzzle.

The holiday parades in Johnstown was also always quite the event. Beth would dress him up in all kinds of get-ups...which he never minded. Sirens, crowds, whatever...nothing ever seemed to bother him. 21 gun salute after the Memorial Day parade in Gloversville? No problem. Having a complete stranger - in this case a veteran who wanted so badly to be on a horse again - climb up on his back? Sure. Nestle was like "If you're trying to rattle my nerves, you've got to do better than that!"

New Years Day 2014 dawned with something not quite right.
My sister Beth and her husband loaded Nestle up and took him to the Saratoga Equine Hospital. After an examination and testing it was found that Nestle had "epiploic foramen entrapment". It is a rare of type of colic in horses. He would require surgery. Without any hesitation, Beth said yes. He had to have 6 ft of intestines removed. It was a long surgery and with any type of colic surgery, complications can arise. Now, there was the waiting. He would have to wake up and get up, he did that. Next was to want to eat and be able to pass feces, he did that. After the 72 hr mark, it's usually pretty good news. Nestle made progress for the next 4 days, so good that they were looking to let him come home on the 5th day (Jan. 6th), but Beth decided it would be better for him to remain at the Saratoga Equine, as she works full time and wanted him to be able to get the care he deserves. She would visit him often, bring treats to him. She felt she should wait till the weekend to bring him home where she would be able to devote her time to his care. On Jan 7th he developed a fever. Not uncommon after a surgery. They thought maybe the incision was causing it, so they had to wait for it to drain to start the battle of taking care of the fever. He was still eating and pooping, which is always a good sign. But on the 9th, the fever spiked high, so now he is staying the weekend. They lavaged his abdomen which seemed to do the trick. Fever was gone by the 11th (Saturday) Nestle was eating, pooping and his attitude was awesome. The Vet even took him outside for a walk, which Nestle loved. He was perky and happy and my sister was excited to see the progress. She came Sunday morning to give him a walk and he was glad to see her. Walking with a mission, happy and excited, and so was Beth. Thinking he would be coming home soon and they would be together again. My sister left feeling relief. This has been a long 11 days.
Sunday night she received a call from the vet. Something wasn't quite right. After any surgery, complications can present themselves at any time. He had called just to let her know he was monitoring Nestle. Many emotions start to run through your veins. Worry, anxiety, stress but also hope. Then the vet again called later and said Nestle was in pain and he had to take him back into surgery to find out what was happening. My sister rushed to the hospital to be there for her friend. She waited anxiously for news. The vet came out to deliver the bad news. Nestle had developed adhesions, probably caused by the first lengthy and strenuous surgery. There was nothing they could do. I couldn't understand why they couldn't just "cut them off", but any of you horse people know, that is not an option. He recommended that they put him down.
This, I can say, was the hardest decision I think my sister has ever made.

For 12 days the staff at Saratoga Equine did everything humanly possible to try and make him right, but for reasons we will never know it just wasn't meant to be. In his short time in this world, Nestle could not have asked for a more loving, a more caring, or a more trusting partner than he had in Beth. Never once did she ever take him for granted. No matter the situation, she always made sure that his needs were attended to before her own.

There may be other horses in Beth's future to take Nestle's stall, but I don't know that there will ever be one to take his place. He was truely one-of-a-kind and touched the lives and hearts of many, many people. Google 'Nadia Mist' and check out the first image that comes up - a fitting tribute. or click here to see Beth and her best friend http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2013/02/28/clubhouse-qa-a-renaissance-dawns-for-tbs/


Nestle was a part of her, part of her soul, part of her heart. It breaks my heart to see the pain that she has had to go through.
Thought she knows that she made the right decision to let him go, but that doesn't make the ease the pain.

RIP Mr. Nestle




If you have any questions or would like to talk to Beth, visit her on he facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/beth.claes?fref=ts

Organizer

April Antis-Miller
Organizer
Johnstown, NY

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