Emergency vet bills for therapy horse Rose

On September 5th, 2023, our beloved therapy horse Rose came in from the pasture limping. What we thought was a hoof abscess or maybe founder turned out to be a fracture. We were all preparing ourselves to say goodbye to her when we found out that the veterinary surgeons at the equine specialty hospital at Purdue University think that they can not only save her, but that she could likely return fully to work in less than a year.

Rose came to us as a very generous donation, but she hadn't had a job in a long time when she arrived. She was under muscled, her back was a little sore, and you couldn't pick up her hind left foot without causing a full-blown meltdown. But she had a special light in her eyes. Since arriving at Reins to Recovery, Rose has blossomed. She has found her purpose in life and become a wonderful therapy horse, helping our clients experience the unique joys of equine therapy. She's made many friends, both horse and human. And she has learned to expect treats from everyone!

We want to see Rose continue as a beloved member of our family here at Reins to Recovery for many more years, but the cost of her surgery is a big ask for a nonprofit running on a tight budget. We think though that Rose deserves a second chance, especially given that surgical repair of olecranon (elbow) fractures in mature horses have very high success rates. Published studies show that 81%-92% of horses recover fully and can even return to high-level competition or the racetrack.

Rose will get the best care we are able to find for her at Purdue, but we need your financial assistance. Can you help us pay for a miracle for our special girl?

We are a nonprofit therapeutic equine center located in Seymour, Indiana. Reins to Recovery serves children and adults with disabilities, youth at risk, and victims of violence and abuse.

Costs associated with Rose's surgery include:

$500 - initial vet visit and X-rays which established the presence of the fracture

$4,000-$7,000 - more imaging, the surgery itself, and care from the expert team at Purdue

$2,000 - medications, bandaging, shavings for her stall, and other post-surgical needs