Milo’s Second Chance

I’d like everyone to meet the sweetest, kindest, most loving and trusting Friesian/Thoroughbred cross you’ll ever meet. Milo was a mere 846 lbs when he came to share a pasture with two younger ladies back around the beginning of August and after a multitude of tests, which included trotting back and forth and breathing into a plastic bag, the trusted equine doc determined he’d forever be plagued with asthma. Like many of us on the world today, his owner had already become so overwhelmed with the effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the now added worry of Milo’s expensive, life long medications and he didn’t know where to turn. On the evening of October 3rd, amidst his despair and with a heavy heart... he settled on the only decision which seemed to be the best for the sweet gelding. Some few hours later and after a long and hectic evening, my 15 year old son and I had decided to make a late night stop out to the pasture in which we rented so as to check waterers. Our two mares seemed unusually excited to greet us at the gate and lagging a short way behind, was the sole gentleman of the small herd. As we climbed through the fence and began feeding the last of the apples we could harvest from the apple tree in our yard, it quickly became apparent that there was something that was not quite right however, there was nothing that could prepare us for what we were about to witness. There stood on wobbly thick legs, the gentle black giant... blood pouring from both nostrils and a bullet hole between his large, beautiful, dark brown eyes. The panic began to set in and with it, the realization that I was likely going to have to finish the mission myself. My first call was to the personal cell (my apologies Stacie!) of our superhero equine vet at Hardaway Veterinary Hospital. The next... to the Gallatin County Sherriff’s Office. The next 30 minutes of waiting for their arrival seemed to tic by like hours. Following four hours of statements and exams, we got the miraculous news that it looked as though following numerous surgeries to repair a potentially destroyed sinus cavity, that this strong boy would pull through to love and trust again and on the following Tuesday afternoon, we began X-rays to see just how much damage had been caused and while the results have proved to be far more in his favor than originally anticipated... he’s still got a long road ahead of him. I am pleased to announce that Milo is now officially a permanent member of our herd and this single mother is doing everything she can to keep him on the fast track to the best health and life he’s ever known. However... winter here in Montana is quickly on its way and with another (quite large) appetite to feed, we now have the unexpected expense of those dreaded middle of the night emergency visit and medication bills and they are quickly stacking up.