Help Cocoa Get Life-Saving Surgery

Short version: My horse, Cocoa, is in need of orthopedic surgery to treat a painful, degenerative arthritic disease called Ringbone. The surgery is estimated to cost $9,000 and without it, he'll decline and need to be euthanized. Please help us raise funds for Cocoa and give him the long life he deserves!

If you'd prefer to send donations directly to me, I recommend Venmo @Katelynn-Kozbial . For cash or check please reach out to coordinate.

Longer version:

Cocoa has severely progressed ringbone in his front, left leg, and mild ringbone in his front, right leg. Ringbone is a degenerative disease, much like arthritis in humans, that causes painful bony growths to form around the horse's pastern joints. We have been doing everything we can from supplements, to NSAIDS, to injections to slow it down and keep him out of pain. Sadly, we have reached the point where the joint has collapsed, the cartilage is gone, and he needs a surgery called a Pastern Arthrodesis. The surgeon will stabilize the joint by removing the damaged cartilage, fusing the joint and implanting screws and plates. The surgery is estimated to cost between $8-9,000.00 for just one leg. There is a chance the surgeon could recommend doing both legs after evaluation. Without this surgery, Cocoa would progressively get worse until this quality of life would become so poor that euthanasia is the only option. Cocoa is only 14 (Horse lifespan is typically 25-30yrs).

In his semi-retired era, Cocoa works with me as a therapy horse providing trauma-focused therapy to adults and adolescents in the Austin area. He loves to help folks learn boundaries, what secure attachment looks like, and how to play and have fun! We do some dressage on the side, and he absolutely loves a free walk. He is the silliest goofball and one of the biggest personalities in the barn.

X-Rays of Cocoa's front, left pastern from 5/31/2024

A healthy leg without ringbone:

What the surgery will do:

Cocoa Motion+++// is multinational show horse, loved and admired by many. His illustrious show record is a mile long, earning him merit awards that are indicated behind his name. Cocoa won the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show in the hunter division 2 years in a row plus Canadian and US National titles. Here's a winning photo of him with one of his previous owners