We’re reaching out with heavy hearts to ask for your help in saving a very special little horse named Desi.

Desi is a beautiful 20-year-old mare who has been the heart and soul of a 16-year-old girl named Blake. Blake got Desi as a gift for her 9th birthday, and from that moment on, the two have been inseparable. She’s not just a horse. She’s Blake’s best friend, her teammate in the show ring, and her safe place in a busy and often overwhelming world.

Blake is a hard-working teenager. She’s active in 4-H and works on a local farm caring for not only her animals but others too. When she’s not working on the farm or  schoolwork, she’s with Desi, brushing her, walking her, loving her. They’ve built a bond that goes deeper than words, the kind of bond every horse kid dreams of.

Right now, Desi is very sick. She’s being treated at the Equine Specialty Hospital in Burton, where she is battling what may be a serious bacterial infection. Her bloodwork is extremely concerning. Her triglycerides are dangerously high at 310 (they should be below 68), and her SAA, a key inflammation marker, has soared over 2000 (a healthy level is under 50). She’s receiving round-the-clock care, and her team is doing everything they can to stabilize her.

Her medical bills are already over $6,000 and continuing to rise as she remains in treatment. Blake and her mom, a single mother who works full time doing data entry, are doing everything they can emotionally and financially. But they can’t do this alone. Desi is showing signs of improvement with treatment, but she’s not well enough to come home just yet. Blake and her mom, Christina, are doing everything they can to make sure she gets the care she needs. They really need help financially to help get this beautiful girl home safely. 

If you’re able to help in any way, whether it’s donating or simply sharing this fundraiser, it would mean the world. Whether it’s $5, $20, or just sharing this page, every single bit of support makes a difference. Your kindness will go directly toward Desi’s vet bills and care as we fight to bring her home to the girl who loves her more than anything. 

Thank you for taking the time to read their story. Thank you for caring. And thank you for believing in the powerful bond between a girl and her horse, no matter how small she may be.