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The focus of our equine rehabilitation program, The Comprehensive Resource Model Foundation, is the rescue of retired/off-the track racehorses. In October of 2023, we chose to adopt two thoroughbreds who were discarded after their racing careers came to an end.
A registered 10-year-old Thoroughbred, and a direct descendant of legendary Triple Crown winners Secretariat and Seattle Slew, and the prolific Alydar, this is Paranoia
(her racing name) and the condition she was in the day we brought her into our lives. We chose her new barn name of Rasha to lift the weight of her racing name from her spirit.
Paranoia was raced consistently in Florida, New York and Pennsylvania from 2017 through 2022, winning high stakes races. Her value – primarily as a commodity to generate income and prestige for her human owners because of her illustrious blood lines and athletic abilities – catalyzed a life of trauma, wounding and instability; in effect compromising a joyful connection to others, human or equine. She was sold 13 times in those 6 years and became distrustful, disconnected and fearful of humans.
Since October of 2023, we have been rehabilitating her in mind-body spirit and she has grown into a healthy, more trusting, loving horse whose name is now Rasha. Finally, she has found a life where she can be free to run with a herd and remember her true nature without demands. She will never be sold or forced into any type of performance that she does not choose to do. In the past year, even during her own recovery, her natural abilities to help and heal humans has been unfolding and she has started to engage in a supportive way with first responders, veterans, and the general public who come to the farm for treatment of PTSD through our equine therapy program.
Through her courage, warrior history, big heart and unconditional love, she has already provided the presence and interactions that have changed people's lives for the better and she herself was looking and feeling like a "real horse", healthy and happy with a job she loved.
Unfortunately, Rasha recently sustained a life-threatening injury to her leg and has been in an equine emergency hospital for 5 weeks. She rolled and got tangled into a high tensile wire fence and her extensor tendon was severed 70% (this is the tendon that allows the leg to bend to walk). The wire sliced down into the bone itself, and the muscles, tissues and skin were ravaged by this deep wounding and is at a very vulnerable area for healing because of leg movement that prevents fast healing. The veterinarian says she needs 6 to 9 MONTHS of stall rest at least. Meaning she can't go outside to run or be with the other horses until December or even later. She is limited to 20 minutes a day on a lead rope to graze and move her body a bit. More exercise than this will jeopardize the healing of her injury which is in a very vulnerable area that requires stillness and full rest. (This limitation is equivalent to a human living in their bathroom for 6 to 9 months, allowed out of the bathroom for only 20 minutes a day).
Her desperate seeking and longing to connect with the other horses and be outside on the land that she calls her true home is deep and powerful especially after only a year of being free before this accident occurred. As her human partner, my heart is breaking for her and I fear for her spirit and her capacity to heal when she cannot stay calm without huge doses of sedation 24/7 and weekly vet visits for specialized wound care and bandaging. She has lost close to 300 pounds from stress and her musculature in her entire hind end is atrophied from lack of exercise.
We have chosen not to put her down as several veterinarians and surgeons assessed that if she can stay calm and get the daily care that she needs (at a hospital or at home) she will be able to heal and return completely to an active, full life. Therefore, I have chosen instead to take on extra work to pay for her care and problem-solve non-stop to find the sweet spot of interventions and calming methods that will allow her to heal. Other than this severe wounding of tendon, muscles, tissues and skin, she is still her strong, fiery, absolutely amazing queenly self who is, herself, a true healer in our midst. All who know her feel in our hearts that she yearns to be a mother someday, and we want to help her to reach this milestone when she is healthy again.
I have poured every penny I have into her care thus far and while it is extremely uncomfortable for me to do so, I am asking for help for her, to give her a chance for a happy free life after so many years of mistreatment and trauma in the racing world. The expenses for the next six months include: weekly vet visits to the farm, expensive medications and wound care products, specialized supplements for her muscles and nervous system functioning, paying to replace the dangerous fencing that injured her in the first place, paying barn help to do the daily specialized care for her while I am at work, and potentially admitting her back to an equine specialty hospital which may be necessary if she cannot stay calm in her home environment. Hospitalization for this length of time is prohibitive without help. We do not have the type of insurance which will pay for this length and type of rehabilitation. Any amount, big or small will be so deeply appreciated. Humble thanks for your consideration.
Lisa Schwarz, CRM® Foundation Founder