<div><strong>Royal Velvet, affectionately known as “V”, is only 5 years old, full of life, and one of the sweetest horses at Royce’s Rescue.</strong>
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<div>But behind his playful, goofy personality, he’s been quietly living with severe pain. He needs your help to give him the future he deserves.
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<div><strong>V's Story</strong>
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<div><strong>V </strong>came to <a href="https://www.roycesrescue.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royce's Rescue</a>  after being rescued from the racing pipeline. We knew he was special right from the start.
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<div>He’s affectionate, kind, and always eager to please. He loves being around people and playing with his pasture mates. His love of children drives has kept him working to becoming a lesson horse. <strong>V</strong> has helped riders of all levels build confidence.
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<div>But something wasn’t right.....
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<div>A few months into training, we started noticing signs of discomfort. When ridden, <strong>V</strong> would swing his neck, resist movement, and show clear signs of pain in his back. 
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<div>We tried managing it by giving him breaks and adjusting his workload, but deep down, we knew something more serious was going on.
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<div><strong>V's Diagnosis &amp; Surgery</strong>
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<div>After multiple veterinary visits, treatments, and scans, the cause was finally discovered:
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<div><strong>A cyst in his spine, directly under the saddle area.</strong>
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<div>We started with less invasive treatments, injecting his hocks and neck for arthritis, but that didn't work. The pain kept coming back.
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<div>Ultimately, we were told that <strong>V</strong> needed <strong>major spinal surgery.</strong>
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<div>Last week (April 17), surgeons performed a <strong>highly invasive procedure</strong> to remove the cyst from his spinal bone. His medical team had to literally chisel it away to relieve the source of his pain.
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<div><strong>Where V Is Now</strong>
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<div>V made it through surgery and is now home and stable, beginning a long road to recovery.
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<div><strong>But V's journey isn’t over</strong>. He still faces:
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<li>Minimum of 4 months of stall rest
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<li>Gradual rehabilitation
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<li>Follow-up veterinary care
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<div>But now, for the first time, he has a real chance at living and working pain-free.
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<div><strong>Why This Matters</strong>
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<div>Without this surgery, <strong>V</strong> would never be able to be ridden again.
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<div>He would spend his life as a pasture-only horse, limited in what he can do and how he can interact.
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<div><strong>That's not V!</strong>
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<div>Because of this procedure, he has a chance to:
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<li>Return to training
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<li>Become a lesson horse
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<li>Continue bringing joy to people and other animals
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<div><strong>V's Financial Need</strong>
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<div>Veterinary care for horses isn't cheap, life-saving procedures come with significant cost:
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<div><strong>V's</strong> current vet bills:
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<li><strong>$11,384.40</strong>
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<li><strong>Additional follow-up care still expected</strong>
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<div><strong>As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, </strong><a href="https://www.roycesrescue.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Royce's Rescue</strong></a> <strong> operates entirely on donations. </strong>
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<div>Unexpected medical emergencies like this put enormous strain on our ability to continue helping animals like <strong>V</strong>.
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<div><strong>How You Can Help V</strong>
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<div>We are asking for your support to help cover <strong>V’s</strong> medical expenses and recovery.
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<div><strong>Every donation, no matter the size, goes directly toward V's:</strong>
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<li>Surgical costs
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<li>Veterinary care
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<li>Medications and recovery support
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<div>If you’re unable to donate, simply sharing this campaign can make a huge difference.
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<div><strong>V's still just a baby with so much life to live and joy to give</strong>. He deserves a future free from pain, where he can run, play, and do all the things he loves to do.
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<div><strong>With your help, V can have that chance.</strong>
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<div>Thank you for supporting Royal Velvet and the mission of <a href="https://www.roycesrescue.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royce's Rescue</a> (click link to find out more about our rescue &amp; other ways to help)
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<div><strong>We are fundraising to cover the costs of V's surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing veterinary care.</strong>
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Enter your donation forSave Royal Velvet: Urgent Vet Care Needed