Support Nikki Velez Sardi with Vet Bills

Hello friends. I’m Nikki Velez Sardi. I train horses, teach yoga, and bartend. I live for my animals…my horse, Bentley, is why I am coming to you. Bentley was 2, going on 3, when I fell in love with him; a beautiful Dark Bay Holsteiner Gelding. My dream horse really, and we had so much fun together in training and life. His personality is HUGE. He was chatty and playful, dominant and arrogant, so much fun to be around and work with. He taught me so much in the 13 years we had together.

Bentley colicked on December 13th, 2024. Colic is a very serious condition horses can be prone to. It is stomach upset that leads to potential blockages causing severe discomfort and pain for the horse. Without fast treatment and prayers, it can be fatal. When Bentley started to show signs, I immediately gave him a dosage of Banamine to help, but after about 20 minutes, it was obvious it did not help. We got on the trailer and went to the vet. After she intubated him and gave him a full bag of IV fluids, he still was showing severe signs of discomfort. We got back on the trailer, I got my bar shift covered, and we went to Brandon Equine Surgical Center, which is 2.5 hours away, where they determined surgery was necessary. The obstruction was in the small intestine, which is somewhat rare. This surgery is $15-$25,000, and I had no idea how I would pay for it, but I couldn’t leave my horse to suffer, so I said please save him. They put him on the table, and a couple of hours later called to inform me they could repair the obstruction; however, there was bacteria entering his stomach. The surgeon only gave him a 20% chance of survival post-surgery. I made the most horrible decision of my life to euthanize him while under anesthesia.

I had to then pay not only in part for this surgery but to bring my dead horse home to bury. Horrific.

I am completely and utterly broken over this loss. I never dreamed that I would not be bringing Bentley home for recovery. I lost one of my best friends, and it has been horribly traumatic. Impossible to accept and just devastating.

These funds will go toward all vet bills incurred. I hate to ask for help here, but this past year was unkind to us all financially, and I have no other choice but to put this out there and pray for some.