Tuffy's Emergency Surgery Fund

2/21/17 Update:
Tuffy is back home at Hoofbeats and recovering comfortably after having to be cared for offsite by his vet for several days. Luckily Tuffy's digestion is back on track and the site of the surgery is healing nicely.  We are confident he is on the right track. 

We have decided to up our campaign goal to $3500 after successfully reaching our last goal of $2500. (Thank you all for your generosity helping us reach $2500!) Tuffy's extra vet visits and offsite stay increased the cost of recovery sizably. If we all chip in with a small donation more, I am sure we can cover this additional cost.

Thank you for all the support, well wishes, and positive vibes. Hoofbeats would not be the same without such a wonderful support group! Tuffy is lucky to have such a fan club. 

Let's strive to reach this new goal together! If each existing donor chips in $50 more we will reach our new goal. Please share this campaign with your friends, family, and fellow horse lovers. 

Gratefully,
Hoofbeats Stables


Campaign Description:
Tuffy is a beloved registered paint gelding owned by Hoofbeats Stables . He gets his name, Tuffy for his tuff and strong build. He is a horse with a heart of gold. For that reason, Tuffy is a trusted lesson horse and a great equine educator for a wide range of students. Prior to his life at Hoofbeats, Tuffy was on a dude string in Bodega Bay. When the company closed, Tuffy found his way to our stable.

Tuffy

Tuffy came to Hoofbeats in 2015 with several undiagnosed growths under his tail. Through diligent care and attention, Tuffy has flourished despite his condition for several years. Unfortunately, this week we received results back from a biopsy. Tuffy's growths are cancerous and are forcing him to undergo emergency veterinary surgery next week. Expenses are expected to total at least (updated to $3500) with recovery care.

Tuffy is having immediate surgery to remove all of the cancer cells from the affected area under his tail. The cancer is a fast growing, single cell, squamous carcinoma. Because of the location of the cancer it will require a vet's close supervision in order to prevent any injuries from being kicked both during the procedure and while Tuffy is being treated in recovery. This makes the procedure more costly. Untreated this cancer is life threatening. Tuffy is only 14, with many more years to give us. Please help save his life.

Hoofbeats mission is grounded in providing a community for equine lovers and equine educators to build deeper relationships with horses. Programs provide courses in Equine Guided Education, riding, and natural horsemanship. Many of the horses at Hoofbeats have been rescued from uncertain situations and have been given a forever home where they can continue to enrich our lives.  

Tuffy is a great educator for many of our students.

Caring for horses is always an act of passion. It takes a village to operate a barn and provide the necessary daily care horses require. The financial burden is remarkable, however, their impact on our lives makes it all worthwhile. This unexpected large expense has placed a burden on Hoofbeats. We ask that you consider a small donation to help support Tuffy's recovery. We know our horses have given so much to so many. We hope to continue to serve our community for years to come. We are grateful for any contributions that will help us through this hard time and lessen the burden of caring for Tuffy's recovery. 

Sincerely,
Hoofbeats Stables