The very first post of the year - Happy new year, everyone! We hope that 2022 has got off to a great start for you all. A new year is synonymous with new beginnings and starting afresh; where we want to make the necessary changes to bring increased health and happiness for ourselves and wish the same for our family and friends... and that includes our friends of the four-legged/six-legged/eight-legged, furry/feathered/scaly variety!
And talking of such friends - meet Patriot! She is a beautiful thirteen year old cavalry mare who we've been very lucky to meet, although she's probably more besties with the man who often visits her and her other equine friends, armed with their favourite treats! Up until recently, Patriot was part of a group of beloved cavalry horses who served with The National Lancers - a ceremonial cavalry squadron based in Framingham, Massachusetts.
In the past, Patriot has done the group proud by taking part in local parades and the town's annual reenactments of Paul Revere's and William Dawes' Rides. And parade season starts on Patriot's Day which so happens to be Patriot's birthday (and hence how she got her name!) As Patriot's day falls on different days each year (it's on the third Monday in April) I wonder if that means Patriot can make like the Queen and have two birthdays every year... I know I would!
As the new year gets under way, Patriot has a year that will present many changes and challenges - unfortunately not all of them good. At Peppermint Teal, we're all about health and well-being, positive changes and improving your quality of life, and that of course applies to our animal friends too. So when he heard about Patriot's plight, we wanted to step in to do our bit to help...
Towards the end of last year, Patriot had to be retired from the Lancers due to a sustained injury: she has bone chips in her stifle joint which is causing her a great deal of discomfort. It was with very heavy hearts that the Lancers had to let Patriot go as she was no longer physically able to fulfil her role within the group.
WHAT ARE BONE CHIPS?
Bones chips - also known as chip fractures or osteochondral fragments - are exactly that: slivers of bone, ranging in size but generally quite tiny, that have chipped off at the surface of the joint. And while it can occur on any of the horse's joints, it's more usual in the front fetlocks or the knee. Bone fragments can either remain partially attached to the joint, or it can come away completely and float around within the joint.
WHAT CAUSES BONE CHIPS?
Although it's unknown how it occurred in Patriot, bone fragments can be caused by bone disorders; some form of trauma; genetics, and poor leg conformation among many other causes.
WHAT PROBLEMS ARISE FROM BONE FRAGMENTS?
One of the concerns regarding bone fragments, even the really tiny grain-of-sand type ones, is that it could lead to further bone damage: debris-like shedding caused by the friction of pieces of damaged bone rubbing against each other. This inevitably creates sensations of discomfort - a bit like when you've got a tiny but nonetheless irritating stone in your shoe, hindering your mobility and performance. The consequences of bone chips in horses' joints might include inflammation, lameness and the possibility of soft-tissue injuries if the horse places more stress on their healthier joints.
THAT'S AWFUL! WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?
The treatment options depend on matters such as the fragment's location and it's affect on the horse, among many other variables. Thankfully though we live in an age with great medical and technological advancements which means that bone chips don't present the same dire consequences for horses that it once did, so it's not all gloom and doom. The good news is that not all chips lead to further deterioration of the joints and consequent complications. In fact bone chips are a fairly common occurrence where horse joints are concerned, and it's estimated that more than twenty per cent of horses will experience bone fragments at some point in their lives. But if the bone chip is not causing the horse any distress and it's creating little to no hindrance to their performance and mobility, it is possible to just leave it alone with further monitoring and care.
The other options if the chip is being a right pain in the joint are surgery or injections - with Patriot needing both...
Patriot will have to undergo surgery on her leg to remove the bone chips and repair the surrounding tendons. Furthermore she will have to have annual joint injections to help ease any symptoms of arthritis. This surgery is vital for Patriot in order to give her a more improved quality of life, as without it, she will suffer the agony of crippling pain. Unfortunately the costs of the surgery are quite extensive, and while those who know Patriot have very generously dug deep in order to cover the costs, they still have yet to meet their target.
That's why a fundraising page has been set up in order to help with the cost of Patriot's surgery - currently estimated at between $4,220 - $5,220 - which is due to take place mid-January. Any surplus money left over from this fundraiser will go towards meeting the cost of further surgical procedures as well as her future injections. If you're as moved by Patriot's plight as we are, we encourage you to please donate to Patriot's fund to make a little (OK, rather large!) retired cavalry horse happy again. We're not even looking for donations of Besoz-sized proportions (although that would be nice!) Every little helps and would be gratefully received if it means that Patriot can - literally - get back on her feet again and be in better health.
But there is a lovely bright light on the horizon. Patriot is in the process of being adopted by a very loving, big-hearted couple - her caregivers who created this fundraiser - who are doing everything that they can to ensure that she is happy, comfortable and well cared for. They have managed to secure a place for her at a stable where Patriot will undergo physiotherapy as part of her healing process, and that's something that they are extremely grateful for as it means that she'll have a better quality of life and a happy, healthier, well-earned retirement in a place where her needs will be met.
Patriot was born to a rescue horse and was a surprise baby! So she's had quite a remarkable - and some might say dramatic - start in life and has gone on to achieve some great accomplishments. She is thought of with great fondness and now all everyone who knows her wants, is for her to receive the support and treatment that she needs in order to live a happy and healthy life.
For more details about Patriot's fundraiser and if you wish to donate to her surgery fund please go to:
Patriot's caregivers would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this post, and to those who have donated and sent their best wishes. They are very moved by the support they have received and are very grateful for everyone's kindness.
Good luck, Patriot. You got this!
All photos of Patriot courtesy of CV
Blog graphics: Angel Noire