The first and second week went by with Gaysha being the model patient.  We took turns going in to her stall to give her light grooming, massages and to just spend time with her.  She would look out her window quietly and occasionally called to her friends.  By the third week, though, she seemed restless - or perhaps, depressed.  It was almost as if she was giving up.

That weekend, when Jackie went to the barn for the morning check, she found Gaysha trying to lay down - while still hanging from the lead rope.  Jackie released the rope, then Gaysha laid down and went into a deep sleep.  Jackie waited while Gaysha slept wondering how she would get her up.  It was Sunday and there was no one else around.  After about an hour, Gaysha woke up.  With some help and coaxing was able to stand.  Jackie re-tied her lead rope to the overhead cable.

The next few weeks went much the same.  Over the weekend, when the barn was very quiet, Gaysha would try to lie down.  We would release the lead, she would sleep and then with help, we would get her up.  We all hoped that she was not hurting her self, when she was down, but basically there was no way to stop her.  Gaysha seemed to be slowly mending, but for the people who loved and cared for her - it was sad to see this once vivacious and animated filly looking so despondent and lonely.

The six week mark was upon us and status quo had set in.  Then, while massaging Gaysha one morning, I noticed she was standing on her right rear leg (the injured side) holding up her left.   There was no heat or pulse in the left foot, so maybe, she was just resting on the injured leg?  To make sure, we called a local vet who came and took an X-ray of the left hind foot.  Gaysha had developed a type of laminitis called “stress founder“.  Caused by the weeks of increased pressure from standing mostly on the left rear foot.  It was so advanced that her bone was close to protruding from the bottom of her foot.  One call to Dr. Judy and we were on our way back to the Alamo Pintado Clinic. 

He told us that laminitis can happen in a small percentage of fracture cases, but there is no way to predict or avoid it.  Now that her fractures had had some time to heal, the founder was Gaysha’s immediate and critical challenge.  Dr. Judy recommended that she stay at the clinic, where he and the farrier, could fashion a special shoe to take the pressure off the foot and he could keep an eye on her.  For the second time, we were cautioned that because of the severity of the rotation of the bone, Gaysha might not make it.

Jackie and I left the clinic without Gaysha.  Our hopes and expectations were low.  Why, after such a courageous recuperation from the fractures, should she have to go through another agonizing ordeal?  It wasn’t fair and I was mad!  Mad at Gaysha…mad at myself…mad at the world.

Gaysha spent the next seven weeks at the Hospital.  During that time. a good friend Susan Drake visited her almost every day.   She gave her gentle massage and clay treatments to extract heat and release tight muscles.   She also did energy work to stimulate hoof growth.  After only two weeks at the clinic, Dr. Judy was amazed and encouraged at the amount of growth in her foot.   So much so, that we started to discuss her next level of care.  He recommended that Gaysha go to a rehabilitation facility close to the clinic so that he and the farrier could continue their care and observation.