Give Health & Purpose to a Neglected Horse

Early in May, a Clackamas County Sheriff Deputy responded to a neglect complaint and found Bell, a malnourished 23-year-old Belgian Draft Mare. This was not the first complaint or investigation of neglected animals on the property, but this time Bell’s owner agreed to surrender her.

We loaded Bell up and headed directly to Eagle Fern Equine Hospital for a full intake examination. She was graded a 2.5/9 Body Condition Score. The weight tape measured Bell at 1350 lbs, while a healthy Belgian Horse should weigh between 1800 to 2400 lbs. She was easily 400+ lbs underweight. Bell also had a very high parasite load, for which she started treatment, and is in need of dental care, which will wait until her body is stronger. She has rain rot along her topline and hair coming out in chunks. Thankfully, she loves scratches and grooming.

With all of those concerns, the worst still, is the condition of her hooves. Draft horses' hooves absorb a tremendous amount of weight and pressure. When they are not maintained, they tend to break and crack rather than grow long like a smaller horse’s hoof might. Bell’s hooves are full of these cracks and defects that compromise their strength and strain the delicate tissues within the hoof wall. We expect it will take months for them to recover fully.

Though the road ahead of her is a long one, we got to Bell in time. She will get another chance at life where she is safe, healthy, and valued. On Saturday, Bell was transported to a foster home. There she will get the farrier and dental care she needs to thrive, tons and tons of love and TLC, and nearly as many tons of quality hay.

Proper nutrition from quality hay will help Bell gain vital fat and muscle and will allow her body to make healthy new cells in every organ in her body.

Can you help us heal Bell and others like her from the inside out?