Myrage's Miracle

Myrage is a 16-year old Hanoverian mare who has been in our Horses Heal program since it began in 2003. She is a wonderful horse with a calm, gentle disposition. She is trustworthy with any age or level of rider. She does lessons, equine assisted learning and counseling sessions, trail rides and more. Our horses "wear many hats" to help support themselves.

On a trail ride, Myrage was being ridden by a gentlement who refused to follow directions when told to stop pulling back on the reins. Myrage kept backing closer to the edge of the bank that goes down into the riverbed and he kept pulling back in spite of the guide insisting that he stop pulling back. As Myrage's feet went down a slight embankment, the rider panicked, jumped off and yanked on the reins. Myrage pulled her head back which threw her off balance and she flipped over backwards down the embankment over the boulders. She ended up about two thirds of the way down.

A frantic guide called to tell what had happened and that she was stuck and he needed help. By the time ranch manager Terry Orvis and I arrived, the guide had gotten the horse free and was walking her back in the riverbed which had about three feet of water in it. There was no way out until they got back to Ball Road about a half mile away. Miraculously, nothing was broken and that brave, stoic horse walked all the way back to the ranch.

All four legs required stitching and two cuts were all the way to the bone. It took Dr. Linde of Equine Veterinary Specialists four hours to stitch her up. Bandages on her front legs had to be changed daily for about three weeks. The other two legs had to be changed every other day. She was confined to a box stall for a month. The only time she got to walk a few feet and see a different view was to get her bandages changed. As each leg improved, first one, then the next, we no longer had to bandage them until we were down to the worst one. That last leg had to be bandaged for more than six weeks.

Then her rehab began. Just hand walking at first, then a little time on the hotwalker. Finally light work under saddle and eventually back to work. She still has lots of scars, but at least they are only physical. We wondered if she might have some emotional scars. She was a little nervous her first time back on the riverbed, but after a few minutes settled right down.

We are so grateful to Terry Orvis for the many hours she devoted to Myrage changing her bandages. If she wasn't an expert at that before, she is now. So many of the boarders were supportive and helped whenever a hand was needed that I can't begin to name them all but we appreciate every one of them.

We are still making payments on Myrage's medical expenses. If you would like to help, click on the button below.