Elizabeth
Breed: Thoroughbred
Sex: Mare
DOB: 1991
Height: 16 hh
Color: Black
Markings: Star, right/left hind socks 
Location: Alvin, TX
Adoption Fee: $100

Temperament:  Elizabeth is a very kind and easygoing mare.

Physical problems/health issues:  Elizabeth’s cannon bone in her front right leg was broken in 2003 and has 3 screws in it.  She came in very thin with major hair loss and urine scald on both back legs.  She was thought to have an incontinence problem which would leave urine running down her legs.  She would not even attempt to spread her legs to pee.  She came to her current foster home in late June 2007.  We had her urine tested and there was no infection.  We began washing her back end and coating her butt cheeks and legs with Desitin, and sometimes Equate Triple Action Ointment.  In just a couple of weeks, the crustiness had disappeared and Elizabeth had beautiful, smooth skin on her butt cheeks and legs.  However, the urine continues to dribble.  We noticed that when she walked slowly, she would drag her left rear leg a bit.  Since she was in apparent discomfort, we began taking her to a horse chiropractor/acupuncturist for treatments.  The first three treatments brought great results, and Elizabeth began urinating like a normal horse, but we waited a little too long between treatments, however, (from January to April) and the dribble began again.  We now have her on a monthly chiropractic/acupuncture treatment schedule, but the dribble continues. 

In October 2007, Elizabeth had an abcess on her front left.  The foot is fine now. 

In July 2007, Elizabeth’s left eye became irritated.  For months, it was off and on again.  She would occasionally keep the eye closed, then, with the application of Neomycin daily, it would seem to get better.  Being a very tall thoroughbred with an irritated eye, it was a challenge to put medication in her eye.  At times, she would raise that big, beautiful head, the there was no way to open the eye and medicate it, but we did what we could, when we could.  Finally, in December, the vet sewed an infusion tube up underneath the eyelid and left a protruding tube.  Medication could then be easily administered through the tube with a syringe and it would flush the eye.  Daily medications from December until sometime in mid-February started the eye on the road to recovery.  In mid-February, Elizabeth somehow managed to pull the infusion tube out without hurting her eyelid.  The vet opted to leave the eye alone, stating that it simply needed time to heal.  This is July 2008, and the eye has indeed healed, but a cloudy spot remains (about the size of a pencil eraser).  The vet said the cloudy spot will probably always remain there, but she did not lose sight in the eye.

Interaction with horses:  Elizabeth gets along very well in a mixed herd.  From the time we turned her loose with her new herd (after a day of introductions over the fence), it was as if she had been part of the herd all along and had simply returned home from a trailer ride.  The other horses walked around the property with her as if they were showing her around.  There was never any running, kicking, or biting. 

Interaction with people:  Elizabeth is a very calm and loving horse.  Of course, because of the eye infection, she got a little head shy when she needed medication, but even then, after a minute of coaxing, she always settled down. 

History:  Elizabeth is an ex-race horse, turned to pleasure riding, who broke her cannon bone in her front right leg in 2003.  She has since been a pasture mate to other horses, until the owner moved away and could no longer care for her.  Since coming to her current foster home, she has never been ridden or worked in the round pen because of the apparent pain in her back end. 

Training/abilities:  Being an ex-race horse, it is presumed that Elizabeth is very well trained.  It was reported that a 12-year old kid was riding her when she broke her cannon bone.  Her chiropractic vet said that Elizabeth might be rideable again someday, but only lightly, but she needs some time before she is to be evaluated.  IF she is rideable, we would highly suggest that she only be ridden lightly by a light-weight person to prevent any further pain or discomfort in her back end.  She has been saddled up twice, and she stands very still and tacks up well.  She is currently considered a “companion only”. 

Experience lever required to work with this horse:  Beginner

Has this horse ever:  Bucked?  No  Reared?  No  Kicked?  No  Bitten?  No

Ground handling:  Catch?  Very easy to catch  Lead?  Very easy to lead  Tie?  Yes  Trailer?  Yes  Clip?  Unknown  Trim Feet?  Yes  Bathe?  Yes

Special Needs:  Elizabeth needs a very special person who will provide her as much comfort as possible.  She will need arthritis medication/supplements/or even bute as needed.  Since bute has a tendency to upset a horse’s tummy, we currently give her a supplement for pain called BL Pellets.  It has “devil’s claw” in it.  We had her on a supplement called Myristol (as recommended by our vet) which has Glucosamine in it for her joints, but when it ran out, we started giving her 5 ml injections of Glucosamine every two weeks.  She continues to get the injections, but we have her on another supplement called Lubrisyn for her joints.  We also give her a dose of Equipride in her feed which has necessary minerals in it (instead of using a mineral block).  We are currently experimenting with a Chinese herb for her urine dribble (provided by her chiropractor/acupuncturist).

More pictures:

Updated:  July, 2008

Adopt: Please contact us regarding adoptions at adoptions@habitatforhorses.org or call 1.866.HFH.LSER(866.434.5737).

Are you unable to adopt but would still like to have Elizabeth in your life? Sponsor her through our Virtual Foster program.

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