Horse Illustrated Magazine

Read Vet Adventures: High-Altitude Rescue, Part 1 and Vet Adventures: High-Altitude Rescue, Part 2 for the first two installments of Doreen’s (Wreath’s) story.

We suspected that “Doreen” (real name Wreath), a young bay Mustang mare, had been obtained through a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) program that provided financial incentives for adopting wild Mustangs. Unfortunately, adopters sometimes take the money and bring the horses to sale lots. Well-meaning horse rescuers try to buy the Mustangs before the meat buyers get them, but more than one has found themselves without the facilities and resources to feed, train and handle the wild horses, especially if they are injured or sick.

(Note: I had to use a pseudonym for Wreath in my earlier two columns, as she was on a court hold and the details had to be kept confidential. Now she has cleared the legal holds. In defense of the name, which always makes me think of “Wraith,” we were on a Christmas theme during that intake. You try naming 500 horses a year!)

The Background

Law enforcement had removed Wreath and eight other Mustangs from such a place when the overwhelmed rescuer agreed to surrender them.

All were in poor condition when they were delivered into our care, but poor, emaciated Wreath had a facial nerve injury that left her unable to eat hay normally. She was only 4 years old but looked closer to 20, and her hind limbs were slightly contracted from the malnutrition.

In our care, Wreath was started on soft wet mashes, and our starved, wild filly quickly became a cross between a food diva and Jaws. Wreath would lean into the barn aisle from her stall and rattle the door as hard as she could when she heard staff start scooping hay pellets and a special concentrated ration into her bucket. We quickly learned not to socialize with her when food was coming, as she wasn’t shy about headbutting the person who blocked her view of the preparations.

The mixture had to soak in the warm water until it crumbled to the touch, otherwise the hungry filly could bolt it too quickly and possibly choke. She’d dance in anticipation until a brave soul entered her stall, dodging Wreath’s efforts to dive into the bucket, and dumped the contents into a large trough. Wreath would lunge at the food, mouth wide open and drive her face deep into the mixture. She would jockey against herself for the best eating position, and her typical routine was to eat and dance, and eat and dance, until the tub was empty.

Slow Improvement

We slowly increased the amount and the frequency of her feedings, and I started her on a prescription vitamin E supplement to help heal the damaged facial nerve, and a product called Leg Aide to help her hind fetlocks, which had already improved dramatically.

The amount and the type of the vitamin E had to be exactly right, as horses cannot process excess vitamin E, and too much of any supplement can cause unpleasant side effects and lead to toxicity. The research on the E was very encouraging, and we all felt that the young Mustang deserved the best chance we could give her.

Wreath gained better control over her lips and muzzle, but still needed to improve to the point where she could live on hay alone. If we couldn’t find her an adopter willing to provide mashes multiple times a day, we still might have to consider euthanasia.

Nevertheless, we had to move her along in the rehabilitation process, and when I received an email from the staff telling me that Wreath had gained 120 pounds, she moved from the hospital barn to the lower barn, where she would begin to work with a trainer.

Time to Train

Our pretty young Mustang was a very quick learner. She mastered leading, tying, picking up her feet and working lightly on a longeline. As she continued to gain weight and muscle, she learned to carry a saddle and accept a bit and bridle.

Wreath was always provided hay along with her mashes, and I got a very excited phone call from her trainer one day to report that she was chewing and swallowing the hay almost normally. We were able to taper back on her mashes, and one day, she didn’t need them anymore.

Unfortunately, as things often go, the ranch had a massive intake of sick horses, and the horses in the training program had to take a short break. Wreath was turned out with some of the resident horses, and when I had time, I’d stop and enjoy watching her eat her hay. She was also weaned off her supplements.

Wreath was found limping one day, but was walking normally by the time I arrived. Judging by the behavior of one of the other pen residents towards Wreath, who was still very pushy, I diagnosed her with “schooled-by-older-mare-itis.” The two eventually worked out their differences, and soon Wreath returned to training.

Ready to Move On

It was a great day when I watched Wreath and her trainer effortlessly cantering around the arena. You could still see a slight left muzzle deviation if you looked closely, but the bay Mustang was more recognizable by the confident way she held her head and the shine in her eye.

I felt like I’d already known in my gut that this mare would make it, but it was still emotional. It was even more emotional for us when our beautiful mare finally became available for adoption and began meeting the public for the first time.

I’d love to end this column with a description of Wreath’s new family, and photos of her in her new home, but she hasn’t met them yet. Right now, it’s enough to know that she defied incredible odds and recovered completely.

But if we’re talking about gut feelings, I am certain that her family is out there, and that when they adopt this amazing young Mustang, they will love her and care for her forever. (And also change her name to something that doesn’t sound like “Wraith”!)

This final installment of Wreath’s high-altitude rescue story within Vet Adventures appeared in the June 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!