Bet on a Star, '81'
3 year old Bet on a Star aka 81, found his way to us after surviving Hurricane Irma in September of 2017. He had a wound on his leg that became infected with Pythiosis and was in need of critical attention; his original owner reached out to us for help. Upon arrival he was nuzzling our faces and open to being comforted from the moment we met. The love flowing from his heart and his desire to heal was captivating. He is called 81 as he is branded with an 8 on one hind cheek and a 1 on the other. We thought it sad he was called by a “number” but after a while 81 just sounded like a name!
Three months later, 81’s life threatening disease was cured by a donated essential oil product called Major’s Solution https://majorssolution.com and HDH became his owner. The journey included multiple surgeries. Due to cast complications after the final proud flesh surgery he lost circulation to the hoof which resulted in the amputation at the fetlock joint (ankle) The healing process from the amputation took six months. We are so thankful for the many generous donors that enabled us to save his life. He was the perfect candidate for this unusual procedure and is now able to be turned out, run, graze and live like a normal horse. He periodically needs a new prosthetic due to the leg changing shape just like humans do.
We are currently raising funds for this new prosthetic device.
Since his amputation he has become a therapy horse for many children and adults. He has traveled to visit children undergoing limb surgical procedures, assisted living centers come to visit and the list goes on. He just turned 8 this April. He has a long life ahead of sharing his story of how he overcame trauma, never gave up, stayed strong and triumphed. Children relate to him and look up to him. He is a beacon of hope for them in a new light they may have otherwise never seen.
click here to donate toward his new prosthetic
81
After losing his barn in Clewiston, FL, 81 was stranded in water for days. He contracted a deadly disease called Pythiois, he was in need of critical care. Hopes, Dreams and Horses in partnership with Majors Solution, are specialists in aiding in the recovery of this lethal disease. He was brought to us by his owner Jack for care until the barn was rebuilt. After 3 debridements surgeries and daily internal Majors Solution in conjunction with External Majors Solution on fresh bandages, 81 was pronounced free of Pythiosis. Ownership of 81was transferred to HDH in December of 2017 when Jack was seriously injured by a bull. He joined the team of therapy horses and immediately had a major impact on the center.
Unfortunately, during his healing process, 81 continued to produce an excess amount of new tissue called proud flesh. A fourth surgery took place to have it removed. Complications from the second cast resulted in the loss of his hoof. His physical and mental health were impeccable and the thought of euthanasia broke our hearts. He had overcome so much and never complained once in the process.
The saying, 'It takes a village' best described the events that unfolded in Jupiter and Wellington, FL over the span of a year. '81' never faltered, just accepted every setback he encountered with a cheerful attitude and captured the heart of anyone he came in contact with. Unfortunately, during his healing process, 81 continued to produce an excess amount of new tissue called proud flesh.He went through a series of 3 surgeries (debridements) with Dr. Lowery of Jupiter, FL. The proud flesh continued to return. When the field operation options for proud flesh were exhausted, HDH decided to try one last surgery in a hospital setting where it was possible to keep him under anesthesia long enough to completely remove the proud flesh. Dr. Weston Davis of Palm Beach Equine agreed to operate. The plan was to immobilize the leg in a cast so bandages would not continue to rub and actually cause proud flesh. Dr. Davis performed an amazing 2 1/2 hour long surgery, removing all of the proud flesh on the fetlock. Tragically, after the second cast was removed, his hoof capsule detached, exposing his coffin bone. Now there were only two options: euthanasia or amputation and a limb replacement. Dr. Davis was able to introduce us to a friend of his who is the leading world expert in equine limb replacements, Dr. Ted Vlahos of Sheridan Equine Hospital in Wyoming (who coincidently attended Veterinary school with the original vet who debrided 81, Dr. Lowery).
81 met every area of criteria needed to be considered to have not only a successful amputation surgery but also a high quality of life. It was only under those conditions that we would consider following through with such a surgery. There were many other cases of equine amputees from Dr. Vlahos and we became hopeful. It took about a month from the time 81 was approved as a candidate for the surgery to put together the team of vets and choose a hospital that was fully equipped to serve his needs. We were put in touch with Dr. Tom Griffith, of 'Equine Services LMT' in Wellington, FL. The facility is the only local equine hospital with an MRI. The owner of the clinic, Dr. Haynes Stevens assisted Dr. Ted Vlahos with the amputation of the horses leg. It was the first amputation to happen in Wellington, Florida and will hopefully be a revolutionary option for horses in South Florida in the future. healed in a cast with a temporary prosthetic device for 5 months. Once the amputated leg completely healed, 'Hanger Clinic' of Rivera Beach custom made a prosthetic device for '81'. He was able to walk, trot and canter as soon as the device was in place.
'81' has been reintroduced to the therapy horse program at Hopes Dreams and Horses. He is now a huge asset to the Equine Assisted Psychotherapy program, as well as a therapy horse for people with prosthetic devices. He continued to heal and his leg changed shape causing the prosthetic to no longer fit. Humans also go through a process to find a perfect fit. This new prosthetic we are raising funds for will incorporate a new design, allowing more range of motion in his hock area and proper breakover. We have learned a lot about prosthetic fit and been able to improve the design every time he needs a new one! A big thank you to Tyler Wells, a local Prosthetist who has done the casting and measurements for the new prosthetics free of charge and continues to be involved with 81’s well being.
At our center we believe in finding the silver lining. When a therapy horse and a student/client connect, the healing process is amplified if they can relate to one another. Thats when we knew, he would be an exceptional healer to humans with limb replacements. His services impact countless lives, from Children, Trauma cases and in the future Military Veterans with PTSD and more.
His will to live is undeniable and his ability to share his will to live is remarkable.
trauma
81 is a perfect example of overcoming trauma. He was in shock the day he arrived in our arms. We began the healing process with some TLC and he returned the love ten fold. He was so patient with us handling the wound on his hind leg. He never had the attitude of why me? (Horses can and do have these emotions.) And he was open to receiving love and help. The moment he stepped on our property he was teaching these, often times, hard life lessons.
thrive
The willpower it takes to overcome physical and emotional trauma isn't always easy to find. Somehow, 81 comes by it naturally. He is who we turn to when we need guidance in moving forward, not giving up, taking life one day at a time and being grateful for the help of others. With these traits, he has thrived and we believe will continue to do so. Throughout his journey he has implemented these traits in every human he graces with his presence.
