Left Wounded to Fend for Himself
- Black Bay Morgan/Arab Gelding
- Born in 1996
- Entry Date – August 2005
- Type of rescue – Surrendered
- Reason – Complete neglect of a huge wound in his left flank area that was left untreated
- Special needs – None
Chaps’ Wound
Chaps languished alone in a field after being injured severely in his left flank. The wound, the size of a dinner plate, was covered with dead skin the texture of dried leather and a life threatening infection. The owner called the Equamore Foundation and reported “my horse has something on his side and I am not calling the vet.”
Seventeen years ago this month, when Chaps was nine years old, he was transported to the Sanctuary by the owner’s neighbor at which time the owner surrendered Chaps.
The wound was several weeks old and Chaps was near death’s door from this act of neglect. With competent veterinary care, the necrotic tissue was removed and several drains were put in place to irrigate the gaping wound twice daily for weeks. On several occasions, the black bay developed a high fever that required daily antibiotic treatment. Chaps’ recovery is testimony to the dedication of the Equamore staff and volunteers who monitored his treatment.
He was an incredibly sweet Arabian/Morgan cross who thrived at our Sanctuary. He always came running from the field when called and was often first into the barn for his evening meal. He loved eating.
The scar on Chaps’ flank, which took months to heal, remained as a reminder to us of the suffering of so many horses; of the all too frequent disregard for that suffering by horse owners, and the real hope for physical and emotional recovery at the Equamore Sanctuary.
