cutting deep past the skin and into the bone, requiring surgical removal. And then there was Azula…
starved nearly to death, her body emaciated and her immune system dangerously compromised. Once stabilized, she was strong enough to transfer to DEFHR. Still, with the lowest possible body condition score of 1 out of 9, her rehabilitation was truly beginning at ground zero.
It’s in moments like these—when a horse is quite literally standing between life and death—that your support matters most. Please consider making a gift today, so that horses like Azula can be met with expert care and a second chance rather than despair. Our team gave her everything: a thorough intake exam, bloodwork, dental and farrier care. We treated the ulcers that so often accompany starvation. We started her on our refeeding protocol small, frequent meals. But Azula wasn’t like most horses – she lacked appetite and was suffering from a painful debilitating skin condition. Alfalfa pellets did not spark her interest. Would she eat cubes instead? Could we coax her with
something else, maybe some molasses to help sweeten the deal? Slowly, through patience and persistence, we learned her preferences. Behind her stoic exterior, we searched for glimmers of brightness, waiting for her to show us that she felt safe enough to fight.
She set her own pace. One pound of feed meant one pound no more until she was ready. Slow and steady, month after month, we followed her lead. By November, after six long months of fussing and tweaking customized meals,
healing inside, battling bouts of inappetence and painful skin flare ups, but she’s growing stronger each day. With
