Rescue groups and foster care homes are just a blessing. I am so thankful and envy these people who spend the time and money to help out a poor soul in time of need.

About a year ago we had a gelding named, Gifford's Kid, who we claimed from a big time trainer. Gifford start developing really severe lameness in his left front foot. After several farriers and our vet looked him over and took xrays. He was diagnosed with chronic laminitis with a rotation of the coffin bone. At that point we knew his racing days were over and maybe even riding days and he needed to go to a place where he could receive the best farrier care and a long lay up needed to recover and hopefully someday make it to be a companion horse.

After tons and tons of e-mails I sent out trying to find this guy a place that could take him with his special needs, The Exceller Fund contact me back and decided to take Gifford in. Since they are based on the East coast, they needed to find a foster home here in CA to take him in. Teresa is her name. Turns out she and her husband own racehorses at another track just across town! She has a ranch a couple hours away where she spends most of her time caring for the horses at home, while hubby is at the track taking care of the ones there.

Fast forward a year later and many e-mails since. Gifford, now renamed 'Adam' (after Adam and Eve, since this is Teresa's first rescue) he is doing remarkable!!! He is now out in her pasture with other horses and his foot is making a great recovery!!! The farrier also said that it might have been a case of White Line Disease that had gone untreated!!! They will be removing part of his hoof to allow new hoof to grow and if all goes well, Adam will recover enough to become a riding horse!!!!!

Teresa also said that after The Exceller Fund posted his story on their website, an hour later they received a call from a lady that would like to adopt Adam and use him as a Dressage horse if he stays sound!

I am just so thankful to everyone involved that gave this horse a second chance!! Without them, I am almost certain he would not have recovered and might have had to be put down or even worse end up in the slaughter!!! (Which I would have never let happened anyways, but you never know)

Here are some before photos:



Here is Gifford's Kid, "Adam" now:



A happy ending to a not so happy diagnosis!

What a heart warming story! He sure is a beautiful horse and so lucky that you and others cared enough to help him. I did some volunteering at the local Humane Society for a few months working with the cats and it is so rewarding to see them get good homes. If there was one around here that delt with horses I'd be signed up yesterday! Thanks for sharing!

That is really great to hear. I am glad the horse has a home now.