Burdie’s Story

Burdie is a 15-year-old Arabian Apaloosa, who we rescued in 2019 from a local field full of old farm equipment, vehicles, scrap metal, and trash.

She was covered in burdocks and had inflammation in her feet so bad she could barely walk. Over time, with lots of treatment and care, Birdie has made an incredible recovery and is now the Ranch greeter as she will neigh to anyone she sees walking towards their paddock. Her spunky and curious personality has made her many new friends this year and she soaks in any attention she can get. 

I had driven past this horse on my way to work for over a year and always felt bad for her alone in a field full of old farm equipment, vehicles, scrap metal and trash. I could tell driving 55 miles per hour past her that her tail hadn’t been brushed in a very long time. While she made me feel sad I didn’t think I could do anything about it because we didn’t have space for another horse. When Clyde passed away I drove to work two days later and felt a strong tug in my heart for the sad grey horse. I looked for it for a week praying that I could see it and know it was still alive. Then one morning I did catch a glimpse of her out behind the one building. I left a note in the mailbox the next day asking if they were interested in selling the grey horse. I got a call that night saying yes. They were very interested. 

Acquired with some cows 8 or so years ago, they thought she was female but had no name. That was the extent of the knowledge and interest they had in this animal. I went out the next day and recognized immediately that this poor creature was in extreme pain. The combination of eating too much grass and never having her hooves trimmed made the inflammation in her feet so bad she could barely walk. They agreed that they would give her to us recognizing she would have a better home. We quickly arranged for a trailer and went to get her. She was cautious but willing to get in the trailer and head home with us. We had the veterinarian out tonight to evaluate the damage of the bone structure in her feet. There is a significant amount of irreversible damage where the lowest bone in her foot has rotated towards the ground and even started to disintegrate in one of her feet. We are giving her a chance with trimming and pain medication to see if this is something she can pull through and go on to live comfortably. 

Burdie is very friendly. She stood quietly while several of us worked on removing the burdocks and has been willing to pick her feet up even though they hurt. She has been content to stay in the barn even by herself when the others go out. She likes being groomed and talked to.