Apple’s stem cell treatment.

In April 2022 I was finally in the place to financially afford a horse and achieve my childhood dream. Here enters Apple, a 16hh Thoroughbred ex racehorse! After a couple of months Apple started to not be herself, and was subsequently diagnosed with ulcers. It’s all been down hill from there, and one by one Apple has been further diagnosed with Arthritis in her hocks, Kissing Spine (for which she had surgery and has undergone rehab), an finally arthritis in her neck.

As part of her treatment plan, my vets suggested stem cell treatment to give her the best chance possible of helping with the arthritis. There was a nation wide shortage, but last week Apple finally received them and I was elated!

Fast forward to a couple of days ago and I received correspondence from my insurance company saying they would not cover the cost of the stem cell treatment. I had previously had a verbal conversation with them some months back, explaining what my plans were and to see how much money I had left to use. For reference I already had accepted open claims, and the stem cells were park of ongoing treatment. My vets also confirmed the available amount before going ahead with ordering the stem cells. Now however, my insurance company are saying that they won’t cover the treatment and exclude all organ transplants and gene therapy (which stem cells are supposedly included with).

This leaves me with a huge bill of £5500! I just don’t have this sort of money lying around, and don’t have anything of particular value that I can sell to raise funds. In all honesty if I knew the insurance company wouldn’t cover the treatment then I would have made the decision to not have it and explore other options for Apple. My vet practice are being wonderful and are going to attempt to fight the rejected claim, but we’re not holding out too much hope, and getting an equine lawyer is just additional expense I can’t afford!

This really couldn’t have happened at a worse time with Christmas just around the corner. I’ve been reluctant to make a GoFundMe, and while there are many much more worthy causes than my little, broken Thoroughbred, she is my best friend, and I’ve always tried to do right by her. She’s only 9 and has so much more life left to live! This is also a genuine, last straw situation, and I regularly document life with Apple on her Instagram @applebankequestrian. People are welcome to follow our journey on there and find out more about the health struggles Apple has had.

I’m not expecting people to donate, however if any friends or family were planning on getting me a Christmas present, please consider putting that money here for Apple instead.