Saving Sammi

Hi, I'm Damion, and this is Sampson or as we call him Sammi.

Sammi saved me, and I need your help to save him.

With your support we will make a documentary, not only about his treatment, but the immense effects these fascinating creatures have, and have had, upon humanity, and how we can be better custodians for them.

So how did we get here? Three years ago I was in the midst of a very challenging assignment. The beginning was creatively and financially rewarding, but as time went on the challenges began to outweigh the creative output, it started to take its toll on my mental health. My wife, a lifelong equestrian, saw this and started what can only be called a quest. Seven months of daily searches, trying to find the perfect companion for me, something large enough to carry me without difficulty but also engaging enough to form a bond... And she succeeded beyond anyone's wildest imagining.

Sammi saved me.

The things I learned about myself and the methods I developed to be a good companion for him also served me. and I was able to better navigate the demands put upon me. For two years our bond flourished and grew. Things were good and getting better. But as we all know the only constant is change, and circumstances rapidly and dramatically shifted. My efforts to ride out the reduced opportunities were only successful with familial support, then things took an even worse turn.

Sammi fell ill.

PSSM1 and DSLD. The first is effectively horse, diabetes, not a favorable condition, but manageable with a careful regimen of diet and exercise, The second, degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis is a little more challenging. To explain, horses walk on their toenails, and as they step the toe flexes and what is effectively the ball of the foot comes down, then goes back up. The ligament that controls this is called the suspensory, in some horses due to injury or disease that ligament weakens as a result their whole body is pulled out of alignment, causing pain, stiffness, swelling and other negative symptoms. Depending on how the ligament was damaged it's possible it can be resolved. The condition is so rare in Draft Horses its only considered "diagnosed" when it has crossed the "termination point" where traditional methods are no longer sufficient to reverse the disease. At that point it is terminal.

Sammi was diagnosed by two different vets.

Now there are treatments available that can potentially help however they are not certain and quickly become costly.

And so I come to you. Now one thing I try to be very aware of when I reach out, is what do I offer when I ask, and this is a pretty big ask so I wanted to figure out a pretty big offer.

I have been in the entertainment business for 25 years and worked on a wide variety of projects at all levels. What that gives me is access to everyone I need to put together an amazing documentary series, not only about Sammi's recovery, But the importance and influence these majestic beings have had on humanity as a whole. In just the time since I began working on this the amount of things I have uncovered about their influence is staggering. They are so universal to human advancement, the very unit by which we measure mechanical energy is called Horsepower.

Horsepower; and we start with Saving Sampson.

Thank you.

you are allowing me to honor a gift I can never repay. And to show a being of pure love how much he is appreciated.

Now this project is evolving, and the scope is very dependent on the response, so you are going to want to check the socials often to see what we are building to.

Thank you so much for joining me as we saddle up, Together we are Saving Sammi