Help Sweet Cleopatra ❤️

Hi , my name is Hannah and I am starting this fundraiser for my friend Terez and her horse Cleopatra. This is their story of what happened.

I’ve heard of Tragic accidents before happening out on the trail… But I’ve been riding for many many years, problem free mostly, never thought what happened a few weeks ago would happen to my mare.

Those of you that love your animals will be able to relate to this story… see you never really think that it could happen to you…

Out riding with a friend, she leading the way on her gelding to show us a beautiful place she and others had found. The ride started out quite nice, it was a beautiful day and fun riding. Reaching our destination… My friend took the lead going down an area not really looking much like a path… And then suddenly everything changed!

The horses were acting precariously… Her horse rearing up and she was on the ground now and I worriedly asked her if she was OK. She said she was and that she thought it was bees.

Catching up with her horse, I saw that it could not have been bees as his lower legs were bloody. Jumping off examining him as she came running up… We soon knew and came to the same conclusion… “Razor wire!”

Looking now at my horse I was aghast to see 3 bloody wounds!

Her front left ankle/fetlock… Just above the hoof was really bleeding, obviously an artery was cut. I knew what to do, put immediate pressure on the wound that was bleeding out. On this particular ride I had nothing with me only riding with my bareback pad. I knew I needed to wrap this wound and quickly. With nothing other than the tank top I was wearing I ripped it off and wrapped it around her front foot as tightly as possible. Still putting pressure and holding it tightly to reduce bleeding. My friend was cutting leather straps off of her saddle to wrap around like a tourniquet her horses legs. She loaned me her knife… And I cut more pieces of fabric off of my slacks and wrapped the other wound. She was on her phone trying to get a hold of anyone she could to come out where we were and bring a Horse trailer. Meanwhile I was calling 911 and a friend also… I told her we couldn't call too many people the more we did the more chances of speedily getting help. I called one vet who immediately called back and said he was out of state on vacation but he said keep calling the after hours emergency line and just leave messages and it someone would get back to me very quickly. I did this and I called another vet that I knew… They called me back simultaneously now. Two vets were standing by. This was perfect, then each horse could be seen as each one had serious wounds.

Things seemed to come together in this emergency. The vet that I went to confirmed that she had a severed artery and began working on her immediately to stitch the wounds. He says she was cut clear to the bone both cuts on the same left side were serious.

Have gone back to the vet several times for re-bandaging and examining the healing process; after a week or so he said he liked what he was seeing, she is healing but it's going to be a very long process. He says he wasn't sure if the tendon was cut on the rear leg… So far it looks OK but again she has to be kept in a stall except for 10 minutes of walking twice a day.

I was relieved to hear more good news as he says she is improving.

Though I'm very very sad to learn that the other horse did not fare so well. My friend had to make the most difficult decision because of the extent of the wounds of her horse, It Literally cut me to the heart to see her pain, and also knowing that it could've been my dear Cleopatra also.

I pray that she continues to mend and in time is back to herself. She’s absolutely glorious to ride and how she interacts with so many people young and old alike.

If you too are an animal lover and know just how much they mean to us… If you want to contribute towards this horses care while she continues to mend… It will be extremely appreciated. Every little bit counts, No donation is too small… And I thank you graciously, and Cleopatra does too ❤️