White Pharaoh's Road to Recovery
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Normally, I find crowd funding for horse related needs.. just inappropriate, high cost is just something asociated with horse ownership. But after a series of unfortunate ridiculous events, I find myself in a position I never wanted to be in.. asking for help..
Somehow I have found myself in the possession of a wonderful horse that I had never planned to own. He has undergone some insane accidents in the last few weeks resulting in mountains of vet bills (spanning across 5 states with 7 vets in under 1 month).
After he and I (and one other horse) survived a horrific Roll Over accident on I-80 (with what we thought were minor injuries.. I find myself unable to give up on this horse. I am now attempting to come up with funds, not only for the current on-going bill at Colorado State University Vet Teaching Hospital but for the expenses associated with the long recovery to follow. So that I can allow this wonderful athlete the possibility of a real future, and a happy, productive, and pain-free life.
The Abridged Version of the events:
Parrot and I have known each other for years, though I have only owned him for a short time. He and I first met when I, freshly Graduated from CSU’s Equine Sciences program was working for the team that had been hired to train the horses for Disney’s the Lone Ranger, he and his brother Cloud had been brought down from Canada to be the main horses for the role of silver some 4 years ago. Recently he ended up in my possession, I received him a little over a month ago underweight and somewhat neglected, step one was getting him to me physically so that I could begin to get him in better shape.
Called the vet I used while living Southern California and had her come out pull coggins and draw up a health certificate, as well as vaccinate the horse which had not received boosters for 2+ years. That bill for that totaled $265.00 and occurred on January 20th. I then had an experienced Shipper pick him up in Southern CA on Jan 24th mid day, Late that night somewhere between and Sacramento, CA and Reno, NV the shipper realized that Parrot had gotten his leg stuck over the divider of their trailer, and was losing a lot of blood. Thankfully the shipper turned back and rushed Parrot to UC Davis Vet teaching Hospital where he was cared for and released into the care of a friend for the amount of $1500.00 with the diagnoses of a severed Saphrenous vein, and the assessment that the horse seemed in a sub-par condition and had recently been neglected. While in this person’s care another vet from Loomis Basin Equine was called to assist with a bandage change this charge was $203. After much deliberation I decided the most cost efficient sensible way to get him home, and healthy asap was to go get him myself in my newly acquired rig. Picked Parrot up in Northern CA, along with a companion for him the first day of the trip was uneventful both horses were well behaved and happy stopped for the night in Elko, Nevada.
The next day presented some issues, it seemed as the Bandage on Parrots leg was starting to slip causing him some discomfort, as soon as I realized what was happening I located and drove to the nearest vet in Tooele, Utah. There I spent $115 sedating him and getting the bandaging re done as well as some sedation for the trip. I then continued on my way stopping to check along the way. About an hour past Salt Lake city Parrot was again bothered by what was now a poor bandage job and again got his leg caught over the other divider. On the side of I-80 I managed to get him unstuck alone, bandaged and attempted to stop the bleeding. I then turned around to the nearest Large animal clinic I cold find; South Valley Large animal Clinic in South Jordan, UT. There it was determined that he had again reinjured the Saphrenous Vein but was stable to continue traveling the following day. After a late start and taking care of my bill totaling $715 I was set to arrive in Fort Collins at about 10pm that night. Around 7pm that night off of I-80 at the 142 mile marker I hit about a quarter mile of black Ice my truck jack knifed and we rolled, first truck over trailer than trailer over truck we ended up detached with the trailer floor in front of my truck window. When I came to, I realized I was trapped and pinned in my vehicle, and when I realized what had actually occurred I was sure that at least one of if not both of my horses was fatally wounded or dead. I could hear lots of panicked screams, thuds and kicking, then the horses made minimal noise. I spent the next 2 hours stuck in my upside down truck listening for sounds of life from my horses, worried that one of them might be suffering. When Emergency services was finally able to extract me from the vehicle they assured me that a vet had been called for my horses before I would allow them to remove me from the scene.
After a few hours of being looked at by a Hospital in Rock Springs it was determined that I had managed to walk away from what should have been a fatal wreck with minor injuries. After being examined by Desert View Animal Hospital in Rock Springs, Wyoming it was determined that my 2 horses had also been extremely lucky, when they arrived my horses were standing quietly side by side in the trailer as if it was how they had been loaded. They too were able walk away with some pretty mild injuries, the cost of the veterinary care while there totaled $1,884.40. After a few days lay over in Rock Springs due weather the three of us managed to secure a ride back to Fort Collins. The Day after arriving in Fort Collins I took the 2nd horse in the trailer to CSU for an Opthomology exam due to a swollen eye, the bill that day totaled $216.47. The following day Feburary 11th A vet was called out to assess Parrots leg and make a plan to get him cmopletely healed. After unwrapping and examining the leg it was determined that Parrot needed to be seen immediately by the Veterinarians at CSU. No more than 30 minutes later we were unloading him at CSU for an emergency consult. The Team at CSU decided that surgery was needed to further explore the extent of the injury and clean the wound to allow for proper healing. They drew up a contract for an estimate; low end approximately $5,500 and high end Approximately $6,800. At this point in the prior two weeks I had spent $4,898.87 on this horse, with 7 veterinary practices across 5 states. Any logical person for any regular horse would have easily declined the services, and I am by no means a bleeding heart trying to save every horse from slaughter.This horse has already overcome some pretty ridiculous odds. From a hard life on set, to neglect and a series of accidents Parrot has remained ubeat through all that life has thrown at him. He and I, together walked away from what should have been a fatal crash for both of us. I couldn't help but believe we are meant to be on some sort of journey together.
So With an 80% performance possible success rate I calculated quickly in my head, if I emptied out my bank accounts (including the funds owed to my family for helping me purchase the truck I had just totaled) and Maxed out every credit line I had, I could almost get to that $6,800 high estimate. With that I signed away all possibility of me being able to pay my rent, bills, and student loan payments for the next few months, not including the now growing medical bills I am receiving due to injuries I sustained in the accident. Due to currently unknown complications the bill from CSU has now surpassed that high estimate, and brings my current total to over the $12,000 mark spent on this horse with Veterinarians alone. Being so focused on him, and his future is what has gotten me through the extremely traumatice few weeks of events without suffering a complete breakdown, but unfortunately I am completely out of monetary resources.
So As much as it kills me to, I need to ask for help from every source I can. Through all of these trials and events this horse has managed to keep his personality and spirit intact. Even though the current course of treatment is taking longer than anticipated to show the results we are looking for Parrot remains bright, alert, kind and playful with those caring for him. Parrot seems to have not given up yet, so how can I?
Trust me I understand what I am asking and how ridiculous it sounds to save one horse, but I cant think of a more deserving recipient.
Please remember EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR helps me secure a future for this wonderful horse. And all funds will be spent on his medical care.
Thank you all for helping us on our journey.
- Jasmin
Parrot's blog
Somehow I have found myself in the possession of a wonderful horse that I had never planned to own. He has undergone some insane accidents in the last few weeks resulting in mountains of vet bills (spanning across 5 states with 7 vets in under 1 month).
After he and I (and one other horse) survived a horrific Roll Over accident on I-80 (with what we thought were minor injuries.. I find myself unable to give up on this horse. I am now attempting to come up with funds, not only for the current on-going bill at Colorado State University Vet Teaching Hospital but for the expenses associated with the long recovery to follow. So that I can allow this wonderful athlete the possibility of a real future, and a happy, productive, and pain-free life.
The Abridged Version of the events:
Parrot and I have known each other for years, though I have only owned him for a short time. He and I first met when I, freshly Graduated from CSU’s Equine Sciences program was working for the team that had been hired to train the horses for Disney’s the Lone Ranger, he and his brother Cloud had been brought down from Canada to be the main horses for the role of silver some 4 years ago. Recently he ended up in my possession, I received him a little over a month ago underweight and somewhat neglected, step one was getting him to me physically so that I could begin to get him in better shape.
Called the vet I used while living Southern California and had her come out pull coggins and draw up a health certificate, as well as vaccinate the horse which had not received boosters for 2+ years. That bill for that totaled $265.00 and occurred on January 20th. I then had an experienced Shipper pick him up in Southern CA on Jan 24th mid day, Late that night somewhere between and Sacramento, CA and Reno, NV the shipper realized that Parrot had gotten his leg stuck over the divider of their trailer, and was losing a lot of blood. Thankfully the shipper turned back and rushed Parrot to UC Davis Vet teaching Hospital where he was cared for and released into the care of a friend for the amount of $1500.00 with the diagnoses of a severed Saphrenous vein, and the assessment that the horse seemed in a sub-par condition and had recently been neglected. While in this person’s care another vet from Loomis Basin Equine was called to assist with a bandage change this charge was $203. After much deliberation I decided the most cost efficient sensible way to get him home, and healthy asap was to go get him myself in my newly acquired rig. Picked Parrot up in Northern CA, along with a companion for him the first day of the trip was uneventful both horses were well behaved and happy stopped for the night in Elko, Nevada.
The next day presented some issues, it seemed as the Bandage on Parrots leg was starting to slip causing him some discomfort, as soon as I realized what was happening I located and drove to the nearest vet in Tooele, Utah. There I spent $115 sedating him and getting the bandaging re done as well as some sedation for the trip. I then continued on my way stopping to check along the way. About an hour past Salt Lake city Parrot was again bothered by what was now a poor bandage job and again got his leg caught over the other divider. On the side of I-80 I managed to get him unstuck alone, bandaged and attempted to stop the bleeding. I then turned around to the nearest Large animal clinic I cold find; South Valley Large animal Clinic in South Jordan, UT. There it was determined that he had again reinjured the Saphrenous Vein but was stable to continue traveling the following day. After a late start and taking care of my bill totaling $715 I was set to arrive in Fort Collins at about 10pm that night. Around 7pm that night off of I-80 at the 142 mile marker I hit about a quarter mile of black Ice my truck jack knifed and we rolled, first truck over trailer than trailer over truck we ended up detached with the trailer floor in front of my truck window. When I came to, I realized I was trapped and pinned in my vehicle, and when I realized what had actually occurred I was sure that at least one of if not both of my horses was fatally wounded or dead. I could hear lots of panicked screams, thuds and kicking, then the horses made minimal noise. I spent the next 2 hours stuck in my upside down truck listening for sounds of life from my horses, worried that one of them might be suffering. When Emergency services was finally able to extract me from the vehicle they assured me that a vet had been called for my horses before I would allow them to remove me from the scene.
After a few hours of being looked at by a Hospital in Rock Springs it was determined that I had managed to walk away from what should have been a fatal wreck with minor injuries. After being examined by Desert View Animal Hospital in Rock Springs, Wyoming it was determined that my 2 horses had also been extremely lucky, when they arrived my horses were standing quietly side by side in the trailer as if it was how they had been loaded. They too were able walk away with some pretty mild injuries, the cost of the veterinary care while there totaled $1,884.40. After a few days lay over in Rock Springs due weather the three of us managed to secure a ride back to Fort Collins. The Day after arriving in Fort Collins I took the 2nd horse in the trailer to CSU for an Opthomology exam due to a swollen eye, the bill that day totaled $216.47. The following day Feburary 11th A vet was called out to assess Parrots leg and make a plan to get him cmopletely healed. After unwrapping and examining the leg it was determined that Parrot needed to be seen immediately by the Veterinarians at CSU. No more than 30 minutes later we were unloading him at CSU for an emergency consult. The Team at CSU decided that surgery was needed to further explore the extent of the injury and clean the wound to allow for proper healing. They drew up a contract for an estimate; low end approximately $5,500 and high end Approximately $6,800. At this point in the prior two weeks I had spent $4,898.87 on this horse, with 7 veterinary practices across 5 states. Any logical person for any regular horse would have easily declined the services, and I am by no means a bleeding heart trying to save every horse from slaughter.This horse has already overcome some pretty ridiculous odds. From a hard life on set, to neglect and a series of accidents Parrot has remained ubeat through all that life has thrown at him. He and I, together walked away from what should have been a fatal crash for both of us. I couldn't help but believe we are meant to be on some sort of journey together.
So With an 80% performance possible success rate I calculated quickly in my head, if I emptied out my bank accounts (including the funds owed to my family for helping me purchase the truck I had just totaled) and Maxed out every credit line I had, I could almost get to that $6,800 high estimate. With that I signed away all possibility of me being able to pay my rent, bills, and student loan payments for the next few months, not including the now growing medical bills I am receiving due to injuries I sustained in the accident. Due to currently unknown complications the bill from CSU has now surpassed that high estimate, and brings my current total to over the $12,000 mark spent on this horse with Veterinarians alone. Being so focused on him, and his future is what has gotten me through the extremely traumatice few weeks of events without suffering a complete breakdown, but unfortunately I am completely out of monetary resources.
So As much as it kills me to, I need to ask for help from every source I can. Through all of these trials and events this horse has managed to keep his personality and spirit intact. Even though the current course of treatment is taking longer than anticipated to show the results we are looking for Parrot remains bright, alert, kind and playful with those caring for him. Parrot seems to have not given up yet, so how can I?
Trust me I understand what I am asking and how ridiculous it sounds to save one horse, but I cant think of a more deserving recipient.
Please remember EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR helps me secure a future for this wonderful horse. And all funds will be spent on his medical care.
Thank you all for helping us on our journey.
- Jasmin
Parrot's blog
Organizer
Jasmin Ann Parson
Organizer
Fort Collins, CO