April 6: Sixteen years ago today, my life was forever changed. Haley was born. Eight months ago he died, and my life was forever changed again. In honor of his birthday today, I will share with you the beginning of his story.
Haley: A Love Story
Chapter One
It was 1994 and I wanted to breed my TB mare, Turnip, for a young Dressage prospect. After searching for just the right stallion, I found him. Perrel was standing at stud at Warioto Farm in Franklin, TN. A very large and handsome French Warmblood would be the perfect sire for my mare’s offspring. So the process of breeding and subsequent pregnancy begins.
Eleven months later, I knew that my mare would be in labor soon. She was showing signs, and she also wanted privacy. I had borrowed a friend’s camper and had it parked outside of her foaling stall. I spent three nights there, waiting for the baby to come. She decided to have him at noon while I was at work. When I got the call from the farm owner, I fled from my desk, and sped across town. I got there right as he was born.
I had already decided to imprint the foal as it would strengthen the bond we would share. I had arranged to take 2 weeks off from work to be with my mare and the new foal. I named him Haley. His official, registered name is Hilaire, which is French.
Haley was a sweet, loving and gregarious colt. When he was 6 months old, I moved him and Turnip to a new boarding facility. After settling in a month, it was time to wean them. There was another colt his age and they became pasture play-mates thru the weaning transition, which went smoothly.
I noticed that he drug his hind feet when he walked. Everyone shrugged it off as laziness. Six months later I bought what is now known as Ferrell Hollow Farm and moved the horses to my new property. Several months later, Haley had a fall in the pasture. It was significant enough to warrant a vet visit. Both horses tested positive on a blood test for Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), but only Haley was showing neurological symptoms. At that time, EPM was a relatively new disease and the vet wanted to put him on the standard medication to treat it. When the EPM medication did not help, and a spinal tap was clean, we knew we were dealing with something else, but were unsure of what. Thru vet referrals, I hauled him to the University of Tennessee’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, a 3 hour trailer drive, twice, for diagnostics. The result was Cervical Malarticulation (Wobbler’s syndrome) causing compression on the spinal cord. Specialists at Ohio State University reviewed his cervical x-rays and myelogram and decided that Haley was not a candidate for surgery as he had 2, possibly 3 areas of compression, and he would not improve enough to warrant the expense and aftercare that surgery required.
Absolutely devastated at the news, I made the decision to take him home and love him as long as he lived.
Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses. In addition, she provides Equine Nutritional Consultations, has developed a specialized line of Natural Horse & Body Care Products, Herbal Blends, Seed Mixes and has written several articles for Natural Horse Magazine. For more information, visit her website at www.ferrellhollowfarm.net or email her at cindy@ferrellhollowfarm.com.
