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Giving Back to Our Equine Friends: Lexie's Story Phil and Burta Boysen have been very fortunate to be able to raise these wonderful creatures. However, there are many other less fortunate equines out there who never get a chance or are neglected and abused. They decided to become foster parents for the North Carolina Equine Rescue League and have taken in Lexie. Lexie is an 18 year old quarter horse seized from a farm in Fuqua Varina, North Carolina. She was so starved that the vet could put his index finger and thumb around her back bone and they touched. It's the worst they have seen. Even worse – she had a colt by her side who was in just as bad shape. After an initial stay at a family's farm and gaining about 100 pounds Phil and Burta took her in. She also has a totally white face and her eyes and face skin have been damaged by the sun. She has to wear a fly mask 24 hours to protect her skin. Since they picked her up in January she is slowly putting on weight and they have learned that she was purchased in Florida and at one time was a champion reining horse. Burta suspected she had been shown just by the way she leads and her manners are impeccable. Anyway, she has settled into the herd and seems to be enjoying her life and is a real chow hound. They are hoping that when she's gets back 100% maybe she can be ridden. Lexie Update, June 2004 – Lexie's weight is almost up to normal so it was time to tack up and see what she knows. Christie, Burta and Phil's daughter, got on her and she was really nervous at first. There was a lot of hopping around and her flanks are really touchy which leads Christie to believe she has been spurred badly in her past life but she responds to voice and settled down into the most awesome, floating jog you've ever felt. It will be a starting over process but she will be fine. Lexie Update, July 2005 Lexie was adopted out twice and it did not work out. We were unaware this had happened so when we heard we asked that she come back to our farm. My suspicion is that folks did not spend the time they needed building her trust. We added her to our farm and she's very happy and a little quirky and we love her. We still crack up when she does her little "heeby jeeby dance" at dinner time. Right now she just hangs out but when the weather is cooler we'll probably ride her a little. Lexie Update, May 2006 Lexie continues to thrive and entertain us all. She has had to "move over" for a couple more mares in the pasture but she still enjoys life and seems to appreciate kindness. Tragedy Strikes Shortly after our June update on Lexie tragedy struck. On a Sunday we had visitors at the farm in the morning and Lexie was fine, eating carrots and enjoying the attention from the children. That evening she did not eat her feed which means trouble because eating is the highlight of her day. I coaxed her and coaxed her to no avail. Monday was the same and it became apparent she was pretty sick. I knew what was happening by looking at her eyes which were yellow. The vet came Tuesday morning and confirmed that she was in liver failure which happens frequently with horses that have been starved in the past. Their organs simply wear out. He took blood to make sure it wasn't something else treatable but by that evening she was so bad I knew she wouldn't make it through the night. That evening her misery was ended and she rests peacefully on our farm facing her pasture mates. I will always miss that big white face looking at me in the morning and evening at feeding time telling me to hurry up. She was always the first to acknowledge my presence. We will all miss her unique personality and quirkiness and especially her "dinner dance." We take comfort in the fact that she could have died sick, starved and alone but instead, had three good years with a family that loved her and will miss her terribly. |
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