The golden palomino was a blue ribbon winner. Her name was Dancer, and she was a magnificent show horse whose graceful moves came to a crippling halt.
Nothing gold can stay.

In early June, Jan Carter, executive director of South Carolina Awareness and Rescue for Equines (SCARE), received a concerned phone call reporting six horses in Greenwood County, South Carolina, in poor condition, one of them being the palomino. The owner refused the assistance SCARE offered in caring for the horses. Although the horses were in a pasture without grass, they did have hay and water. It didn’t seem like an urgent situation … then.

Another call came in late July, accompanied by an email with pictures of the now emaciated horses. The six horses had declined rapidly; the palomino was one of two in critical condition. It had now become an emergency.

SCARE acted quickly. Working with a Greenwood County Animal Control officer and the sheriff’s department, a warrant was served. The horses were seized and taken to foster homes.
The horses were given new names as part of their recovery. The palomino, her dancing shoes worn out, was now called “Goldie.”

“Goldie was just at a point where we did not know if she would make it or not,” Carter said. “Two vets told me she would not make it. But she had so much life in her eyes.”

Chance to Glow
When gold loses its luster, it just needs a little polish to shine.

Goldie’s front right hoof was badly infected to the bone, and rain rot covered her face. In her first few baths, her damaged hide peeled off. Sunscreen had to be applied to protect from sun burn.
Rain rot, equivalent to athlete’s foot in humans, infects a vast majority of rescues, Carter explained. The horses’ systems are too stressed to fight off things that would not normally affect them.

Goldie and her daughter, Zoey, were taken to quarantine facilities in Lexington County to begin their struggle back to health. They were given four small meals a day of Seminole Senior Formula, a very digestible, textured food that was soaked down to increase the horses’ water intake. Beet pulp and alfalfa cubes were given as well as free-choice of coastal hay.

Slowly, the horses were weaned to feedings three times a day and then to twice-daily meals. Goldie made a phenomenal comeback.

“ We focused on making her comfortable,” Carter said. “She is a very pretty pasture pal, and that’s all she’ll ever be. She’s not to ride ever again”

Goldie’s foster home fell so in love with her it has become her permanent home, Carter said.
SCARE relies on a network of foster homes to nurse abused and neglected horses back to health. The non-profit organization has an estimated 15 county representatives, according to Carter, with volunteers throughout the state of South Carolina.

SCARE was founded in 2000 by Karen Zajidek and was designed to promote and educate citizens about equine health. Most of the neglect cases, Carter said, are due to a lack of education. The organization works closely with law enforcement agencies and animal control in how to properly deal with ill-treated horses.

Rain rot, a rotten hoof and ribs that stick out from malnutrition should be handled carefully. Fortunately for Goldie she has made her recovery and has found a place that fits her just right. A place where she can still shine.

Equine nutrition questions? Call 1-800-683-1881 for free advice, tips and management ideas! Or visit www.ecmagazine.net and visit our archives of equine health and nutrition information topics.

Ginger Larson is a junior at the University of Florida majoring in agricultural communication. She enjoys writing and photography and, of course, cheering on the Gators.