You may recall that last summer our young Quarter Horse named Copper Kid, a wobbler with a neurological condition called cervical vertebral instability, went down in the pasture late one Friday afternoon. We managed to get him up on his feet and into the horse trailer, and rushed him to Blue Mountain Veterinary Hospital in Missoula. Dr. Erin Taylor was waiting for us when I finally pulled up to the clinic at 6:30 p.m. Erin took great care of Copper over the next few days and has been our equine vet ever since.
After consulting with other specialists in equine neurology, Erin referred us to Washington State University's veterinary teaching hospital for a myelogram and then surgery on his spine. As it turned out, the myelogram did not reveal the lesions on his spine -- this happens in a small percentage of these cases -- and thus the equine neurosurgeon was not able to operate. After three weeks at WSU (the myelogram temporarily made his condition even worse, which we expected) we brought him back to the ranch.
After reviewing the images of Copper's vertebrae, the equine neurosurgeon had concluded that Copper would not get better without surgery, and that was certainly our view, too. Yet we had no choice but to simply put him on stall rest, administer plenty of steroids to reduce spinal inflammation, and see if time would help.
Did it ever!
Copper has confounded us and the experts, too. His recovery has been dramatic. This morning we shot some video of Copper when we turned him out to pasture, and you'll see what we mean. The only thing we are doing differently for him now is keeping him in a paddock by himself, since we think he injured himself last year by goofing around with the other sighted horses. He hasn't had steroids in many months, and only gets a vitamin E supplement with his grain.
Before you watch the video from this morning, take a look at this clip from when he left the hospital last August:
Now, here's how he is today:
What a difference, huh?
Amazing
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | June 25, 2008 at 05:37 PM
WOW!!! That's incredible! I can't believe that's the same horse. Go Copper!!!!!!!
Posted by: Valda | June 23, 2008 at 10:11 PM
WOW........again & again & again.
AWESOME!!!!!
Posted by: kelli | June 23, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Go Copper Kid!!! Just wanted to run around in the pasture didn't you!! Keep up the great work Copper!
Posted by: Lisa Lashaway | June 23, 2008 at 07:34 PM
Wow,
what an improvement.
I'm glad to see it Copper !
Congrats !
Posted by: Kylie | June 23, 2008 at 06:27 PM
I believe in miracles, and this is certainly a fine one! Beautiful!
Posted by: Margaret | June 23, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Wow!!! :)
Posted by: Andrew, NZ | June 23, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Do you think he feels a difference from barely being able to walk before to now running joyfully through a pasture with mane flowing? Could he be thinking the horsey equivalent of "Yahooooo!" because if he can't, we can for him. Add my WOW to the rest of them!
Posted by: Mircat | June 23, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Wow, Amazing how he has recovered. I hope he stays this way.
Posted by: Mary | June 23, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Oh my goodness! What a wonderful difference!
Posted by: Linda | June 23, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Wow - before I saw the second video I expected to see a horse that walked more "normally." But to see him run - how awesome! I am so happy to see that - you go Copper Kid!
Posted by: Suzanne | June 23, 2008 at 10:30 AM
WOW. My mouth actually dropped open when I saw Copper running. Truly amazing. Thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Kristi Gross | June 23, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Totally wonderful and amazing!
This is the summer for Copper Kid to shine; we're so happy for him!!!
Posted by: Boundforglory | June 23, 2008 at 10:12 AM
WOW!!!
Posted by: Teri R | June 23, 2008 at 08:40 AM
I cried tears of joy! Thank you so much for the wonderful care you give these great animals. God bless you.
Posted by: Kathie | June 23, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Amazing, what a beauty. I sat here with my jaw dropped watching the video over and over. Good job!
Posted by: Debbie | June 23, 2008 at 08:09 AM
Fantastic. RUN Copper RUN. What a wonderful turn around.
Posted by: Karen | June 23, 2008 at 07:53 AM
Amazing! Absolutely poetry in motion! Bless everyone who has had a hand in this remarkable recovery...it makes my heart smile!!
Posted by: Debbie | June 23, 2008 at 07:38 AM
That's the wondrous thing about animals when they face adversity -no feeling sorry for yourself and moving on to the next best thing. Best medicine ever.
Posted by: Lalla and Sasha | June 23, 2008 at 06:51 AM
*happy* lump in throat here too!!
Posted by: Jessica, NL | June 23, 2008 at 01:37 AM
Wow, how can that even be the same horse?? What a beautiful sight. The first video was just so hard to watch, I am thrilled for Copper!
Posted by: Kathy Huffman | June 23, 2008 at 01:05 AM
Amazing! The last thing I expected was to see Copper Kid running, wow! I'm SO happy to see him doing so well!
Posted by: Kristen D. | June 22, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Copper looks fantastic! He has always been a beautiful horse and I am so glad that he is able to run now.
Posted by: Julie and the Three Doxies | June 22, 2008 at 11:59 PM
THAT is one of the most beautiful things that I have ever SEEN! Patty
Posted by: patty | June 22, 2008 at 11:48 PM
This put a lump in my throat--in a wonderful way! What a beautiful sight!
ATTENTION ALL BLOG READERS: I urge you to log on to the Animal Planet and vote for Steve or Alayne for Animal Hero of the Year--this could mean $10,000 for the RDR!!!! DO IT TODAY!!
http://animal.discovery.com/
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | June 22, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Grand - it just warms my heart! You do such wonderful work!
Posted by: Cat | June 22, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Wow, look at him go!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for sharing - i am so glad that Copper is looking and feeling so good! Keep it up, Copper Kid!
Posted by: maggie | June 22, 2008 at 09:47 PM
That is just awesome... brought a huge smile to my face. Go Copper Kid....
Posted by: Jen | June 22, 2008 at 09:34 PM
Wow...what a phenomonal difference there is in Copper! It melts my heart to see him run like the wind!!!
Posted by: Nina | June 22, 2008 at 09:23 PM