Equine Protection of North America

Believe

and it

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Equine Protection

of North America

E.P.O.N.A.

PO Box 315

Epping, NH 03042-0315

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Membership Opportunities to Help Our Horses

As of January, 2004, E.P.O.N.A. is offering a monthly membership program! For as little as $20.00 donation per month, you will greatly assist E.P.O.N.A. with the care of all of its residents! For your convenience, donations may be made using any credit card OR electronic check via Paypal.

Your donation may be tax-deductible.

E.P.O.N.A. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Blessed was the first rescue, and the very first retiree that came to E.P.O.N.A. Blessed is a fifteen-year-old dark bay Thoroughbred gelding. Blessed came to E.P.O.N.A. from Suffolk's Downs in Revere, MA. He came to us right off the track with his right ankle injured from years of racing on the track, and severely arthritic as it had been pin fired many times over in order to enhance his racing abilities and time on the track. Blessed is not on medication and enjoys a good level of comfort, grazing daily with his buddies. Blessed is not available for adoption, but he is in need of sponsors. Contributions to his care can be made through E.P.O.N.A. As a sponsor you are invited to come and visit Blessed. He is a great guy and soon to be one of our horses for our Therapeutic Riding Program.

Unexpected Miracle is a nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that was placed in our retirement program by the Exceller Fund. Miracle is dark bay and is 16.3 hands. He is beautiful, gentle, and a real ham. He is known for his daily early morning stretches in the grooms stall before going out to the paddock. He is also infamous for his rolling in the mud, and if mud is not available he attempts to create mud. Miracle is extremely fond of ginger snaps and sugar cookies. Miracle has severe arthritis in both front ankles and is moderately comfortable. He enjoys his leisurely life grazing in the paddocks at E.P.O.N.A. with his other buddies - Blessed, Prize, Salvador and Trooper. Miracle is not available for adoption and contributions for Miracle's care can be made through the Exceller Fund. On his good days Miracle may also be recruited into our Therapeutic Riding Program, providing that he is up for it.

Cuz of Cam (Lucky) is an eleven-year-old Standardbred gelding purchased at the New Holland auction in Pennsylvania. The Exceller Fund outbid a slaughterhouse buyer in order to save Cam's life. He was rescued in memory of twenty Standardbred horses who perished in a stable fire at Gaitway farm in New Jersey on November 23, 2000. His name was chosen by the membership of Exceller and was inspired by "Cam Knows Best," a record setting pacer who perished in that fire.

Unfortunately, Cam's tattoo is not legible and there is very little history of his past. His present condition is great, however not so long ago he faced another fate. Upon Cam's arrival his medical exam revealed that his lethargic and depressed state was related to Strangles. We were very fortunate that we were able to contain the Strangles and that Cam survived. With the exception of a few elevated temperatures there were no further outbreaks. Upon his feeling better, a more thorough exam exposed a very serious non-operable condition related to his stifle. It is likely the effect of heavy use as a carriage horse for the Amish. Cam's prognosis was not good, even as a pasture pal. It was suggested that Cam was a candidate for euthanasia. Euthanasia is something we at E.P.O.N.A. will avoid at all cost if we are able to get the horse to a moderate level of comfort in order to provide a reasonable quality of life.

Through the diligent efforts of Barbara Kraus of the Exceller Fund, a treatment suggested by a veterinarian from out west was implemented with great success. Cam is currently on a maintenance schedule of one monthly injection and is doing great. He is stabled with his blind companion Ice Man. They share a two-unit condo where they play daily in their private turnout at Dungarvin Farm. Contributions for Cam can be made through the Exceller Fund.

Prize is an eight-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred gelding. Prize raced at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH, until the injury to his left front ankle left him unsound. Prize is arthritic and moderately comfortable and enjoys his retirement with his paddock mates, Blessed, Miracle, Sal, and Trooper. Prize is not available for adoption and contributions to his care are greatly appreciated and can be made through E.P.O.N.A.

Salvador is an eighteen-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Rescued by New Hampshire Equine Humane Association, Salvador was rescued from neglect and has been placed in our retirement program. "Sal" is a gentle 16.1 hand dark bay gelding. Although appearing to be physically sound, his exam revealed that Sal has a progressive condition related to a leaky aortic valve. Sal is not available for adoption and he is enjoying his retirement at E.P.O.N.A. with his buddies, Miracle, Blessed, Prize and Trooper. Sal too is looking forward to walking around a little bit, bringing joy and therapy to our future Therapeutic participants. Contributions to Sal's care can be made through E.P.O.N.A.

Iceman is another endearing story of a great horse with a great ending. Iceman is a Thoroughbred cross. He is a large, eighteen-hand chestnut gelding. The fifteen-year-old grandson of the acclaimed Northern Dancer was a joint rescue with New Hampshire Equine Humane Association.
In his youth, Iceman had a brilliant career eventing. No one would ever predict such a turn of events for such a noble horse. As the years passed, Iceman's visual problems began to develop, his abilities became limited, and he became a statistic of neglect. At the time of the rescue, Iceman's right eye was physically gone. All that remained was the shriveled evidence of the eye itself. The cause was undetermined, but the possibility of Uveitis did exist. Fifty percent vision remained in his left eye at that time, but the discoloration indicated deterioration of the eye. Iceman was entrusted to the care of E.P.O.N.A. and began treatment to possibly stabilize his remaining vision.

During this time period, former owners residing in the Midwest had heard of Iceman's fate and notified New Hampshire Equine Humane Association of their desire to adopt Iceman and retire him with them. This was to have been a wonderful outcome - one that none of us could have imagined. Iceman's adoption was approved and he headed west. After several months, however, Iceman's condition worsened and it was decided that he should return to E.P.O.N.A. to be retired here permanently with us.
Over the next few months, Iceman's condition deteriorated. His vision diminished and it became difficult and unsafe for him to negotiate normal stall doors. It was at this time the decision to build a two-unit condo with extra wide doors and its own private turnout was made. A follow-up exam by the ophthalmologist revealed that Iceman had lost his entire vision; he was now totally blind. Now that Iceman has gone through the transitional stages of blindness and he no longer is faced with complication of shadows and uncertainties, he has adjusted just fine. He shares his new accommodations with his retired paddock mate Cuz of Cam (Lucky). The two of them spend their days enjoying each other's company, and yes this includes running and frolicking together. It is a sight to behold: a happy ending for a horse of such nobility. Iceman is not available for adoption, and will remain retired at E.P.O.N.A.

Chance is a ten-year-old warm blood who had a brilliant career as an event horse. In a bizarre winter accident a few years ago he fell on the ice and broke his leg below the knee. Surgery was performed and his prognosis was good. However he was not well observed in his rehabilitation and his cast was broken and it went unnoticed.

The consequences were severe. The bone had healed incorrectly and another evaluation led to the determination that this was permanent. Chance was now sadly crippled for life. His leg from the knee down is crooked. He is comfortable and is able to maintain a good quality of life. He is out everyday and enjoys the companionship of his paddock mates. Chance is not available for adoption and contributions can be made for his care through E.P.O.N.A.

603-679-1896 � PO Box 315, Epping, NH 03042-0315 � Fax: 603-679-5178 �