I wanted to take few moments to discuss FAITH with all of you and share some conversation I have had with another PMU Mare adopter.
If you have taken a look at the photo of Faith, she does not appear to be in the best of condition 
and has a bad back. It was felt by her rescuers she was the most needy of the mares (not that they all aren't) but she is one with issues. She was utilized on the PMU line and hence has been bred time and time again. We know that mare care is very important for both the mare and the developing foal, and I am guessing and in my opinion Faith has not received the quality care that she would have received from each of you or myself. She was just a living and breathing machine to the inhumane industry she was being held in bondage/hostage to.
We were fortunate last year to receive the three BBGs when we did, and to give them the care they needed. Despite our efforts, we lost Nellie. We knew going into it we had a 33 percent chance of survival if we tried, but 0 percent if we did nothing. She survived the surgery, but could not stand afterwards despite every ounce of effort that went into trying to help her.
This brings me to the conversation that I had both via e-mail and telephone with a PMU adopter from last year, who is now awaiting the delivery of her new PMU mare along with us. Her mare from last year wound up not being in foal and for this she was grateful, as the story does not have a happy ending. Her mare was wild as a March Hare. She was a Fjord X and did not have the size or bulk that our BBGs have. She had, however, managed to establish some bond with her slowly, but there were certain things that could not be done, such as her feet. She decided that a vet visit was going to be required. She took her in for a routine teeth floating and hoof trim (had to be done on tilt table), the work was done in short order. Upon her mare awakening things appeared normal, but all was not well. Her mare could not stand. After a period of time utilizing the sling and anything else that could be thought of to enable her to stand there was no hope. Her mare was humanely put down. She and I cried together on the phone, as we both understood the loss. She cried harder for our Nellie as we lost a baby that never asked to be here. In a discussion with her veterinarian, her vet stated that these mares do not get the proper nutrition and care they need, they lack the calcium to have good strong bones and were bred year after year and it was possible that upon her mare coming out of the sedation had injured her spine due to the lack of proper care in her past. She was only 15 yrs old and she was first bred at the age of two.
We are going to treat Faith as a very high risk pregnancy. We are getting her late in the season. We do not know for sure how well she is being cared for. We pray that she arrives soon. Once she arrives, we want Dr. Hadland to give her a physical and to guide us in her care and the care of her unborn foal. We know that the nutrition she is being given and that she is taking in is being utilized by her foal. This does not mean a healthy big strong baby, and we know that it is taking a lot out of Faith. I want to be optimistic, but I have learned some valuable lessons and lessons I care not to repeat.
I want to be forthright with all of you as I have received calls and emails from Faith's rescuers with their concerns as well. We are not saying she IS in bad condition but we do not know what her condition is after this long hard winter. We want to be prepared for worst and HOPE for the best.
Once she begins her travel West, we will begin a new thread for her and her unborn baboo. I believe FAITH deserves her own thread as we hope this part in her life will be the best!
Stephanie
