Donate now to support Blueberry, Flash, JoJo, and Watusi's urgent care needs.

For the past two months, SSRC has been dealing with significant challenges which have greatly impacted our programs, finances, and the well-being of our horses. We have been working around the clock to provide our sick horses with life-saving supportive care and to implement biosecurity measures to keep the rest of our herd healthy. It has been a difficult two months, and we still have a long way to go. Your support is needed now more than ever!

On May 20th, Blueberry presented with neurologic symptoms and subsequently tested positive for the neurologic form of EHV-1, a herpes virus which has a 30-50% mortality rate. Thanks to our veterinarian, Dr. Jen Baltrus of Freedom Run Equine, Blueberry was isolated prior to diagnosis and treated with supportive care. We were able to successfully prevent the spread of the virus and keep Blueberry in the best position possible to fight for her life. And fight she did! Our strong-willed pony suffered through weeks of being barely able to stand or control her bladder, but she never gave up. It’s been almost two months since the onset of symptoms, and Blueberry is starting to walk, regain her strength, and most importantly show everyone that her funny personality is still intact (she is nonstop lip smacking and nickering).

As scary and challenging as Blueberry’s sickness was, that was just the beginning of our ordeal. Several days after Blueberry became ill, Watusi presented with a fever and coughing. We were worried that the virus had spread, and Dr. Baltrus quickly isolated Watusi and tested him. Luckily, he was negative for EHV-1, but he was positive for both rhinitis b (a viral respiratory disease) and strangles (a highly contagious strep bacteria that effects the upper respiratory tract). Watusi became extremely ill and required around-the-clock supportive care to prevent colic, control his high fever, and keep him eating and drinking. Watusi had a fever for an entire month and struggled with severe cough, congestion, lethargy, and depression. After his upper respiratory symptoms began to resolve, Watusi developed a serious complication from strangles called purpura hemorrhagica, where blood vessels swell and leak blood into the tissue causing swelling throughout the horse’s body. Watusi was put on additional medication to help resolve this condition (which is currently ongoing).

After Watusi’s diagnosis, three more horses presented with symptoms and two tested positive for strangles. Jojo and Flash both became ill. While Jojo’s symptoms were mild, she also developed purpura hemorrhagica and required immediate care to prevent more serious complications. Flash became very ill with high fevers, cough, congestion, lethargy, depression, and significant weight loss. Flash is currently still battling strangles and severe side effects of a stressed immune system, including overheating.

Shortly after our horses presented with symptoms, sick horses were quarantined, lessons were cancelled, and biosecurity measures were put in place to protect the rest of the horses. Currently, no more horses have become sick and we have been able to start lessons again on a limited basis.

We are so grateful to so many people. Thank you to our staff and volunteers for all their hard work caring for both sick and healthy horses and helping to clean and sanitize the barn; riders for their patience, understanding, and financial contributions; supporters for their donations during this challenging time; and of course our wonderful veterinarians at Freedom Run Equine Dr. Jen Baltrus and Dr. Sara Brooks.

Please give today, and leave a message about why you love these amazing horses.