March 13-15

I texted the vet and she said that WSU and another vet felt that Rosie should be put down due to questioning her quality of life with the melanomas.They don't feel that she would be a good candidate for surgery and that the constant vaginal infection will be impossible to cure. I got ahold of the previous owner and begged for vet records. She said she would release the records and also gave me the name and contact information for the person that she got Rosie from. 
Very enlightening conversation to finally speak with Rosie's owner that had her prior to the house I picked Rosie up from. 
 
Here is the original ad that I found Rosie with:

condition: excellent

My 2 girls have all out grown our wonderful pony. 
She is sweet and kind. Great first horse. Was used as a summer camp horse and to teach beginner children. Always takes car of her rider. She is older and needs daily aspirin ($13. per month) and shoes. Other than that she is easy going and fun. up to date on all shots, worming, shoes and teeth. She will stand still through hours of grooming, washing and braiding. Would make the perfect pony for your little girl or boy. She is 14 hands. Comes with blankets and some tack. Many good years left! 
Free to a good home or care lease. Must have proper shelter. 

Type: Arab cross
Height: 14 hh
Age: 20

When I spoke with the last owner that had her previously, I found out:

* Rosie is not 20, but 30
* She severely foundered at age 12, so that possibly could be the "aspirin"?
 * Purebred Arabian, not a cross
* She had no idea that Rosie was being re-homed

The rest of the ad was true, Rosie is truly a gift from God for a child to have.

Well I talked to Jake about Rosie's health and ended up in tears, wondering what the humane thing to do will be. I ended up in tears for hours so I went home and met the vet at the house. She did a subjective pain assessment for me and Rosie did not seem to be in significant pain. Her health is overall and all things considered, decent. We decided to continue slowly adding weight to her and let the kids ride her so she is able to bond with them.We do not plan to have the melanomas removed at this time.

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Saturday we had our fantastic farrier out and we pulled shoes. She shortened her hoof toes and got her barefoot. She was a perfect angel for him and stood very well. He cautioned me away from the alfalfa since she had rotated so much when she foundered (7-9 degrees or so) and also he found a soft spot in her right rear, which he treated with turpentine. 

That night I noticed she was stiff, but figured it was the cold rain and also the shoes being pulled off. I put her in the round pen on the sand to help her get soft footing.

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Sunday morning she was shifting her weight often and not moving very much.  The farrier suggested checking for heat and giving her bute, which I did. She does have heat in her hooves, especially the front left and the right rear, which correspond with the founder that she experienced previously.

I'm very nervous that she will crash on me. I'm very attached to her, and I know that she is a great girl. I wish I had known about the laminitis so I would have avoided the alfalfa that is supposed to be a safe way to add weight to a thin horse. That much sugar in her feed could very well have been a death-sentence.