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Bella

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2021-05-20-20-52-45

Bella was left behind with three other horses when their owner passed away. The horses had been surviving neglect before that (starvation and/or injuries/illness). Without the compassion and hay given by a neighbor, these horses could easily have died as two other horses and a mule had at some point.

It’s likely Bella had been an Amish cart/driving horse before being sold to the former owner. It’s certain she had been starving over the past few years. A hind leg had sustained a wire injury at some point in her life. In the fall or early winter of 2020, another horse had lunged at her and in trying to escape, Bella jumped over a metal hay rack, catching her hind legs in it. She was badly injured as she spent a great deal of time laying down. No veterinary care was provided as the horses lived on a remote farm outside of a small Wisconsin town and the owner was in declining health. Bella eventually got up more often, but was permanently lame.

The person listed in the former owner’s trust to take the horses had predeceased the owner. As a last resort, Front Range Equine Rescue was contacted. It took months to get the horses to Colorado as winter weather, veterinary, and farrier care, and arranging safe transport all took time to coordinate. Two of the horses also were not capable of immediate transport even if it had been available which it was not. In May 2021, Bella and her three companions traveled safely to CO. Bella is living out her life with the rescue.

Update: Bella had sustained injuries in her past and we were also informed of a very bad accident that had occurred to her near the end of 2020. Sadly, due to the owner being in poor health (plus her history of neglecting her horses), Bella never received medical evaluation or care. We were told at the time of the injury Bella remained lying down frequently. Months later when a vet was able to see her after the owner had passed away and FRER was involved with the estate agent, we were able to have a vet see Bella. He indicated she had lameness issues, particularly in a hind leg and overall hind end, even at the walk.

Once Bella arrived at the rescue in May 2021, it was clear she had chronic and painful issues from old injuries. Bella was given a lot of care with more evaluation and plans for ongoing care, but eventually, a day came when she could no longer get up. She was humanely put down as there was no way to improve her condition. It was a very sad day for a lovely horse who had known a hard life for many years before.


More About Bella

  • Success Story
  • Black
  • Mare
  • 2002
  • Standardbred
  • Colorado


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