Justine
Justine was rescued in late March after being run through an auction and ending up in the slaughter pipeline. It was clear that she suffered from extreme lameness; her front hooves were “dished” and had been poorly trimmed. It was likely she had recently foundered along with other issues. A lip tattoo indicated that she was a registered racehorse; we discovered she was born in 2011 and while registered, had not raced.
Veterinary exam indicated: she has bony remodeling visible in the right front carpus, as well as a history of laminitis acute or chronic in both front feet. She is poorly trimmed, with flat pancake soles, bearing weight mostly on her soles. The hooves have been chronically cracked over the underlying coffin bone in two spots dorsally, extending distally from the coronet bands… with lesions on both front hoof capsules… feet are severely broken back 3/4″ distal to hoof cracking at the coronet indicating this has been a process exceeding the past 9 months of visible growth. She is 4/5 lame on both front feet even with an “overdose” of bute having been given for pain.
Xrays showed damage to carpal joints with evidence of osteoarthritic proliferation and bone lysis. There were signs of bone infection in the coffin joint, lesions and a 14 degree rotation was measured, but also impeded by scar tissue.
Due to no options for pain management and quality of life, Justine was humanely put down to end her suffering. It’s difficult to imagine what her life had been like to end up this way.
This horse is not available for adoption