Rescuers push to save draft horse

Hoof infection is life-threatening

Friday, Dec. 25, 2009

Like many others, Melody Parrish spent much of last week making travel preparations — just not for herself or any other humans.

Parrish, president and co-founder of Freedom Hill Horse Rescue in Owings, was getting ready to send Romulus, a Belgian draft horse, to an equine hospital in Lexington, Ky.

Romulus, or "Rommi" as he is affectionately known, is suffering from a bad case of canker, a bacterial infection that causes a horse's hoof to rot away from the inside out. Veterinarians told Parrish the disease couldn't be treated, but she wouldn't take no for an answer.

During their search for a cure, one member of the rescue's board of directors heard that vets at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington specialized in treating canker. After reviewing his X-rays, the hospital determined it could cure Romulus, but at an estimated price tag of $5,000 to $8,000. His treatment would include laser surgery, antibiotics, daily dressing changes, lab work and two-months of aftercare. If the canker goes untreated, Romulus will need to be euthanized.

"If he'd been somebody's horse and had a good life, you might have considered putting him down when [the canker] got into the bone," Parrish said. "But he never really got a fair shake at things … and he's finally happy."

Parrish first stumbled upon Romulus last spring at an Amish auction near Budds Creek. Of the horses Parrish inspected, Romulus was by far the most pitiful — a thin gelding covered in parasites and caked in black manure. Bidding for Rommi began at $200, but no hands went up until it fell to $35. He ended up going to Freedom Hill for $45.

"That's cheap," Parrish said. "That's less than dog food."

After naming him after the mythical founder of Rome, the rescue went about rehabilitating Romulus, untangling his mane, washing his feathers – the long hair around his hooves – and cutting off the manure, which was stuck to his hair like glue. A blacksmith trimmed his hooves, and it was then that volunteers discovered and treated what they thought was thrush, a less-serious hoof infection.

Parrish eventually integrated Romulus in with the rescue's remaining horses. Over the summer, Romulus was taken to the Eastern Shore, where he remained in foster care for six months. His foster mom was ready to adopt when it was learned that Rommi's hoof infection wasn't thrush, but canker.

Once Freedom Hill got the estimate from the hospital, Parrish and the rest of the rescue's volunteers began looking for ways to raise the money. They applied for grants, and received $2,000 from the United Animal Nations, a national nonprofit based out of Sacramento, Calif. With the UAN grant, Freedom Hill has enough to begin Rommi's treatment, but still needs to raise the remaining funds.

Parrish, who works three 12-hour shifts each week as a respiratory therapist, two at Calvert Memorial Hospital and another at St. Mary's Hospital, helped start Freedom Hill in 2004 with a $2,000 loan from her father. Today, the rescue leases seven stables in the Owings area and can board up to 15 horses. A nonprofit, Freedom Hill has no paid employees and operates entirely through donations. The seven stables are all leased for free by their owners, who can earn up to a $5,000 tax write-off for their donation, Parrish said.

Parrish is trying to secure a facility in West River where all of the rescue's horses could stay together, but Freedom Hill would have to pay for the lease. To do so, the rescue would need to board out a few of its stalls. Freedom Hill would also hold onto the other seven leases and use them for pasture space and maybe one of the stables to quarantine sick horses.

But right now, Parrish has her sights set on one thing — helping save Rommi.

"At this point, it's a matter of getting the money, because they have stated they can treat it," Parrish said, adding that while the rescue will continue applying for grants, most of the remainder will need to be donated by individuals or animal groups.

If the treatment cures his canker, Romulus will be adopted by his former foster mom. At 18 or 19 years old, he could live for another 10 years or so, Parrish said.

For those who wish to donate to help Romulus or the rescue, there is a variety of choices. Check donations may be made to: Freedom Hill Horse Rescue, 7921 Foxborough Way, Owings, MD 20736. Credit card donations may also be made via PayPal — the rescue's PayPal address is freedomhillhorserescue@yahoo.com. Items may also be purchased from Freedom Hill's Web site, www.freedomhillrescue.org, and 10 to 100 percent of any eBay sale can be donated to the rescue.

jnewman@somdnews.com