Texas Equine Veterinary Association

Page 17 | The Remuda | SPRING 2024 EDITION Dr. Easterwood agreed, and said financial relief was one way the organizations could support the horse owners, and it's a great example of the cooperative work characterized by these two non-profits. "The key was to take the burden off of the owner who was already suffering a huge loss of many other things," Dr. Easterwood said. "We understand the importance of these horses to these families. On the heels of losing everything, being able to save this one horse, for this family, was everything. "It was also important to us to be able to take the burden off of local veterinarians, so they can just do their job and not have to worry about the constraints of the situation," Dr. Easterwood said. Recovery Tim's foot is still swollen from injuries he received during the storm, although he began riding again in September after finding boots big enough to lace up around his foot. The bright spot for the Washingtons is Peaches. The palomino gelding is fully sound, and though he bears a few marks from his ordeal, he has made a full recovery. "You couldn't imagine how cut up he was, it was terrible," Tim said. "And you can hardly see two scars on him now." Feather is finally going to be halter broke soon, and then started under saddle. "We will see how she's going to ride, what she's going to do," Ben said. "She's great." Dr. Canaday is pleased that the horses have recovered so well, in part thanks to the collaboration at the 6666s veterinary clinic, and then the team at Brock Veterinary Clinic. "It was neat to see the teamwork between the vet clinics always thinking 'OK, what is best for the horse? Surgery? OK we're not going to worry about the money and we'll just do what's best for the horse and we'll figure that out in hindsight. It was neat to see people come together to help the horses, to help the owners," Dr. Canaday said. The veterinarian marvels at the horses' resilience after the storm. "I can't imagine the trauma of it, and we'll never know," Dr. Canaday said. "Did they run off to the far away pasture, or did they get picked up and carried away? I don't know." Seeing Feather and Peaches return to their personalities was rewarding, he says. "They were beat up, they were hurting, they were sore, and it just seemed like their worlds had been turned upside down, which obviously it had," Dr. Brock said. "While they were Peaches recovered well, thanks to treatment from 6666 Ranch and Brock Veterinary Clinic. Photo courtesy of Dr. Abbi Brock Tim Washington was injured when the tornado caused his home to collapse on top of him. Today, he's able to walk and ride his best horse who survived the storm. Photo courtesy of Abigail Boatwright

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