On Saturday, we brought home a kind, willing horse from auction who was clearly in pain. We’ve named him Chester.
After exams, x-rays, and many conversations with our vet team, farriers, and caregivers, we’ve made the decision to give Chester time.
What we know so far:
About 20 years old, in good body weight, with a shiny, healthy coat. Ringbone in both front legs and an enlarged left hind fetlock. While concerning, those issues appear to be old, stable, and possibly manageable. Secondary founder with minor rotation, brought on by the selenium toxicity, also manageable The most pressing issue right now is selenium toxicity, which causes severe acute pain. Thankfully, he is already showing signs of recovery, and our vet has treated many similar cases.Because the selenium toxicity is so painful, we can’t yet tell how much his underlying issues truly affect his comfort.
Our decision:We want to be very clear: for the vast majority of people, euthanasia would be the best and most appropriate option. Chester’s case is not the norm. The only reason we are giving him time is because our facility, resources, and experience allow us to manage his acute pain responsibly and see if recovery is possible, and that decision has been supported by the vets and farriers we have consulted.
We’ve set a two-month goalpost. If he improves and stabilizes, Chester could go on to enjoy life either in a light riding home with maintenance or here as a Bug Club horse (especially as we are likely losing several seniors this fall). If his pain remains too great, we will let him go peacefully, surrounded by the people he has learned to trust.
Pain management boundaries & current plan:Right now, Chester’s acute pain from selenium toxicity is being managed with high levels of medication — up to 4 grams of Bute daily. This is not sustainable long term, but it’s appropriate for short-term recovery while his body heals. To support him during this phase, we are also adding biotin for hoof growth and gut support to minimize the risks of high-dose Bute.
For the future, our long-term care boundaries are clear: we are comfortable with supportive management such as joint supplements, Buteless, or Equioxx, and up to 1 gram of Bute daily. Anything more than that moves a horse into hospice care, and euthanasia will be on the table long before other complications set in.
Our philosophy:We know these choices are controversial in rescue. That’s why we use our founder’s No Wrong Answer™ methodology—a framework that recognizes every horse, every facility, and every decision is different. When there is no single “right” answer, we trust the hands-on team closest to the horse and extend grace to others making different choices.
For Chester, we choose time.
What this means for you:Because of your support—your donations, comments, shares, and encouragement—we can give horses like Chester the chance to recover, to be cared for, and, if needed, to have a peaceful ending. Thank you for making that possible.
Stay tuned for updates—Chester comes home from the vet tomorrow. If you'd like to continue to help support his care for the next two months, donations can be made at http://gentlespirithorses.org/donate or Venmo @gentlespirithorses (phone 1811) or by mail at 29571 419th Ave, Scotland, SD 57059