We first saw Winnie in a loose pen at auction — a tiny, bright-eyed filly with her hoof curled inward so severely she was walking on the side of it. At barely eight months old, her deep digital flexor tendon had contracted so far that her entire leg was beginning to twist. We made the decision to bid knowing she might be a compassion pull. Severe deformities like hers can leave a foal in lifelong pain, and responsible rescue means being willing to face that.
But euthanasia isn’t a decision made on looks alone. Not without x-rays, not without a full exam.
So we brought her home to get answers.
To our relief, her joint spaces were clean and open. The damage was functional, not structural — still serious, but treatable. The window to fix it was already closing; most tendon deformities can be corrected before six months of age, and Winnie was pushing eight. Her prognosis was 50/50.
But 50/50 was still a chance worth taking.
A surgeon cut her deep digital flexor tendon and two branches of the superficial digital flexor tendon to give her the release she needed. She received joint injections, wore a cast, and later a corrective shoe. Over the next year, consistent corrective trims continued to reshape the club foot that remained.
Winnie handled every bit of her rehabilitation with determination. As her pain eased, her personality blossomed. The little filly who once braced her way through every step became a sweet, confident youngster who loved movement and attention. She even placed first over ground poles in the baby class at our local show — a moment that felt nothing short of miraculous.
Now, at two years old, she is growing fast and growing tall. That growth comes with challenges: occasional tendon tightness as her body catches up, a gait that still toes out more than we’d like, and unanswered questions about whether she will ever be suitable for riding or driving. We won’t know her long-term soundness until she reaches full maturity.
Our original goal for Winnie was simple: give her a pain-free, normal horse life. In that regard, she’s a success. She runs, she plays, she bosses her pasture mates, and she greets the world without fear — something she barely had a chance at when we first saw her.
Whatever her future becomes, she now has one. And that matters more than anything.
Early intervention changes outcomes.
Foals with limb deformities don’t always get the second chance Winnie did — not because they can’t be helped, but because the window to help them is so small. When that window is still open, even a 50/50 prognosis can turn into a filly who runs, plays, and lives without pain. Her story is a reminder that timely care, good diagnostics, and thoughtful decision-making are often the difference between a life cut short and a life fully lived.
A generous donor is matching the first $15,000 given for Giving Tuesday. Reaching the match will fully fund our winter hay supply, ensuring future horses like Winnie have the stability and care they need during the months they need it most.
If Winnie’s story speaks to you, you can help move the match forward here:
👉 https://givebutter.com/neighitforward