Take A Chance

“Take A Chance”

That’s the name I was told he showed under but around the barn, he’s known as Chance. It was explained to me that he obtained the name “Chance” after a severe illness as a foal. After this weekend I can say with confidence that “Take A Chance” fits him and our journey together thus far. 

Chance was owned by the last barn I boarded at and he was barely on my radar. He was a lesson pony who existed, looked cute, and was always sweet towards the kids. An inquisitive guy who was getting up there in age and ready to retire. That was the extent of my knowledge of him. 

Chance’s first picture that got sent to the family explaining what I had done

During a conversation with the barn owner, it came up that after the current show season Chance would be retiring and need a new home to enjoy himself in. His arthritis was acting up and he no longer seemed to enjoy teaching or jumping. 

That was the first time I said I would “Take A Chance”. 

Chance at his previous home with one of his first abscesses

A few months after coming to my property, Chance developed a large summer sore on his sheath. Despite my best efforts along with the vets, we ended up having to do extensive debridement along with medication application 5 times a day. It was hard work, and I am forever grateful for the training we had put in together to develop a relationship where he trusted me to debride him daily. 

That was the second time I said I would “Take A Chance”.

Chance just hanging out with me

Last year, a jaw abscess developed and created a second summer sore. This resulted in several months of 3-5 times daily ointment application, antibiotics, several vet visits, and a pathology report to reveal that we had to change our whole approach to this sore. Chance and I spent hours together, cleaning, debriding, treating, and rewrapping his sore. 

That was the first time I was asked if I wanted to let him go. Because of his liveliness and enthusiasm for life that was the third time I said I would “Take A Chance”. 

Chance during one of our many vet visits for the jaw abscess

This brings us to this weekend. One thing a horse owner never wants is for their horse to come up to them with blood on them and a visible injury. When Chance was fed dinner the night before, he was fine. He squealed like a pig when he saw his dinner bucket, ran up, accepted his full 360, hands-on check, and dove into his dinner bucket. When he came up to me the next morning there was blood, swelling, and a flap of skin barely hanging on above the corner of his eye. Chance had torn his upper eyelid almost completely off. 

One emergency vet call later, and I found myself standing in my garage, with a very sedated Chance in hand, talking options with the vet. The outcome didn’t seem to be in favor of his eye but I was presented with 3 things. Remove the eyelid entirely and understand that losing his eye would be almost certain down the line. Attempted to reattach the eyelid in hopes of preventing further injury to his eye globe with the understanding that we might need to remove the eyelid and possibly the eye down the line. Finally, I could choose to not spend any more money on this old retired pony and let him go. 

This was the second time I looked him in the eye, saw his enthusiasm for life, and refused to let him go. This was my fourth time saying I would “Take A Chance”. 

Chance after his eye injury wearing his fly mask to protect the eye from further damage

The eyelid stitched up beautifully producing blood flow to the detached part, and the injury did not seem to extend beyond the skin. We’re not out of the woods yet, but with consistent antibiotics, pain killer, and eye drops, I am extremely hopeful that we have managed to save his eyelid and subsequently his eye. 

Chance and I are in this journey, together, for the long haul, and watching him play with his mares this morning has helped to reaffirm all my decisions to “Take A Chance” on Chance.

Chance after his eye injury without his fly mask.