Prayers For Daniel

Written By: Sue Blair - Carpe Diem Farms | Issue: March 2025

Old Man Winter has certainly been up to some antics with all of us living on the mountain top! I cannot recall actual temperatures like we have had – 2 to 5 degrees and “feels like” temperatures in double digit negatives!

Keeping the herd safe is our number one priority, always. In this weather it’s critical. Snow, ice, snow on top of ice, melting in sunny places and freezing again in the night.

It seemed endless and it wasn’t – however, it was hard.

Cleats with metal strapping on our boots kept us upright and able to test the conditions we faced before moving the horses from the safety of the stables to the arena.

Even on the worst days we were able to move them slowly, in hand, one by one allowing them time and space to “self-care,” running and playing.

Horses and people alike came through the storm unscathed.

However, on February 2, Daniel, our 13-year-old Thoroughbred, who was gifted to CDF and arrived last spring with My Kaleb, wasn’t so lucky. The snow and ice made for a lot of mud in new places.

Without anyone witnessing the incident, a very playful herd of six was running, kicking and enjoying. As I approached the stables to feed, Daniel was unable to walk. Struggling with each step. He wasn’t putting any weight on his left front leg or foot, barely letting his toe touch the ground, hopping with each step that got him closer to his stall.

Once in, I iced him and gave him a full body PEMF treatment. Wrapped his leg and gave him pain medicine. Fed him supper and bedded him down for the night.

In the morning, I x-rayed up and down the leg and hoof. I followed with a thermography camera session looking for heat and abnormalities in the blood flow. I sent them all to Dr. Jessica Scruggs for her input. He fractured a bone in his left front leg, close to where he had a cryotherapy procedure while on the track. Dr. Jessica x-rayed for conformation.

Using the leg brace I had made for Battersea Tracy on the left and support wrapping – a “standing wrap” – on the right, it’s making a difference in his stability.

Dr. Scruggs is assuring that within four months of stall rest and all the treatments,  the bone will heal.

I ask each of you reading this to stop for a moment and offer up a prayer for Daniel’s healing. If you’d like to help with his care, please let me know. He is not a horse accustomed to confinement so this will be a long four months.