Tuff

Tuff’s story is a long and complex one, but not without its own happy ending. Tuff, a 13 year old Quarter Horse gelding, came to PHH from his previous owners who were faced with the difficult decision of euthanizing him. A retired barrel racer, he had multiple abscesses and rotation of the bone in all four feet. When he came to us, he could barely walk and had been misdiagnosed with a neurological disorder. After being examined by our vet, he was prescribed with much stall rest and given a cautious prognosis. For months, little progress was seen and it was at times painful for us to watch the tentative and slow steps he did take. However, Tuff had an overwhelming number of supporters here at People Helping Horses…and his own indomitable spirit. After nearly a year of stall rest and corrective shoeing, our trainers began working with Tuff to get him back in shape. There were tears in everyone’s eyes when he was given a clean bill of health by Dr. Dana Bridges and he was back under saddle for the first time in over a year. It was amazing to see this horse – at one point on the brink of facing death – prance happily around the arena. Kristen recently adopted Tuff. She had this to say about him: “I, along with everyone else, have watched this horse overcome obstacles and setbacks that seemed insurmountable at times. His proud heart and spirit lifted and inspired me…even the moments he challenges me and forces me to work harder! He is my heart and I am so thankful to everyone who believed in this special boy and never gave up on him when so many would have. Thank you….I will cherish him forever.” – Kristin Brown