A Hero and a Gentleman - Despite Bone Spurs

Bruce came to us in April of 2024. We were looking for another riding horse and stumbled across his listing online. When we went to meet him, we fell in love immediately. Sadly, the pre-purchase exam revealed a bone spur, and the veterinarian strongly advised us not to buy him. After sending the X-rays to two additional veterinarians, both of whom said it was a gamble, we decided to take the risk and bring him home.

From the very beginning, Bruce was a gem. He was the kind of horse you could take anywhere: kind, easygoing, and happiest when moving out on the trail. He settled into life at our farm effortlessly and quickly became “the perfect horse.”

Two months later, on a hot July Sunday morning after a short ride, everything changed. Bruce suddenly became distressed, rolling on the ground as his eyes filled with pain. He was clearly colicking far worse than anything I had ever witnessed. Like most horse owners, I had dealt with colic before, but this was different. Panicked, we began calling veterinary offices, desperately trying to find someone who could come out quickly.

While we waited, I stayed with Bruce. Not knowing how long it would take for a veterinarian to arrive, I administered Banamine, a strong painkiller, to give him some relief. Until it kicked in, I walked him around the barn as he repeatedly collapsed and struggled to get back up. With every fall, my panic intensified. During one particularly terrifying moment, his eyes rolled back in pain. I remember crying uncontrollably, begging him out loud not to leave us: “Don’t go, don’t go.” Despite the agony, Bruce stayed with me.

When the veterinarian finally arrived, the first thing she did was scold me for giving Banamine without veterinary approval. My husband, upset by her tone, stepped in, while I stood there emotionally shattered, having done only what I believed might save our horse. She proceeded with standard treatment, administering mineral oil through a nasal tube and performing a rectal exam. When she left, Bruce appeared slightly improved, offering a brief sense of relief. Two hours later, he collapsed again. It became clear that it wasn’t the procedure that had helped him - it was the pain medication.

I called the vet again, but she was delayed due to other emergencies. When she finally returned my call, she instructed us to transport Bruce immediately to the equine hospital an hour away. Given his condition, trailering him felt impossible…and terrifying. She also warned that another dose of Banamine could cause kidney failure.

Desperate, I called our former veterinarian, who thankfully answered. He advised administering another dose and getting Bruce to the hospital immediately. In his more than 40 years of practice, he had never seen kidney failure caused by Banamine overdose. Trusting his experience, I gave Bruce another dose while my husband hitched the trailer. Because of the extreme heat, my husband stayed behind, and as I was near my end emotionally, my kind and experienced neighbor drove the truck for me.

We barely made it to the hospital. Then came the waiting. Ninety agonizing minutes later, a veterinarian explained that Bruce had a displaced colon. It had become wedged between his spleen and kidney, creating a blockage and causing unimaginable pain. The first option was aggressive medical management: fluids, medication to shrink the spleen, and running him up and down a hill in hopes the colon would shift back into place. If that failed, surgery would be necessary, with a $15,000 price tag and no guarantees.

Once again, I silently begged Bruce to choose the best-case scenario. And we got lucky. His colon shifted back into its proper position. Bruce remained hospitalized for two additional days for observation. The final bill came close to $5,000 but none of that mattered. We got our Bruce back.

Ironically, the bone spur we had worried about was never the real threat. Life has a way of working like that. While the spur and some arthritis do cause him mild issues, they are manageable with annual injections and supplements.

Surviving such a traumatic experience so early on only deepened our bond with Bruce. A sensitive soul with a heart of gold, he has since become one of the strongest members of our therapy team. Even when he isn’t actively participating in a session, he remains deeply engaged, intuitively connecting with people and leaving a lasting positive impression. At 1,200 pounds, he is a true big  teddy bear, always trying to understand what others need and somehow always delivering.

Bruce is also an incredible partner on the trail. If danger is near, like a mountain lion, he alerts us, and for that we are endlessly grateful. One of my greatest joys is flying down the trail on his back. Bruce has a need for speed, and so do I. When we move together like that, we are one and happiness spreads in us like rays of sunshine on a beautiful summer morning.