Farma Fantasta HHWA

Farma was imported from Austria after the 2005 World Show in Ebbs. She and her three-month-old filly foal were flown from Austria, to Holland, and on to Los Angeles, CA. From there, they were trucked to the nearest quarantine facility at UC Davis. At the time when West Nile Virus was at its highest point in the US, they were brought in, with no environmental controls, into the hotbed area of the virus. We picked her up with such high hopes, and such ignorance of the virus that was already raging in her body. Within a week of getting her home, Farma collapsed, paralyzed in her paddock. We were able to get her to an emergency care animal hospital, with the help of able bodied and very determined people.

There, she hung from the ceiling in a sling, she lost her foal that she was carrying (one of the last Winterstein foals), and the final insult was when she foundered on all four feet.

Throughout it all, she kept her good attitude, kept her determination, and her lion heart. After years of recovery, she survives and thrives today. She is missing most of the muscle on her back and gets tired and sore more easily than other horses. She is a determined competitor though, and because of the special boots she was fitted with when she foundered, her x-rays on her feet are totally normal. None of this would have been possible without Juan Medina, her caretaker and her friend. She depends on him more than anyone else and would not have survived without his diligent efforts. He is now her driver in Combined Driving Events. They are an accomplished team, on a level playing field; competing against horses without physical handicaps.

While her body is ravaged and weakened, her heart, her will to live and to run are as strong as ever.

You make us proud Farma, and we love you very much.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Farma Fantasta
• Haflinger Haven
• West Nile Virus
• Founder
• CDE
• Haflinger Austria
• UC Davis