Our Horses

Bear

Keemee

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Kimimila is female name of Lakota heritage meaning "butterfly".  Butterflies were often viewed as the spirits of departed relatives returning to visit the living. The word butterfly means transformation, new birth, new born children and eternal existence. ​For short we call her Keemee.  Keemee was in desperate conditions when we discovered her so the name seemed fitting. 

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Little is know about Keemee's history except she seems to have spent her life in the plow fields and has had a foal or two.  When she came to us, she was recently rescued from slaughter at an auction in northern Indiana.  She was at least 500 pounds underweight, could hardly eat from bad teeth, had severely overgrown feet, and what seemed dysfunctional hind quarters. Her coat was dull and unhealthy due to lack of nutrition.  She was in a small pen in the winter of February laying down in the snow and mud from lack of energy of being on her feet.  

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We brought Keemee home the next day to give her food, water, and a dry place to keep warm.  Our vet came out that week and although her condition was concerning, he felt with pain management, she could have a good quality of life.  She will never be ridden due to her condition however she has a purpose with all the volunteers and clients at Courage Rock to just feel love and companionship of humans and other horses.

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Keemee is only groomed and loved with an occasional hand walk around the barn for muscle conditioning.

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Degenerative suspensory ligament disease (DSLD):

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Keemee has been diagnosed with Degenerative suspensory ligament disease (DSLD) and is under veterinary care with pain and joint care management. 

The disease onset is subtle in affected horses, typically with no history of injury. DSLD often affects more than one limb, and is usually seen in both fore limbs, both hind limbs or all four limbs. Pain and lameness in multiple limbs then develop over time. 

The cause of DSLD is not fully understood. The condition has been diagnosed in multiple breeds. Horses with DSLD usually present with a history of lameness, heat or swelling in the fetlocks, enlarged fetlocks, and gradual dropping of the fetlocks towards the ground. The onset of the disease can be really subtle.

If the hindlimbs are affected, gradual straightening of the hock angle occurs. Some horses may appear sore in their backs as they adjust their stance to relieve painful limbs. Other horses may dig holes in the pasture to rest affected limbs with their toes down and heels elevated. Affected horses may also lay down more frequently and have trouble getting back up. DSLD usually appears later in the horse’s adult life (greater than 15 years old).