A sad outcome after all of his progress...

On 9/20, Kristen made the decision to put Phillip down. He had been plagued with the worst hoof abscess any of us had seen. Even with antibiotics and lancing it twice , it continued to make him lame and the swelling around his coronet band was huge. He was in a lot of pain, but still continued to be his playful self, making us laugh every day. It was finally x rayed, where it was revealed to be a coffin bone abscess. There was no other decision to make. We will all miss his funny face and friendly personality. 

See the new conformation photo taken 9/06. The legs are getting straighter and he now lives outside with the herd 24/7. He has the funniest personality. Kristen really enjoys him.Update! This colt is making progress in the right direction! I have given him to Kristen, who has been working for me for the summer. He will be a companion for her soon-to-retire hunter gelding and if everything turns out OK in the end, Phillip may become a riding horse. We are starting to get hopeful about this.... Foaling report: A REALLY tall one. He was the third foal born on Monday- in the morning when I was just cleaning up from the second one. He had some trouble standing to nurse and is at the vet clinic being fed by tube until he figures it out completely. He is doing well, so far. Well, he is my rescue case for the year. His legs were found to be in a very bad valgus position (knees in, lower legs out) once he started nursing and standing. I had the stapling surgery done on him and he is such a fighter, I expect he will turn out OK. Pictured is his pathetic self in casts up to his elbows. He still manages to walk around the stall and nibbles at our shirts while we are in the stall. What a trooper! Update- his legs are straightening slowly, but surely. The bandages with the PVC splints are off, but he still has to keep some rub sores covered in bandages. He is still a curious, sweet foal who just wants to have a friend in the stall with him.

Our sympathies to Kristen Zawatski