Day 9: Our Busiest Day Yet
The day dawned at Sampango, a treasured location nestled in the mountains with stunning views of Volcano Agua. This annual visit proved especially productive as we treated 101 horses – our busiest day yet. What struck us immediately was the notably improved condition of the horses here compared to other areas, a consistent observation over years of visits to this community.
Among the day's many cases, two particularly challenged us both medically and emotionally. A yearling filly arrived with an old cervical fracture and hock injury that had healed improperly, leaving her neck permanently flexed to the right. Despite these severe injuries, she showed remarkably few neurological symptoms beyond slight hypermetria in her front legs. The case touched our hearts not only because of the filly's condition but because of her young caretakers – a 12-year-old girl and her brother who had nursed her through the initial trauma. While we provided pain medication, the long-term prognosis remained poor for this young filly, constantly grinding her teeth as an indication of the chronic pain. This case highlighted the delicate balance we must strike between Western veterinary practices and local cultural perspectives regarding end-of-life care.
Another notable case involved a horse recently purchased with a chronic draining wound. The new owner had been told this condition was "normal" for the horse – a common story we encounter. Our exploratory surgery revealed multiple rib bone fragments, which we removed before placing drainage tubes for Dr. Jackie to monitor. While we suspect there may be more fragments requiring future attention, we made significant progress in addressing this long-standing issue.
Dr. Rachel Green performed a successful tooth extraction on an older horse with severely compromised pulp horns, adding to our day's accomplishments. We also encountered our first cases of bat bites on this trip, along with numerous tick infestations around heads and ears – a reminder of the diverse challenges these working animals face.
As we enter our final day of service tomorrow, Sampango's success story gives us hope. The improved condition of horses here demonstrates how consistent care and education can create lasting change. Despite the occasional heartbreaking cases, we see proof that our repeated visits, combined with local commitment to better horse care, can transform entire communities.
