01/15/2026
Three years after this amazing community helped save his life, this handsome boy is healthy, happy, and living life with a permanently fused fetlock and well-maintained pasture soundness. Desi will never be ridden or do anything more than stand in a field again, but I don't need him to do anything other than what he is doing right now, which is being perfect in every way. 🥰
0% chance of survival without surgery.
65-75% chance of survival with surgery.
$12-15,000. Minimum. If all goes well.
At least five bone chips of traumatic origin.
Multiple injuries to ligaments and tendons.
8 years old.
30 races.
4 firsts.
9 seconds.
3 thirds.
$153, 347 in earnings.
0% chance of survival without surgery.
The numbers start to spin. This one doesn’t stop.
My friends, there is no easy way to say this. Deputy Flag (Desi), my sweet boy, needs help. I need help while I weigh whether I could trade Desi’s life for $15,000. Without that money, that’s exactly what will happen: he will die. The injuries that Desi sustained while racing will rapidly degenerate to the point where he will require humane euthanasia. That’s if the long-term use of pain medication doesn’t destroy his internal organs first, or his supporting leg doesn’t develop laminitis, which will kill him, too.
The future is grim; it is only a matter of time, and that amount of time is likely to be short.
BUT! We have hope. We have a choice. Desi has me, he has us, and we will fight for him, with all that we have, for as long as it takes. I had no hand in creating these issues, but I will do whatever it takes to heal them. This horse is special; he deserves that chance.
We have a lifeline, waiting at Rood and Riddle, in the hands of their talented team of surgeons and staff. With surgery, Desi has a 65-75% chance of surviving. Without it, he has none.
That is not to say that this is something to be taken lightly. The surgery is extremely risky, with potential complications, from which he may not recover. If he makes it through the surgery itself, there is the possibility of surgical site infection, opposite leg laminitis, and complications from recovery from anesthesia.
When (I refuse to say ‘if’) he survives the surgery, Desi will spend about 4 weeks in a full cast, being tended to closely at the clinic. Medication, bandage changes, and around-the-clock care will be given. This is an estimate; it may be longer. There may be other, unforeseen complications that we can’t plan for or predict.
If he survives that stay, he will be able to come home. He will be pasture sound. He will have mechanical changes in his gait due to having no ability to flex that joint; he only has about 10*flexion as it is right now. Desi, when he comes home, will be able to live a full, healthy life, just like a normal, unrideable horse.
This decision is not one that I made lightly. I’ve tried everything we can. This is what we’ve tried so far:
9/28/22 Final race; ran fourth in the slop at Finger Lakes
10/17/22 Saw him at the track, in his stall. Toe-touching lame. Did not see his owner/trainer that day, but he has my number. Hoping he calls.
10/28/22 Finally able to bring him home after his trainer surrendered him to the Inherit the Gold Foundation after overracing him to the point that he was extremely painful in his front right fetlock. Papers are signed to retire him from racing forever.
11/4/22 Initial x-rays and ultrasound, performed by Dr. Glovizki at the farm. 10 degree flexion in fetlock joint. Found multiple, chronic injuries, traumatic in origin. At least 5 visible, significant bone chips and a hole in the ligament that runs down the back of the fetlock. Gave him acupuncture. Put him on Equioxx, Surpass topical, and standing wraps/stall rest. Bute PRN. Varying levels of lameness ongoing, occasionally looked okay, but comfort never lasted long without medication. Provided Reiki and energy healing, joint supplements, stomach guard supplements to try to prevent stress colic.
1/5/23 Redid all imaging, x-rays and ultrasounds. Still extremely lame. Found some increased bone loss on the sides of the joint. Surgeon at R&R reviewed imaging, recommended fetlock arthrodesis. Continuing with Equioxx and Surpass, d/c standing wraps
1/6 Took joint fluid sample to test for sepsis of the joint: clear. Took x ray of left/opposite hoof to rule out laminitis: clear. Injected right fetlock deep in the joint with long-lasting steroid.
1/6 Reviewed records with Stowe Burke, who generously donated his time and expertise. Reiterates that recovery is highly unlikely without surgery. Recommends fetlock arthrodesis.
1/9 Slightly less sore
1/10 Passably sound, hand walk with Ace on board in the aisle of the barn for about 10 minutes, most of which were spent looking out at the paddocks and his friends. Two hours later, is toe-touching lame, administered 2g Bute
1/11 Less sore this morning, no hand walk, per vet. Still not entirely comfortable.
1/12/23 Reviewed records with Cornell University Equine Hospital. States that degeneration will continue rapidly. Recovery impossible without surgery. Recommends fetlock arthrodesis. Desi is slightly better than yesterday. Vet recommends holding off, if we can, to allow steroid to dissipate because it is an immunosuppressive. Will get blood work to check for organ health, given that he is maintained on pain medication.
I wanted to be able to do this on my own; Desi is my horse and I love him. I took him on, knowing that he was coming home hurt. I stood up to this challenge, so that I could give him a chance.
I wish that I could do this without asking for help, but I can’t, so, with absolute, utmost humble gratitude, I ask you now: please help. Please help my sweet, lovely boy, my Desi, who never did a damn thing to deserve this. Please help him live. At this point, we are out of options. He gets surgery, or he dies. This is the end of the road.
With a successful surgery, Desi will live to see spring. He will once again feel the soft grass under his hooves and the warm sun on his back. He will languish in his paddock, acres of room to roam, with his lifelong friends once again nearby.
With surgery, Desi will only ever know safety, comfort, and affection. His brain and body will thrive. He will meet new friends and learn new ways of communicating, interacting, and relating as a therapy horse for Adirondack Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, LCSW. Desi will be cherished, honored, and loved.
With this surgery, Desi will have what every horse, and especially every warhorse deserves: he will have a chance.
Please, please help me give Desi a chance to live. My faith, and his life, lies with you.
Thank you. More than I could ever say. Thank you. If all you can give is a share, please know that that is enough. If all you can give is a kind word, or a moment of empathy, or a little bit of loving energy sent his way, please know that it is received with gratitude and joy.
If you are blessed enough to have extra money to spare and you would like to donate to Desi’s surgery, there are many options:
-Donate through the Inherit the Gold Foundation , the nonprofit aftercare organization that helped me get Desi home. They have a page and a website with a donation link. 100% of the proceeds will go to Desi’s care.
-Call Rood & Riddle in Saratoga directly and ask to make a donation to Deputy Flag/Desi’s care (518) 583-7273
-Mail a check to me at the farm: Shannon Brock, c/o Haven Oaks Farm Fort Edward, NY 12828 Every cent will be going right to Desi’s care.
-Donate through this fundraiser: https://gofund.me/1b895f43
Please, whatever you decide, know that I appreciate you more than I could ever say. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
-Shannon
