 In the words of Gilbert Gonzales
I've owned and trained many a horse, though until now, all have been domesticated and for some reason, my feelings toward them were different.
The way I was raised, horses come and go - you can always make another one.... Well that all changed recently when I had to put down one of the two wild mustangs that we picked up in January for the Extreme Mustang Makeover to be held in April.
Valencia was the bigger and more docile of the two mares. EVERYONE that saw her loved her. She was loving and friendly with a softness about her eyes that just drew you in.
When a horse that belongs to a client has health issues, the client, not me, makes the call to put a horse down. But when a horse comes from the wild and has been entrusted to you to keep it safe and alive, that’s an entirely different ballgame.
Even though we did all we could to help her pull through, I had to make the call.
After consulting with both DVM Jim Wilkes and DVM Sarah Ford and coordinating with the Bureau of Land Management, the decision was made to put her down humanely.
 She is now free to run again in that big prairie in the sky.
When I say we did all we could do, I REALLY mean we did ALL we could do. Staying up giving her IV's and pain medicine through day and night for a week in rain and snow. It takes a toll on your body and your soul and your mind.
My family and I would like to send a special thanks to DVM Jim Wilkes and DVM Sarah Ford for all their help and support.
We would also like to thank David and Myrna Moore of Cedar Rock Farm, for all of their help, support and hospitality for myself and my family during this very difficult time.
And finally, we would like to thank each and every one of our friends for their continued support and friendship.
Sincerely,
Gilbert Gonzales
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A letter from Dr. Sarah Ford, DVM, one of the veterinarians who treated Valencia:
Sarah D. Ford, DVM
Burke Co. Animal Hospital
Waynesboro, GA
March 22, 2009
Dear Gilbert,
I was very sorry to hear about Valencia. I think we gave her the best shot we could, but I was glad to hear that she no longer had to suffer. I have wondered if there was anything else that could have been done, but I think that we (especially you) did an extraordinary amount to help her despite the outcome. I think that this type of problem will be inevitable to a number of horses in this type of competition due to the time constraints and the fact that wild horses cannot be allowed to exercise on their own in a field because you simply would never catch them again. I know there has been significant publicity about the mustangs coming to Georgia, and if anyone has any questions about Valencia’s condition or care, I would be happy to talk to them about her. I am sure that this has been a surprise to a lot of people, so I wanted to outline and explain exactly what happened to Valencia, so there would be no unanswered questions. If I have left anything out, as I have said, feel free to have them call me. My work number is posted above.
“Tying up” or Equine Rhabdomyolysis is a condition most commonly experienced by heavily muscled horses who are exercised after a period of inactivity. Valencia was certainly a heavily muscled horse, which I thought was unusual for a mustang. The mustangs I have seen tend to be thinner and lankier than Valencia. Tying up is not caused by over-exercise -- it is caused by a series of events and factors that line up together to make a horse tie up. It is most common in heavily muscled horses that go through a period of inactivity and are then exercised. The horse will start to experience muscle cramps during exercise and then exhibit symptoms of tying up. These include: reluctance to move, sweating, increased heart and respiratory rates as a result of the pain, shifting of weight from side to side, passing reddish-brown urine, dehydration, shock, and then not being able to stand. Dr. Wilke’s said that Valencia’s liver and CK values were the highest that he had ever seen. My treatment protocol for a horse that is tying up (and how I treated Valencia) is the following: Valencia received multiple liters of IV fluids, injectable methocarbamol (a muscle relaxer), inject able flunixin (banamine -- an NSAID used for pain and inflammation), inject able torbugesic (a narcotic pain reliever), acepromazine (a sedative used to relax a horse and also improves blood flow to damaged muscles). I believe Dr. Wilkes also treated her with dormosedan to help her relax. I was sincerely disappointed when after all the work had been done, and so much time had been spent with Valencia, that she continued to decline.
Best of luck to you with La Reina. I must say that I was nervous to be going to a farm call for a “wild” mustang. I admired your ability to handle Valencia safely and humanely while I treated her.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sarah Ford
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