Sundance Is Terribly Missed

After having two horses die so close together with colic, we decided to do something we have not done before. We sent Sundance’s body to MidAtlantic Equine Medical Center for a necropsy to determine what exactly happened and to make sure there wasn’t something here on the farm making the horses sick. The vet who performed the necropsy found that Sundance had a large gas pocket (which we knew), which had badly displaced his dorsal colon. The only option would have been surgery, and there was no guarantee he would have survived it. Typically, with horses that crib (where horses suck in air while biting down on fencing, stall walls, etc.), who are prone to colic, the risk of reoccurrence is very high.

undance colicked frequently, but this time we couldn’t save him. The vets found that “due to the significance of findings in the abdomen, and history of acute colic signs, suspicion for contagious causes of illness contributing to colic are less likely.” This, at least, gave us some peace of mind.

Sundance had a wonderfully expressive face, and a kind nature. He was very well-loved and cared for here. Tucker spent some time with Sundance to say “goodbye” . He is dearly missed by all of us and by his buddy, Tucker, too.