I copied this from our website, it is the story of Bambi:
On January 25, 2009, we took in a rescue pony, a snowflake appy that our foster home named Bambi. She was in a bad situation that was only going to get worse, underweight and blind in one eye. She was very sweet upon arrival, but due to being isolated from other horses for who knows how long, she became very herdbound at the foster home and any coming or goings of horses caused her to freak out. She attempted to jump the five foot stall door resulting in a gash on her knee, ran into and knocked down fencing and smashed her stall door. If we didn't find her a home asap, we were faced with euthanizing her
rather than let her injure herself or the foster mom (or her little kids). I placed a plea for help on the Chronicle of the Horse and a woman replied that she would love to take her to keep her newly rescued craigslist
pony company, who was also blind and old as dirt. But she was in Virginia. Not a problem, I replied, we'll get her there, she agreed and another plea went out on COTH, looking for a ride.

Well, the stars and planets must have been lined up, because a woman from Virginia was coming to pick up an arabian in Ocala and would come get Bambi first. Well, dang it, 3 days before she was to leave, Bambi went blind in her good eye, the other horses rejected her and she was in a total state of panic. Our vet could not get out until late and he wanted the pony seen asap, so he referred us to another vet. Turns out she has a flare up of uveitis going on in the "good eye". VERY PAINFUL. So we gave her pain meds and I asked to have her given a shot of reserprine which lasts for 30 days, to help with trailering and her adjustment.


The vet did not think we were crazy to attempt to load her. I called the new owner to let her know what was going on as well as the woman picking her up. We agreed that if she was in a state of panic, we would not ship her. Well as luck would have it, the woman picking her up is an appy breeder. She was not frazzled at the prospect of trailering a blind pony.

Thank God, Bambi was calm all day. The trailer arrived and we got her loaded with no issues, it took about 5 minutes to load her, and then off they went for Virginia!


Oh, and her new companions name? Buttercup! Bambi and Buttercup...was
this not meant to be or what?

Thank you to Taryn and her family for fostering Bambi, to Wanda of Pineview Farm for adopting Bambi and to Tracy of Trinity Appaloosas for trailering her. Because of you, we were able to give a special pony a second chance.

UPDATE, 2/9: Bambi has arrived at Wanda's! She made the journey in good shape and will meet Buttercup tomorrow. Thank you again to all who made this possible!

UPDATE #2, 2/10: Bambi met Buttercup today and explored the property. It is a great feeling to know that she is finally in a forever home where she will be well taken care of.

Update #3, 2/22, a note from Wanda:

Bambi and Buttercup are doing fine. I wish we knew more about little Bambi's past. She is SUCH a sweetie, somewhere along the line she must've been in a good home that loved her and taught her manners and the like. Last night I was out there after dark putting blankets on in the field as the cold front blew in, and she stood like an angel while I fastened straps and buckles and swapped face masks. And OH my goodness, she is such a cute little mover. Toe pointing floaty trot. She could place well in the hack class for sure!

Now that she is familiar with her 3 acre turnout, she will trot around out there, apparently just for the fun of it. I have a bell on Buttercup, and sometimes Buttercup will try to sneak away to one of her hiding spots behind the barn or underneath the tree, but the tinkling of that little bell gives away her intentions. Bambi will locate her, then drift off again grazing on her own. I waste a lot of time just watching my horses...

She's gaining weight and her winter coat is shedding. I'll get her teeth floated within the next couple of weeks when the vet does the rest of my horses, but I peeked in her mouth, and while yes, they need a rasping, they aren't too awful.



April 8, 2009: We're still having wintery spells here in Va and the ponies are back in blankets after a brief tease of Spring.

Bambi is doing well, hasn't had another uveitis flare since I got the one she arrived with under control. She gets MSM twice a day mixed in her grain, so I'm hopeful that is helping. And she wears a mask 24/7. She has an assortment of styles and colors and they get changed/laundered frequently.

She and Buttercup still have that love/hate relationship going on.
Bambi has gotten so comfortable and confident in her surroundings that they are often at opposite ends of their 3+ acre paddock.

She will GALLOP to me when I call her name. She is so sweet that I don't understand why anyone could have neglected her so.
She can be opinionated about having her eyes medicated or being paste wormed but I don't fight with her, just calmly wait out her objections and get the job done. Then she sighs and sticks her chin on my shoulder...

UPDATE, JUNE 28, 2009:

It is with a heavy heart, that I must announce the passing of Bambi. Last week, Bambi suffered a severe uveitis flare up. The vet arrived and cancer was detected in her eye. She was given pain medicine which did not alieviate her suffering and Bambi coliced on top of everything. The decision was made to end her suffering. With Wanda, Wanda's husband and Buttercup standing beside her, she left our world with dignity and grace. Buttercup touched her once and walked away. She is buried in the pasture she shared with Buttercup. I am so grateful to Wanda and her family for making Bambi's life so comfortable in her last few months. I am glad she knew kindness and did not have an empty stomach again. I am sure she has crossed the rainbow bridge with full eyesight and is grazing and galloping in heaven.

Wanda sent me the bottom picture of Bambi. Wanda realized after she saw the photo that she is looking at a St. Francis statue. She looks so fat and sleek! What a contrast from just a few months ago! She was euthanized shortly afterward. The top picture was taken when we rescued her in January. What a difference!