It takes a village to save Alydar's 29-year-old daughter

Promethia's infected right eye in May, 2011
Photo: Shon Wylie

On May 21st, a trailer pulled into a farm in Carlisle, Kentucky, carrying a trio of horses who had been sent, sight unseen, to a farmer who thought he was getting three full-bodied equines he'd be able to resell for a quick profit.  But when the trailer's door slid open, what lay within was a dead Quarter Horse, and an old, thin mare who, with a buckskin gelding, had fallen on the deceased horse during the ride from Lexington.

The mare was Alydar's daughter, Promethia, a 29-year-old thoroughbred by one of racing's legendary elites.  The pretty bay had been a pricey pearl of a two-year-old back in 1984, when Dogwood Stable purchased her for $360,000 for one of its partnerships.  Though she never excelled on the racetrack, Promethia became a queenly matron of the bluegrass, producing seven winners--including a stakes horse--to the cover of such well-regarded stallions as El Prado, Clever Trick, Distinctive Pro, Polish Navy, and Salt Lake.  She was owned for several years during her heyday as a broodmare by Peter Schiff's Fox Ridge Farm.

But now, she had clearly fallen on hard times.  One of her eyes was painfully bruised and swollen, in obvious need of urgent medical care; her ribs were showing, and her cracked feet cried of neglect.  In spite of Promethia's exalted paternal lineage, and the fact that she hails from a regal female family that produced Kentucky Derby winner Bubbling Over, as well as her graded stakes-winning half-brothers, Withholding and Champion Ztunami, her luck seemed to have run out.  The well-bred mare who had once hobnobbed in fancy auction hall stalls, and been bedded down in racing society's best barns, now found herself reduced to relying on the kindness of strangers, with no friends in sight.

But against all odds, a far-flung network of horse people quickly banded together to give Promethia the promise of better days ahead.  Jeanne Mirabito of Our Mims Retirement Haven learned of Promethia's plight on the day the mare arrived in Carlisle, and alerted thoroughbred advocate Deborah Jones, who immediately got busy on her behalf.  She contacted Shon Wylie, who lived nearby, and while Ms. Wylie worked to persuade Promethia's new owner to relinquish her, Ms. Jones scrambled to arrange veterinary care--and temporary stabling--so that the mare's troublesome eye could be treated before it got worse.

On Monday, June 6th, veterinarians from Rood & Riddle examined Promethia at Ms. Wylie's farm, and determined that the mare's infected eye was on the verge of rupturing; it required emergency surgery, they said.  Promethia's time was running out, and Deb Jones was running out of options.

But then she found an angel in the guise of Elise Handler, who not only works as a veterinary technician at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, but also runs Handler Bloodstock at Pegasus Stud with the invaluable assistance of her assistant manager, Matthew Schering.  With the blessing of Pegasus Stud owner Melinda Smith, Promethia was picked up by shipper Roy Hudson on Tuesday, June 7th, and transported to the famous Lexington nursery.

Dr. Jamelyn Kyser and Dr. Jill Westerholm with Promethia
Photo: Matthew Schering

As daylight turned to dusk that evening, Hagyard veterinarians Dr. Jamelyn Kyser and Dr. Jill Westerholm arrived to remove Promethia's maggot-infested right eye, during a two-hour procedure that they performed on a pro-bono basis.  They believed that Promethia had no vision in that eye because of the extent of the infection, so they didn't expect her to experience post-op problems getting her bearings.  And so far, surrounded by new friends and well wishers, Promethia has been proving them right.  "She's doing absolutely fantastic," Elise said, with a smile in her voice.

Ms. Handler knew that in addition to shepherding Promethia through her surgical recovery, she'd have to concentrate on building her up and addressing some long-neglected maintenance issues, and she's been pleasantly overwhelmed at the way in which the Lexington community has generously rallied to help the gentle old mare.  Her blacksmith, Joe Lossen, arrived yesterday to offer his much-needed expertise in trimming and shaping Prometia's feet, and so did Dr. Rocky Mason from Hagyard's, who came to file the mare's overgrown teeth, and in the process, remove a fractured molar that had become infected and painful.  The farm's regular vet, Hagyard's Dr. Arnaldo Monge, will stop by tomorrow to do some acupuncture, which may act to stimulate Promethia's appetite and alleviate some of her age-related aches and pains.

As a gift from the retired broodmares she cares for at Our Mims, Jeanne Mirabito sent over a pink tote bag of goodies--including grooming supplies and peppermints--to help Promethia's spirit shine.  Gale Mott of Second Chance Equine Rescue and Sanctuary chipped in for a fly mask, which will be a much-appreciated accessory once Promethia's bandage is removed.  And Hillary Tucker at Producer Feeds in Paris has donated bags of Producer's Special Needs PROformance feed, probiotics, and supplements to help bring Promethia back to a healthier weight and condition.  Producer wants to continue to provide for the mare's nutritional needs for at least the next two to three months, documenting her recovery along the way.

Promethia grazing at Pegasus Stud on June 11, 2011
Photo: Matthew Schering

Now that Promethia's initial crisis is over, the pressing need is to find her a permanent home, one in which she can peacefully live out her days embraced by love and other horses, without fear of falling through the cracks again.  And so there's more work to be done.

Charles Nuckols III at Nuckols Farm in Midway, where Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos stands, has graciously offered to provide interim lodgings for Promethia if she needs a temporary place to stay en route to her eventual home.  And the Retirement Assistance and Care for Equine (R.A.C.E.) Fund has launched a campaign to secure annual contributions for Promethia's care, so that she, and the Quarter Horse gelding who has been her years-long companion, but who is still at the Carlisle farm, can retire safely to one of their affiliated nonprofit facilities.

Since its founding as a nonprofit organization in 2004, R.A.C.E. Fund has helped to secure permanent retirement for more than 100 thoroughbreds.  The group's president, Marlene Murray, believes that Promethia is the oldest thoroughbred they've ever assisted.

With the help of Mary Adkins-Matthews, R.A.C.E. Fund has recently set up a Facebook page to promote the cause of Promethia and her Quarter Horse buddy, with the goal of attracting 36 supporters who would be willing to commit to an annual $100 contribution for the care of the two elderly horses, for the rest of their lives.  Ms. Murray explained that this figure is based on the calculation that their care would cost approximately $5/day per horse, or a total of $3600 per year.

"There needs to be substantial, mandatory industry funding for the care of retired thoroughbreds," Ms. Murray emphasized.  "As long as there is racing, there will be a need for long-term thoroughbred retirement faciliteis.  Our ability to help horses depends on how much money we can raise.  We'd like to do more, but we firmly believe that it's an industry obligation, and shouldn't be left to the nonprofits."

"Promethia is writing her own story," Ms. Murray added.  "But we don't care who a horse is by, or who they're out of.  Our focus is strictly on getting a horse to safety."

**********************************************************************************************


If you'd like to help bring Promethia and her Quarter Horse companion safely to a permanent retirement facility, you can make a tax-deductible donation to this cause through R.A.C.E. Fund, by earmarking it "For Promethia and her Quarter Horse Companion."  Monies can be sent via PayPal to:  info@racefund.org.