Noelle was rescued by Hanaeleh in December 2019, and lived with her foster mom until April 2021, when she came to Hanaeleh. Noelle is a little Quarter horse who was probably used as a gymkhana horse, but unfortunately she was hurt very badly, and instead of giving her time to heal, her owner just gave her drugs and kept making her run, until she was so lame that even the drugs stopped working. Noelle has founder, which means that her coffin bone has dropped and rotated, and her left front leg tendon has so much scar tissue that it’s impossible to feel the difference between the bone and tendon. Her other legs have scar tissue and are swollen as well, although not as bad.
Thankfully, we are able to keep Noelle comfortable and happy with a combination of special shoeing and a daily pain medication that she can take long-term. She is only about 14 or 15 years old, so she has a long life ahead of her as long as we can manage her pain. For now, she seems healthy and happy, and lives with her BFF Venus in the top paddock.
Noelle has her favorite volunteers who groom her multiple times a week, and will lightly exercise her in the arena and round pen. All we ask her to do is walk, but sometimes when Noelle is feeling really good she will get a little silly and she’ll trot and canter around! Our awesome volunteer, Joyce just loves her and they have a special bond.