Jasper

Jasper is completely healed and back in work.

Were it another horse, one might not have suspected anything at first. But when the normally boisterous Jasper's Prince was spotted standing stock still in the pasture, alarm bells immediately went off.

Examination revealed a cut-indicative of a kick-high on the big horse's near foreleg. Despite coaxing and prodding, Jasper would not move. It took owner Charles Shaffer and farm staff two hours to get him down to the barn and into his stall. It was February 10 th.

Ridgeview Veterinarian Will Engel examined the leg and ordered stall rest. Two weeks later, the swelling had subsided but Jasper was not improving, so Dr. Engel took x-rays. The diagnosis was dire: the radius, several inches above the knee, was fractured almost clean through. Typically, with a break that high and that severe, there's little that can be done. Dr. Engel gently offered to put the 20-year-old gelding down-knowing that even a slight twist would snap the bone like a piece of kindling, causing immense distress and pain.

The x-rays tell the story: Left, the fracture is easy to see (February 28 th ). Right, a clean bill of health (July 15 th ).

Charles considered the predicament, but declined to destroy the horse. "I expected to lose him," he says, "but I just didn't want to put him down. He's been too good a horse for me." Indeed, the big thoroughbred-17.2 hands and 1,440 lbs.-had been a high-spirited and majestic mount for Charles for 15 years. "I've probably had 30 horses over the years," he says, "and Jasper is the horse of a lifetime."

Dr. Engel weighed their options. At least the bones remained in alignment. Because of the location of the break, bandaging or casting would be of no use. He would have liked to pull the front shoes, to minimize the danger of Jasper planting the foot and inadvertently twisting, but the horse could not bear weight on the injured leg at all. Will could prescribe bute and antibiotics, but the battle was Jasper's alone to fight.

The first days were harrowing-while Jasper adapted remarkably well to stall rest, he was inclined to rolling. There was nothing anyone could do but stand by helplessly and pray that the limb didn't snap. No one entered the stall at all for the first three weeks.

Days passed. Will returned regularly to take x-rays and monitor the progress. "I won't let anyone else look at the horse," Charles allows. "Dr. Engel is my favorite vet of all time." Miraculously, the horse did not twist the leg, and the fracture continued to heal. "By the end of April, I felt like we were out of the woods," Charles says, "but we waited another four weeks to shoe him."

Finally, 20 weeks after the injury, x-rays revealed no sign of the fracture. "He's sound as a dollar," Charles marvels. The only lingering effect of the long ordeal was poor condition-Jasper had lost all his muscle tone. Charles started him back into work on the long lines. By July, he was ready for riding. In a month's time, he regained much of his muscle.

By August 1 st , Charles knew Jasper was back: a morning trail ride was the first time the pair had ridden out in company, and Jasper, once again his old irascible self, bucked his rider onto the ground. Even though he'd cracked some ribs, Charles climbed right back on. He was grinning.

"I am very grateful to Dr. Engel for his excellent care," Charles says, "and to all of the barn staff as well."

The future looks bright. In September, Jasper will return to his lifelong career: fox hunting. "We've hunted together all over Maryland and Virginia, up in New York state," says Charles. In deference to the horse's advancing years, he'll only go out once a week. Still, it's a job he'll continue to do as long as he is able. "He's an amazing fox hunter-he always goes in the first flight, and he watches the hounds. He's a participant all day."