Oklahoma News Report

This week, I got an e-mail from an Oklahoma City woman named Krystal Kelly, who shared with me the story of her horse, “Thunder.” Thunder has been diagnosed with a severe neurological disorder known as EMP, and he will have to be put down by a veterinarian.

Krystal explained that from the time she was a little girl, she dreamed of owning her own horse. She saved up the money on her own to buy Thunder when she was 15 years old.

Krystal writes, “Thunder and I have been through a lot. He’s put me in crutches twice, given me a concussion, broke my tail bone, kicked me, stepped on me, head butted me, thrown me more times than I can count…and even almost killed me once. Through all the pain I was determined to win Thunder’s heart and his trust, now here we are five years later. Before thunder was diagnosed with EPM, I had gotten my dream horse after all. My hard work paid off and a year ago I was able to ride him with nothing more than a halter while I jumped him as high as he would let me. But now he can hardly stand without falling down, much less run and buck and jump, all his favorite.”

Because Krystal is a college student struggling to pay her bills, she simply could not afford the veterinary bills she was incurring trying to save Thunder’s life. She found a home for him at Horse Feathers Equine Rescue, just north of Guthrie. Thunder has been able to live out his final days at this non-profit facility where abused and neglected horses are able to find safe haven.

Cheri White Owl is the founder of Horse Feathers. When I spoke with her earlier this week, she told me that she is seeing an upswing in the number of horses that are “owner surrendered,” meaning the owners can simply no longer afford to keep them. She blames this on the poor economy, but points out the donations nonprofits need to keep going are dropping at the same time. In fact, with dozens of horses now in its stables, Horse Feathers is at full capacity.

Though Thunder will most likely not make it, Krystal Kelley says she owes Horse Feathers and Cheri White Owl a debt of gratitude for making his last days happy ones. She also urges Oklahomans to donate money and volunteer their time to organizations that take care of horses in need.

“Think of everything horses have done for us in the history of humankind,” Kelly said.

The story airs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 on OETA.