Wonderful Wonderstar - a remarkable recovery -

Wonderstar, or Starlet for short, is an 18 year old Oldenburg mare. She was home bred and has been with her owner from birth. I've known Starlet for at least 13 years and she has always been one of those 'full of energy' horses who quite happily trot on the tip of her toes for the duration of a hack because there were hedgemonsters around every corner. A rather sharp and opiniated mind, she wouldn't hesitate to boss anyone around to her pleasing. Not always the easiest horse to handle, putting it politely, but deep down she has a loving heart.

Going to boot camp …

In November 2020 her owner decided to send Starlet away to a professional horsetrainer in order to further, and to reinstate, her education. So Starlet went away and the owner received regular updates, giving her the impression that all was going along well.

At the beginning of March 2021 the owner was told that Starlet was ready to be ridden. Starlet's owner went to see her wonderful Starlet but the shock that followed was deep and unexpected: Starlet looked like a collection of bones with a bit of skin and fur thrown on top like a blanket. She had lost all muscle tissue and her spine was so protruding that it was impossible to even think she could have taken a saddle, let alone a rider. Starlet was weak, depressed and soon it became apparent she had a cough. The owner was told that the vet had been called out to see 'what's wrong with her' and blood samples had been taken for a full blood profile. She was told that nothing unsuspecting was found and therefore no action was taken at the time.

Unsurprisingly, her owner decided to take her home immediately.

And this is where I came in. Her owner called me for help and any support I could provide to stop Starlet's deteriorating condition. She had been given Ventipulmin but this had not made any change and Starlet was now coughing blood as well as mucous. Her owner was reaching the point of considering having to put her to sleep.

I went to see Starlet on 06.03.2021, about a week after she'd come back home, and to say I was shocked to the core when I saw her is a huge understatement!

A first visit …

Starlet was so thin that her hipbones and every single rip were protruding out. She had literally no muscle tissue and appeared very weak. Her neck was thin and the thyroid gland was swollen to the size of a goose egg. The skin on all four fetlocks was red, raw and inflamed and was scaling off.

She had thick green and yellow mucous coming from both her nostrils, her breathing was laboured and visibly going through the abdomen. Her head was low – maybe because it made it easier to 'drain' the thick mucous out or whether it made the breathing easier I don't know. Starlet had a very dry and deep sitting cough and when she coughed it shook up her whole body – it went through her like a violent wave, ending with the expulsion of lumps of thick yellow and green, pus like mucus.

Starlet wouldn't eat so it was difficult to put weight on, and medication into, her as she had lost all interest in food – in fact, I think it is fair to say, she had lost interest in life. She looked like she was knocking on death's door …

Some very intersting choices and a solid plan of action!

Well, self selection with herbs was not an option here as Starlet was not interested in eating anything at all so I approached her by offering essential oils in the form of inhalation. And - hey presto - we had a match! Her absolute favourite was Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) essential oil – this oil is often selected by animals who have respiratory problems or obstructions and viral or bacterial infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Interistingly, it is also frequently selected by horses that suffer with mud fever. And Starlet couldn't get enough of it! I alternated the offering with Thyme, Eucalyptus and Clove bud but she would always come back to Bay Laurel, inhaling this essential oil so deep with alternating nostrils that she would have climbed into the bottle if only she could!

We, Starlets owner and me, sat together and worked out a plan of action. Firstly, she needed to see the vet again, without a doubt. Secondly, to support Starlet's health and immune system, it was agreed that I would prepare a couple of inhaler sticks for her – Bay Laurel, Eucalyptus, Thyme and Clove bud so that the owner could work with these for the time being. Further, we agreed that I would prepare a couple of supplement for Starlet - to help and support the respiratory tract, for nutritional support to help her regain muscle tissue and to support the body in healing what had been damaged.

Starlet making progress!

Starlet's owner updated me regularly about her progress – the vet had re-attended and prescribed antibiotics. Over the next few weeks Starlet went from strength to strength - her appetite improved gradually and her breathing became a lot less laboured. She absolutely loved her herbs and actively sought out the feeding bowls with the herbs added rather than those without the herbs (yes, it's all about choice).

The second visit

On 07.04.2021 I went to see Starlet to check on her progress and OH MY, what a different horse! It filled me with endless joy seeing Starlet back in her paddock with her mates, happily trotting up to us and greeting me with a big smoochy kiss! She was no longer the poor, emacicated horse I saw just 4 weeks prior; her cough was almost gone, the muscle tone started to come back and she had regained that little starlet sparkle in her eyes.

I am beyond happy about the progress Starlet has made – this is a classic example of a combined effort – good veterinary care, an absolutely dedicated owner and spot on herbal support.

Starlet - You rock! <3