Gunner’s Story: From Neglect to Healing

Foreverland Farm
Oct 29
2 min read

A local cruelty case brings one brave horse to Foreverland Farm

A Heartbreaking Discovery

When we first met Gunner, he was part of a group of horses seized from a severe neglect case in our local area. Though he was considered to be one of the “healthy” horses, he was clearly struggling to walk. Upon examination, our team found that the underside of his hoof—what should have been solid and protective—had been almost completely eaten away by infection.

This gentle horse had been forced to carry riders for hours a day on trail rides and during lessons, despite being in excruciating pain. His quiet endurance broke our hearts.

The Diagnosis: Canker in Both Hooves

From the beginning, we knew Gunner’s case was serious. Our farrier and vet team quickly determined he needed surgery, and after consulting with an orthopedic specialist, we received devastating news: Gunner had canker in both left hooves, front and back. The infection was so advanced that parts of the bone were deteriorating.

Choosing Hope

The specialist presented euthanasia as a viable option due to the severity of the infection and the difficult aftercare ahead. But we couldn’t give up on Gunner. He deserved a chance to live without pain.

He underwent extensive surgery on both feet to remove the infected tissue and spent several days recovering at the hospital. We are relieved and grateful to share that he made it through surgery beautifully and is now back home at Foreverland Farm, beginning the long road to recovery.

The Road Ahead

Gunner’s healing journey will be long and intensive. He’ll require ongoing wound care, bandage changes, pain management, and follow-up vet visits to ensure healthy regrowth of his hooves.

The cruelty case remains under investigation, but regardless of the outcome, we are thankful Gunner is finally safe, loved, and receiving the care he always deserved.

Click here to view the TV coverage and read the article regarding the cruelty case.