This is the story of a little orphan filly named Abigail, or Abby as she has come to be known. My mom and I first heard about little Abby's plight through Peggy Allen, a good friend who does a lot of volunteer work for animals. Abby had been found by Animal Control officers responding to a report of a tiny two-month old foal lying next to her dead mother in a field, surely awaiting death herself. Officers turned the weak, starving foal over to the good folks at Chestatee Wildlife Preserve, where Peggy volunteers. At the preserve, volunteers worked tirelessly to care for the new baby. Unfortunately, Abby was so very young and fragile, and her system couldn't handle the stress of losing her mother and having to be introduced to new foods; in a perfect world, she would still have been nursing from her mother for many months. Abby began to grow weaker and to suffer from colic and severe diahrrea. Peggy and other volunteers loaded Abby into the back of an SUV and rushed her to Dawson Forest Veterinary Hospital.

They made it just in time; in the opinion of Dawson Forest veterinarian Dr. Dana Allen, Abby wouldn't have lived much longer without medical intervention. Dr. Allen immediately began supportive care for Abby and treatment for her scours. During Abby's time in the hospital, Peggy called my mother to tell her about Abby's situation and to see if we could provide her a home if she made it through her illness. My mom called me, and it took us about two seconds after hearing the story to decide of course we would help! We went to the hospital to meet our new kid…

When we first saw Abby, during the last week of September, she was a sad sight. Nothing but a little skeleton clothed in fur, she was set up in a little shelter in the hospital's yard. She had a catheter in her scrawny neck so that the staff could administer her medications and nourishment. She was covered in rain-rot and sores from her time out in the elements with her dead mother. She was so weak and lacking in muscle, she couldn't even stand up by herself. When she was helped up, she could only stand for a few minutes at a time.

Under the care of the talented staff of Dawson Forest Animal Hospital, Abby began to recover and grow stronger. Her diarrhea finally abated, and she began to drink her formula without having to be force-fed. She also started to eat grass and grain, and while still not able to stand on her own, she could remain upright for longer periods once lifted.. Abby was finally deemed healthy enough to go to her new home with my mother and me on October 5th.

A whole posse showed up at the vet's to bring home the baby! Randy and Rick Pair, Rick's assistant Clay, my mom, and I all went to be part of this momentous occasion. It was pretty cute watching these big, strong guys putting the tiny baby on the trailer with the gentlest care. Clay and I rode home in the back of the trailer with Abby to keep her still and safe.

What excitement awaited when we arrived back at Hillmar Farm! As soon as Abby stepped off the trailer, all the Hillmar horses called to her, and she nickered back in her tiny voice. She seemed to be so happy to be around other horses again. We got her settled in her new stall as all the other horses looked on. I don't think any of the big guys had ever seen a baby horse before, and they were fascinated. Some were even scared!

Since she arrived at Hillmar, Abby has been doing increasingly well. She lives in a 14' x 14' stall bedded with thick peat moss and covered in soft hay. She has to be comfortable since she lies down so much, and that stall is so comfortable I could sleep in it! (And do!) She has her own paddock that Randy set up, opening directly off her stall so that when she is up, she can come in and out as she pleases. Abby gets formula and foal feed three times a day, and all of the grass and hay she pleases. She gets lots of love and attention from all of us, adults and children alike.

Abby is getting stronger, and as of today, October 10th, she has gotten up a few times by herself. Mostly she still needs help to rise, but she can now be led on longer walks, and sometimes she even gets a little frisky and starts to scamper! She has gotten her first bath, had her feet trimmed for the first time, and gotten tons of petting and love. All the Hillmar family is enjoying working together to raise this baby. You know the saying that it takes a village to raise a child? Well, here at Hillmar it takes a farm-full of staff and customers!

We all hope to see Abby grow stronger and healthier in coming weeks and months. I will post new reports and pictures of her along the way for those of you who wish to check her progress and send her your well wishes.

-Margaux Nodvin
October 10, 2007