Update from New Bolton Center and the True Prospect fire Recovery

By John on

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Neville getting some grass, photos courtesy of Boyd

I spoke with Boyd this morning and I could instantly tell from the sound of his voice that 24 hours of support from the local and worldwide eventing community as well as good news about the horses at New Bolton had improved his spirits.  Boyd said that everyone from the entire community came over for dinner last night and he emphasized how much that time meant to him and the entire team.  He talked about the bouquets of flowers that had been sent and now surround the barn, and the countless other gestures of kindness that have helped everyone get through the past 36 hours.  It never fails to amaze me how strong, gracious, and thankful eventers can be at the most tragic moments in their lives.

Boyd particularly mentioned the strength of the horses’ owners and said: “Each and every owner has been amazing in the way they have handled the tragedy.  One of the hardest things I have ever had to do is to ring each owner Tuesday morning, wake them up, and tell them that their horse is gone.”  Boyd, Phillip, their students Randal Pearre Jackson Roberts, and and Charla’s owner Densey Juvonen buried the horses that passed away this morning at True Prospect Farm.

But the burden of that hardship is lightened with good news from the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, where the five surviving horses were taken after they were saved from the fire.  The horses all inhaled a considerable amount of smoke and the damage to their throat and lungs seems to be the principal concern rather than external burns.  Boyd said that it is hard to know the extent of the lung damage for 3 to 5 days so no one knows a complete prognosis on all of the horses.

Here is a quick update on the recovery of each horse:

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Neville and Bonnie Stedt, who owned Cagney Herself and also owns shares Neville and Otis

Neville Bardos: Boyd said that Neville looks the best on the outside but his blood work shows that he inhaled a lot of smoke and scans of his throat show considerable damage.  Boyd told me: “Typical Neville, the vets can’t believe how happy he looks with his blood work.  He’s bright and active and still eating and wind sucking.“  That’s the toughest horse on the planet and nothing can keep him down.  Neville was the last horse to get out of the barn.

Ambassador’s Rose: This young horse looked great after staying at New Bolton and getting fluids overnight.  He was discharged this morning and is back at home now.

Catch a Star: Caitlin’s horse has external burns but the oxygen levels in the blood work look look good and the doctors are very optimistic.

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Otis and Densey Juvonan, who owned Charla and also owns shares in Otis and Nev

Otis Barbotiere: Otis received fluids yesterday and his prognosis looks really good.  The vets hope he can leave New Bolton in a couple of days.

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Min

Minotaure du Passoir: Min was rescued from the blaze and originally taken to Boyd’s new farm just a few miles away from True Prospect.  He started coughing there and was taken to New Bolton and admitted to intensive care for smoke inhalation where they are closely monitoring him to figure out the extent of the damage.

All of the connections for the horses can take comfort in the fact that they are being cared for at one of the best, if not the outright best, veterinary centers in the world.  Our thoughts and prayers continue to reach out to the horses and their families as they recover. 

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  • KathyMcD

    Thank you EN and Boyd for the updates and wonderful photos of the horses recovering at New Bolton. Continued good wishes and speedy recovery both in mind, body and spirit for Team Martin, owners and the horses.

  • LL

    this is still so heartbreaking, but is is great to see the rescued horses doing well.

  • Susanna Rodell

    Is there any way we can contribute specifically to the working students? As the parent of a former working student, I know they are often living on a shoestring in the first place ...

  • MichelleF

    Thanks so much for the updates! Praying for everyone, equine and human alike! We're all one big eventing family, and our thoughts and prayers are flowing from all over the world! Please keep posting updates!

  • Pam

    I agree Susanna. They lost everything, so it would be nice to try and do something specifically for the working students.

  • So sad

    Lillian posted shared a link to her blog on Facebook:
    http://lillianjheard.blogspot.com/

    I can only imagine how heartbroken and overwhelmed they all are, so incredible of her to reach out to all so us. I did Young Riders with Lillian and Caitlin and they're both excellent riders and amazing people. Sending positive thoughts their way.

  • Donating to Working Students

    Both Lillian and Caitlin have AHTF funds set up. Send a check with a post it naming the rider to: 221 Grove Cove Road Centreville, MD 21617. Ryan wasn't mentioned as having an AHTF fund.

  • 19375

    When you donate you can leave an instruction on where to use the funds. Also, tonight the Whip Tavern is donating 50% of sales to Woodzy, Caitlin and Lillian.

  • Me & My Big Girl

    Just gutted to hear about this. Cannot imagine losing my horse, much less a loss on this scale. thankful that the community has rallied in support of it's members. Thanks to those who have posted info on ways we can help -will certainly take advantage of those. Praying that they get through this time and that the souls of the horses they lost will somehow help their riders move on and find peace.

  • JoiseyGirl

    That is some great news... thank you!

  • Buffy

    The cruelest thief there is, is fire. It can destroy, and kill in the worst way imaginable. What may only last for an hour or more, will continue to burn in the memories of those affected. Devastating doesn't even cover it. My heart dropped yesterday for everyone involved. And, yet, out of the ash something miraculous happened.

    I'm out in Oregon, and was absolutely astounded at how quickly the word got out. I grew up in this industry, so I have every imaginable online magazine, website, twitter and face book page I can find. It was incredible to literally watch the immediate response to this tragedy. People who live with, work with, and ride horses are in our own right a very special breed. Whenever one of our own is hurt, we swing into action. We all feel the sadness at True Prospect as if it was our own. I believe that the majority of Horse People have an extra special connection to the Soul of our Horses. This translates to each other and makes us better Humans. The only other place that I've experienced this incredible commonality, is Alcoholics Anonymous.

    We are, obviously, our own individuals. But we share a special place in our souls that is directly linked to these amazing creatures and to each other. We speak our own language, sometimes without speaking at all. And yesterday, we, as a community, created an incredible surge of empathy & compassion towards everyone at True Prospect. We all let them know that they are not alone, and that they have a safe place to fall, to mourn. That powerful response yesterday, even from people who don't even know Boyd or Phillip, made me feel so incredibly lucky that horses are in my life. Because with the horses, I get the privilege of spending my life with truly amazing people. And as long as we do, what we do, wether winning in the Dixon Oval or Rolex, we all have a safe place to fall. The horse community is unparalleled, and i'm so grateful to be a part of it.

  • Leprechaun

    I'm so glad to hear some good news! That Neville is such a tough little guy. He has a special place in my heart as I have his Welsh cousin - also an avid wind sucker. I hope to hear in a few days that all is well with the horses.

  • Heidi

    I am praying all the horses at New Bolton make a full recovery! I hope their lungs are not damaged and will be able to gallop XC again soon.

  • sc

    My thoughts and prayers are with the whole Windurra LLC and True Prospect Farm teams. I know it will take a bit to find out the cause of the fire, further than electrical. I am just curious of the start point (fan, radio, lighting arc). There are so many fire hazards we try to prevent but sometimes we can' t fix them all.

  • Beth

    I'm so glad to hear the horses are on the mend! Ultimately,I think it's important for all of us to learn from this and possibly change our barns to function better in emergency situations. I hope when all is healed we can know exactly what went wrong so that we can all be better educated. God bless.

  • Denette

    A speedy recovery to all the "kids" at New Bolton - They are in wonderful hands xoxoxoxo. No words can ever comfort the loss of a loved horse, However time heals a bit. Peace comes with time.

  • JHunt

    We are praying for all of you and hugging our ponies a little tighter. All of you - two-legged and four-legged- have shown incredible strength handling this horrible tragedy. Please keep commenting with ways we can help.

  • Chris

    John,
    These updates are so greatly appreciated. I am sure it keeps the number of calls and repeat tellings to a minimum which is probably a plus for all those closely involved. Yet we all want up to the minute details on the recovery of the horses. Thanks again for a great site.

  • stacey kimmel

    What a blessing to have the folks at New Bolton looking after the horses. Prayers for the horses and their families.

  • Barbara

    New Bolton is the best place for any horse. they are true heros when it comes to saving horses.

  • Karen

    The working students can use gift cards - you can mail them directly to them at the farm for immediate use if you want instead of tax deductible funds - especially since Ryan isn't a part of that.
    248 Hood Rd, West Grove, Pa 19390
    Some suggestions: Dover, Bit of Britain, Target, Kohls, Walmart, Acme, Giant.

  • Kelly rea

    I'm So Very SORRY to hear about what happen . How Heart Breaking . My THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO THE HORSES AND THEIR OWNERS . GOD BLESS YOU GUYS .

  • Holly Matt

    Thanks for this John. there are all in the best of hands.

  • Anonymous

    There is a facebook page, if you look up True Prospect farm. You can contribute there through paypal or credit card, and they will send it where you want it to go :)

  • VicariousRider

    Boyd just made a really lovely post on his blog. It brings tears to my eyes to hear the devistation in his voice.

    http://boydandsilvamartin.blogspot.com/2011/06/boyd-martin-thanks-everyone-for-support.html

  • barrel racer

    our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this devastating tragedy....... so sad.

  • Whitney Mulqueen

    I am sending prayers and blessing to all of these brave horses and wonderful owners taking such good care of them. Thank you New Bolton.

  • Kay

    God Bless to those poor beautiful horses for having to go through such a terrible ordeal. It makes me just sick to think if something like this happened to my horse and the place where she is right now could easly egnite and has in the past from some lazy smoker just throwing their cigirett in their pen and it catching all that dry hay and horse debris thinking it was wet enough to put it out, not the case it smoldered untill it caught fire. Sad 3 horses lost their lives.

  • Melissa godin

    My prayers are added to the many coming your way. No words to express the depth of feeling we all share with you.

  • Lucy

    I'm so glad to hear that the horses at the vet hospital are all recovering. It must be such an encouragement to know that they're getting such fantastic care. Thanks for the update.

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