These generous ladies took "Spirit" to UC Davis for surgery on his fractured leg. The surgeons put a plate in his front leg to stabilize the fracture until it heals at which time the plate will be removed because the colt's bones are growing. "Spirit" has returned to Nevada and is presently recovering at an equine vet clinic in Reno, Nevada.  Along his journey to recovery, this colt has shown remarkable courage and a strong will to survived  his injuries. He has touched every human heart with his bravery, gentleness and behavior that equals the best domesticated horse.

"Spirit" is without a doubt one of America's treasures.  His vet bills have already topped $2,500.00.  He still has a 2nd surgery to go within the next several months after his fracture has healed.
                    What a brave horse "Spirit" is!

November 29, 1998 - Spirit has been recuperating in a box stall at a local Reno equine clinic for the past 5 weeks.  This enables him to stay quiet and his fracture heal properly.  This is imperative to keep him as quiet as possible, preventing him from spooking or jumping around and put too much pressure and/or twisting on the broken leg. More x-rays have been taken and sent to U C Davis for evaluation.

Spirit has kept busy though. Busy training his human handlers! They are coming along as well as humans can.  If Spirit wiggles his left ear they jump to feed him carrots. If he wiggles his right ear they fetch him juicy apples. Spirit really enjoys his grooming and has become quite gentle. He still hasn't forgotten his "wild days" though and is, after all, a baby horse!

The plate and screws will need to be removed from his leg in a few months because he is growing as all young horses do.

2-28-99 Thanks for asking about little growing Spirit.  We are waiting for a break in the winter storms to get him over the Sierras from Reno/Carson to return to University of California Davis Equine Hospital.  He was scheduled to go about 1 1/2 week ago, but it snowed.  He is scheduled again to go on Wednesday, 3-3-99, but looks like Mr. Winter is still not cooperating.  Tomorrow, Monday, 3-1-99, may be a break in the winter weather.  So we plan to contact Spirit's doctor & tried to takes him either tomorrow or perhaps, Tuesday, weather cooperating.  They will re-evaluate his elbow fracture and remove his hardware.  By x-ray it has healed.  Once the hardware (plate & screws) is removed, the bone growth of the adjacent bone will play catch up & he should do really well. 

He has been confined in a 12x12 padded & bedded stall since his surgery last October 1998, via veterinarians instructions.  He has been quite patient.  Has lots of toys & enjoys visiting with Mona, Charlie's (Mona's baby who will be one year old next 3-22-99), Red, Kitty & others (All wild horses) through the gate panel.  When he sees the others playing & running in the arena area, he bucks, spins, rears, etc.  One day he will be out there, too.  Up until now, all his photos have been in a stall.  One day, you will see him against the Nevada blue sky and mountains.  Again, thanks for asking about this special little Spirit.  Wild Horse Spirit.