Owners across the country hold events to benefit the foundation

Each horse who has lost a battle with laminitis has a special story to tell, but those stories all end the same way -- the horse leaves behind a devastated owner who wants to fight back against the disease.

Those owners increasingly are turning to the Animal Health Foundation as an outlet for their emotions. In the past few years, the foundation has worked to broaden its reach across the country through lectures, networking and an improved web site. Since AHF was created in 1984, it has relied largely on its St. Louis base to raise money for research, and consequently, St. Louisans have been given a front-row seat to the results.

Becoming more nationalized allows the rest of the country to be a part of the foundation's work. Not only are grieving horse owners finding the information helpful, but they in turn are giving back by raising funds.

Since March 2000, Sarah Goos in Concord, Mass., has been dealing with the loss of her precious Shamus, a hunter she describes as "the horse of a lifetime" for her.

Shown under the name Way Cool Junior, Shamus was brought along by Goos in the adult hunter division. He also was shown by professionals in green conformation, winning top titles and competing at Madison Square Garden.

Retired and carefree at 16, Shamus developed laminitis. Six weeks into the ordeal, Goos decided to put him down rather than continue the "torture" of watching him suffer.

"I never want to see another horse go through what he went through, and, afterward, I vowed to raise money for laminitis research," Goos said.

Goos researched several organizations before choosing to support AHF, saying: "If anyone is going to cure laminitis, it's going to be the Animal Health Foundation."

She hosted a weekend clinic in December 2005 at her Shadyside Farm, with Timmy Kees as the clinician. He had modeled Shamus for Goos during his show years. Kees has 25 years' experience on the "A" show circuit and has trained seven winners of the top equitation finals. He is an "R" rated judge and is based in Westport, Conn., with partners Leslie Burr Howard and Chris Cawley.

Kees donated his time for the clinic. He gave seven semi-private lessons per day, and auditors were welcome for free. A cocktail party was held afterward and open to all those interested in laminitis. Walsh spoke at the event and showed the foundation's DVD on the disease. All the money collected from the weekend was donated to the Animal Health Foundation.

On the opposite coast, Nedra Johnson of Hidden Hills, Calif., was coping with the loss of Sapphire. In May 2002, Sapphire was an unwanted yearling heading to animal control officials when Johnson stepped forward and said she would take her. The previously unhaltered mare allowed Johnson to walk her two miles in the rain to get to her new home. Sapphire became the light of the barn, full of spirit and play, an ambassador who loved to be around people and the first to greet everyone over the fence.

Following a long illness that she survived, Sapphire lost her life to laminitis in October 2005. Five veterinarians worked on the case. Through it all, the horse never lost her courage or enthusiasm, Johnson said. Sapphire continued to whinny to visitors from her lying down position. The day she died, once again, it rained.

Johnson came across the AHF web site as she was searching for more information and decided to support the group. She helped children from her barn — Sapphire's biggest fans — put together an event in the mare's honor, the Sapphire Memorial Children's Show, held June 4, with a volunteer judge who also lost a childhood horse to founder.

The show featured a poster of great horses who had succumbed to the disease, and Johnson included a copy of AHF's DVD in each exhibitor's packet, while also having AHF literature on hand. All proceeds were donated to the foundation.

Johnson already has set a date for a second benefit show in 2007 and hopes to exceed this year's donations.

In St. Louis, there continues to be strong support, as well, including the generosity of Wildwood official David Sewell, who is donating his councilman's salary of $2,000 annually to the foundation. Sewell owns a laminitis survivor named Snowball, who went through a difficult case, but the 22-year-old Arab-Thoroughbred cross pulled through and now is doing well.

In addition, longtime supporters Boo Wright and Tracey Gentry Ryan continue to raise money for the foundation with their respective horse show series.

Every penny is appreciated by Walsh, who says he's humbled and inspired by the assistance the foundation has been receiving.

"It will take all of us working together to fund good research to conquer laminitis," Walsh said.

If anyone is interested in holding an AHF fundraiser, please contact the foundation at 636-451-4009.