From Near Loss to A Winner

Sequel to Augie Bear post.

Being able to purchase a mustang from the BLM in June 2005 fulfilled a dream I'd had for a long, long time, since I was a teenager.

It was part of the reason I was so upset when he came down with severe COPD in July 2008. I sure didn't want him to suffer and deteriorate from this horrible condition. His coughing was so bad he couldn't hardly get his breath. If I had put him down, it would also mean the end to my dream and the wonderful times we had together. It would be the end to a horse who truly took care of so many.

It was wonderful to find the VibraVM and watch it turn Augie Bear back around from the very first treatment.

In late September 2008, a month after riding in Loretta Lynn's fall trail ride, I rode with Augie Bear and my dog, Miss Minnie Pearl, in the Third Annual Great Ozark Trail Dog & Horse Race held in Leslie, Arkansas.

Miss Minnie Pearl is a Louisiana Catahoula/Labrador mix who I adopted from a rescue shelter. I took third in a field of seventeen, winning a beautiful belt buckle. THIRD -- I think it is incredible that I placed on a horse with lung issues. Not a bad showing for this middle aged lady competing against those much younger than myself with my two survivors.

This really fun race is sponsored by Western Horse Heritage Foundation (www.westernhorse.org) and I was just thrilled that we could be part of it again this year. I was so exhilarated and excited to be on my beloved horse and to not only have him back, but to have him back in such a wonderful way. And to think I almost put him down. It would have been a tremendous loss. What a marvelous turnaround from nearly dying to being a winner.

I can't say it enough:

Augie Bear has COPD, but thanks to VibraVM, COPD no longer has Augie Bear.

To all involved at VibraLung, Inc., THANK YOU for saving Augie Bear.

Augie Bear is an eight year old mustang. He was born in the wild around Twin Peaks, California in 2000. After he was captured in 2002, he was adopted through the BLM by a man in Wyoming who could not gentle him. Then he was sold illegally to a man in Texas who also could not gentle him. He was taken to Beltex slaughter plant for destruction. Neither of the previous owners had title to him so the BLM picked him up and he was again put up for adoption at Fort Smith, Arkansas where I adopted him on June 18, 2005, fulfilling a dream I'd had since I was a teenager.

By September 2005 he was successfully under saddle. Since then he has been trail ridden all over Arkansas and parts of Tennessee. He is now teaching children to ride, and assisting adults who haven't ridden in years to regain their confidence. He particularly likes people (children or adults) who have disabilities. He just loves to take care of them all.

Augie Bear came down with COPD the first of July 2008. He was heaving badly, and severely coughing, so badly he could hardly catch his breath. Watching this wonderful horse deteriorate was so hard. Medications prescribed by our veterinarian were not helping his symptoms. As well as medications twice a day, we were keeping him as cool as possible with a water mister and fan. Within two weeks I had thought about having him euthanized.

He had gone off his food, not even eating half of his usual amount. I didn't realize how much weight he had lost until I got on him bareback one day. I was just so upset with what was happening. It would mean my dream would come to an end and it broke my heart to even think about it, but I couldn't bear to watch him suffer and deteriorate.

Our veterinarian and my Mother asked me to give him more time. In the third week a friend told me about VibraVM she had seen on a "The Horse Show with Rick Lamb" on RFD TV.

So I gave VibraLung, Inc., in Parker, Colo. a call. They are seeing excellent results with heaving horses and thought their product would help Augie Bear's condition. The 60-day money back guarantee was too good to pass up. Immediately after his first treatment August 10, 2008, he coughed out a small amount of black gunk; it was sort of like throwing mud into a high speed fan. Two days later his nose was draining thick white secretions which looked like liquid vanilla yogurt. His coughing and heaving were immediately greatly diminished. Secretions are now little to none. Within three weeks, he was rideable again. Truly amazing. Augie Bear was back taking care of people who love him nearly as much as I do.

August 29, 2008 he was taken to Loretta Lynn's fall trail ride in the Tennessee hills. He did great all week, and impressed a lot of people how a COPD horse could still be this active. He was able to climb those steep hills with plenty of energy, and ready to do more at the end of each ride.

During the week at Loretta's ranch the wife of one of our trail guides asked me to treat her husband's horse. Choo had been coughing for a few days. She received three treatments. We did not get her coughing completely stopped, but many people noticed how much better she was doing.

Augie Bear has COPD, but thanks to VibraVM COPD no longer has Augie Bear.

Written by: Margaret Mays Sept. 15, 2008