08/05/2026
Not every story unfolds the way we hope.
When Neva first entered the TAMO program, I suspected she had suffered some type of injury. Even from the first video I saw of her, I could tell there was something not quite right with her hind end. But evaluating a wild horse in a new environment is incredibly difficult.
As prey animals, horses instinctively hide weakness. When they’re frightened or under stress, adrenaline can mask pain remarkably well. A horse that is truly lame (with the help of adrenaline) can suddenly appear much more sound.
Although we knew Neva wasn’t completely normal, we couldn’t fully evaluate her until we had gentled her enough for a veterinarian to safely examine her. And while I knew she was lame, what I didn’t realize was how severe that lameness actually was.
After several veterinarians examined Neva, they all agreed she had significant bilateral hind-end lameness. The consensus by each vet was that she needed a bone scan to determine exactly where the problem originated.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our TAMO supporters, we were finally able to give Neva the diagnostic testing she desperately needed.
Sadly, the results weren’t what we had hoped for.
At some point in her life, Neva suffered a catastrophic injury to her right hip that damaged the joint and displaced her femur. Because she had no medical assistance, Neva’s body adapted the best it could- healing in a misaligned position and leaving her with permanent impairment.
We don’t know exactly when the injury occurred, but experts estimate it to be at least one year old- probably much older. Because injuries like this are most commonly caused by severe blunt-force trauma, they believe it most likely happened during roundup or transport- not while she was living wild. In fact, they believe it would be incredibly difficult for a horse to survive this type of injury on the range.
It is likely that since the time she was removed from her home in the wild, and placed into holding facilities, Neva has quietly carried this burden. With no one knowing the extent of her pain.
The good news is that the injury has stabilized enough that the specialists believe she can live a comfortable, pain-managed life as a pasture companion or therapy horse. The heartbreaking news is that Neva will probably never be able to be a riding horse.
Now that I understand the full extent of Neva’s condition, I feel it is my privileged responsibility to advocate for her future.
Neva is one of the kindest, most generous horses I’ve ever met. She’s the type of horse who would give everything she has for a person, even if it means sacrificing her own well being. Which is exactly why I feel so strongly about protecting her. She deserves a life where no one asks her to do more than her body can safely give.
For now, Neva will remain with the TAMO family in order to continue her recovery. Once she is more stable and integrated into domestic life, we will be open to finding her the perfect forever companion home or lifetime sanctuary- one where she will be cherished, respected, and loved simply for who she is. In the meantime, I plan to continue working on developing the life skills she will need to live safely and comfortably with humans and other horses.
Anyone who owns horses knows that providing lifelong care for a horse with special needs comes with significant expenses- feed, hay, farrier visits, veterinary care, and all the little things that add up each month.
If Neva’s story has touched your heart, please consider making a donation to help support her continued care. Every contribution, no matter the size, becomes part of her story. One that proves that while humans may have failed her once- there are many more that are willing to stand up for her now.
Even as my heart aches for everything Neva has endured, I also feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that she is finally in a place where she is safe, cared for, and truly seen.
More than anything, Neva has strengthened my commitment to every horse that enters the TAMO program.
She has inspired me to make a promise, a vow, to each and every one of them.
That I will always do what is in their best interest, even when the decisions are difficult. That their value will never be measured by what they can do for us, but by who they are. And that they will always have at least one unwavering advocate, steadfast believer, and fierce protector standing in their corner.
Thank you for believing in horses like Neva, and for helping us be their voice when they need one most. ❤️
Special thanks to Dr. Susan Johns, Dr. Kent Allen and all our friends at Virginia Equine Imaging for being so invested in Neva’s health and well being. We would not have been able to properly diagnose Neva’s injury without such an incredible, supportive veterinary team.🙏
