Rest In Peace, Raindancer

Kachina Shenandoah Raindancer was only with us for a short time.  This brave little palomino filly was born on 25 June of this year, and left us on Monday, 3 December.  Her dam's full name is Kachina Grand Star, and her sire, "Hoppy," is Effie's Papa Bear.  Raindancer was #49 at the annual Pony Penning Auction this past July.  As a designated "Buy Back" filly, with a winning bid of $10,000, she was returned to Assateague with her dam and sire.  However, she was one of the seven ponies diagnosed with "swamp cancer" at the Fall Round-Up.  She has been under the care of veterinarians since mid-October, and had surgery to remove the afflicted flesh.  Unfortunately, the pythiosis invaded the ligaments, tendons, and bone of her leg.  She was painlessly euthanized so she would not suffer as the disease would continue to invade her body.
   She will be mourned greatly.  My heartfelt sympathy is given to the family who purchased her with such great hopes.

The blue dot on her hip is washable dye to indicate she was chosen

as a Buy Back filly.

The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has now lost two of the seven ponies fighting equine pythiosis.  Raindancer, above, and Essie on 30 October.  Please send healing thoughts to those five ponies fighting for their lives on Chincoteague, where they receive 24-hour care from the Fire Fighters, and have a veterinarian assess their health every 48 hours.  Thank you for caring.