Bluebird Farm & Horse Ranch

A Filly’s Story

"Dillon’s Epiphany" was a filly born at Bluebird Farm & Horse Ranch in March of 2004, and was sold that same summer. She had an accident with a barbed wire fence in a leased pasture when she was two months old. As you can see in the picture above (taken when she was five months old), she made a complete recovery thanks to Native American Medicine prepared by the family of owner Annie Bowes. This picture won third place in the Pinto Horse Association of America’s annual photo contest and was published in their October/November 2005 Journal Issue (along with two other photos that made the Honorable Mentions).

Annie Bowes submitted the original story of Epiphany’s ordeal with the barbed wire fence in an application letter for a national scholarship competition when she was in veterinary school. There were three awards given in 2005, based on proficient writing skills and the student’s contribution to the veterinary field.

Annie won the Dr. Joseph F. Weghorn scholarship, and later, the letter was published in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association’s Quarterly Journal (JAHVMA). A complete copy of the letter can be accessed here: .

Epiphany was turned out in a leased pasture with her dam, Spit Fire , at night when coyotes or dogs must have spooked them because in the morning they both were tired and lacerated. Her mother’s wounds were few and superficial, but Epiphany’s were many and deep. There were over 14 skin lacerations from her neck to her pastern in parallel lines correlating to the stands of the fence. On her hind end there were several cuts and two very deep ones that would require sutures. She also had a gaping wound at her left shoulder where one laceration penetrated all the muscle layers so that one could easily see the area of the humerus rotating on the scapula. The local veterinarian was called, and she was sedated and sutured; the wound at her left shoulder requiring several layers. Four days later, she tore out the sutures on her hind quarter, and the following day the skin sutures on her shoulder gave way.

During the next three days, the wound at the shoulder became bigger as the deep sutures tore through the muscle fibers. Additionally, the deep sutures at the hind quarter also gave way. The pictures below are a close up of the shoulder and a close up of the left hind quarter just before the sutures lost all integrity whatsoever.

Knowing that Epiphany could not be sutured again, Annie had to rely on something else to make her sound again. She called her Grandmother Betty Hall whom made a very special blend of calandula, bees wax, and other herbs to treat the wound. During the next 20 days, Aunt Linda Navarro, Annie’s Mom Brenda Brodmerkle, and her Grandmother continued to make and send small jars of the formula especially suited to Epiphany’s wounds and the healing stage she was in. Epiphany received no other modern treatments during that time. Her only therapy was the calandula mixture prepared by Annie’s family. She recovered completely, and has only a small hairline scar at the shoulder, which can be seen in the close up photo below, and the large photo at the top of this page.

It is unfortunate that such a horrible accident happened to such a beautiful filly, but at least it turned out well in the end. It should be mentioned that barbwire fencing is strictly disallowed at Bluebird Farm & Horse Ranch and any leased pastures are treated the same!

For additional information about Native American Medicine, please visit Shasta Kay Products owned by Annie’s mom, Brenda Brodmerkle. The same formula used to treat Epiphany is available for purchase through her website.