By Simran Khanuja
When Suri was born at a farm in Fall River, Wisconsin, in June 2023, she was as healthy and vibrant as any foal, with her striking black coat and a distinctive small star shape on her forehead. But less than a day after birth, Suri suffered a devastating injury: her mother, to ward off other horses, accidentally stepped on her while she was lying down, shattering her front leg.
“I remember getting the call,” says Suri’s owner, Natasha Flaws. “My heart literally stopped. We raced to the barn and sure enough, Suri’s leg was a spaghetti noodle. I will never forget that image.”
Suri was initially seen by UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) alumna Kathryn Livesey (’10 DVM’14) at Lodi Veterinary Care, who stabilized the foal and presented a difficult choice: immediate surgery at UW Veterinary Care (UWVC) or euthanasia. Flaws and her husband, Ian, chose surgery.
“Ian looked me, then looked at Suri, and reminded me of our commitment and responsibility,” she says. “We felt we owed it to Suri to try.”
Suri’s first few days of hospitalization post-surgery required around-the-clock care, complicated by a case of neonatal maladjustment syndrome (or “Dummy Foal Syndrome”), which manifested as seizure-like activity after anesthesia. Medications controlled the seizures, but Suri remained in critical condition for three days.
“In addition to the challenges of Dummy Foal Syndrome, for Suri to learn how to stand and lay down while wearing a full limb fiberglass cast required four of us to safely support and position her,” says Chelsea Holschbach (DVM’14; Dept. of Medical Sciences). “She was hand-reared and pan-fed every two hours because she could not safely nurse from her dam.”
Over the following weeks, Suri underwent multiple cast and bandage changes and intensive rehabilitation under the guidance of Kayla Le (Dept. of Surgical Sciences), who performed Suri’s surgery, Holschbach, veterinary students, and residents.
“Internal fixation in large animals is no small feat,” Holschbach says. “The fact that Suri is now full-grown with no apparent signs of lameness is a testament to the great surgical repair she received.”
Once stable, Suri returned home to continue recovery under the supervision of her barn owner Sabrina Freter, director of Madison College’s veterinary technician program. Months of stall rest, hand walking, massage therapy, and time with a seasoned mare named Macy helped Suri transition from hospital back to farm life. Follow-up X-rays confirmed her bones were healing properly, and a second surgery to remove one plate went smoothly.
Flaws is deeply thankful for the care Suri received at UWVC and the expertise of the team at the Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital.
“I honestly can’t say enough good things about these two incredible doctors,” she says. “Dr. Le did what I thought would be impossible, her skill and precision in the OR unmatched. Dr. Holschbach was a friend and a wealth of knowledge, guiding me through every step of Suri’s care and celebrating every milestone with us. The whole staff was amazing.”
Today, Suri is thriving. She started training in summer 2025 and will resume this spring. Known for her playful, gentle nature, she loves people, scratches, and exploring with her mini pony friend.
One moment that vividly stands out to Flaws is Suri’s first time in the pasture with Macy, after six weeks in her stall and indoor area to recover following her second surgery.
“I just cried,” Flaws says. “We had done it. All of us, together. Suri was walking on four legs, with no cast or bandage, pain free, running, frolicking, whinnying. Happy.”