09/16/08 Tuesday's legacy

Natural disasters; storms, droughts, wildfires can be devastating for ranchers and horse owners but invariably there are heart warming stories from these tragedies. I'm Susan Allen sitting in for Jeff Keane today and after the break, I'll tell you about the legacy of one mare named Tuesday. I was in a horse facility last year when a tornado hit our community and I will never forget the horrible roar or the flying debris. It was amazing none of the horses were hurt. Jennifer Mears of Colorado wasn't as lucky. This past May when a storm struck northern Colorado killing a man and damaging over 800 homes, Mears buckskin mare Tuesday's leg was crushed by flying metal. Sadly Tuesday could not be saved but thanks to the quick response of a Colorado State University researcher her eggs would be. While the veterinarians worked to save Tuesday's eggs for embryo transplant Jennifer's friends and family needed to find a stallion and surrogate mares by the next morning for the transplant to succeed. Donna Ackerman a breeder from Greely Colorado generously offered any of her eight stallions at no charge. Friends rushed to find fertile surrogate mothers at the right cycle stage and came up with three. Colorado State University provided the fourth, a research mare now aptly named Friday. The chance of an embryo taking was only 30 percent but today two mares are now expected to deliver Tuesday's foals next Spring. Thanks to family, friends and Colorado Sate University, Jennifer Mears beloved buckskin mare Tuesday's legacy will live on .