Unleashing Resilience
The Inspiring Story of Barbara Jacobsen and Zoey at BeWell@WellSpring Farm in Wilmington, Delaware!
The tale of resilience and courage unfolds at BeWell@WellSpring Farm in Wilmington, Delaware! Meet Barbara Jacobsen – The Engraver, our extraordinary StressLess Equine Ambassador, loyal client, and the guardian of our cherished Giveaway baskets. This spring, Barbara and the entire crew faced an arduous journey that tested their spirits.
In the depths of adversity, a formidable foe emerged. March 2023 brought the diagnosis of EHV-1, casting a shadow of uncertainty upon BeWell@WellSpring Farm. Nestled within those stables lives Zoey, Barbara’s magnificent mare and one of our treasured StressLess horses, whose grace and strength inspire us all.
Zoey was stalled next to the horse that was ground zero for the outbreak and was turned out originally with the unfortunate pony that became neurologic and had to be euthanized. It was a heart-wrenching decision to bid farewell to this brave companion. Their bond shall forever be etched in our hearts.
But amidst the darkness, a beacon of hope remains. Together, Barbara and Zoey symbolize the indomitable spirit of the equine world. They embody the resilience and unwavering determination that characterizes our StressLess community. Their story teaches us the value of unity, compassion, and the unbreakable bond between humans and horses.
As we honor the trials they faced, let us celebrate the triumphs that lie ahead. Stand with us in support of BeWell@WellSpring Farm, sending waves of strength and healing vibes their way. Together, we shall overcome any obstacle, fortified by the love and passion that unites us all.
Barbara emphasized that while most horses are carriers of the disease, they generally show no symptoms. She also highlighted that stress can act as a trigger for EHV-1. Barbara gave credit to the dedicated veterinarians and the entire crew at BeWell@WellSpring Farm. She particularly recognized StressLess for their role in keeping Zoey calm and free from any fevers or other signs of the disease during this challenging period. At StressLess, we take pride in contributing significantly to Zoey’s physical and mental well-being.
We are thrilled to see BeWell@WellSpring Farm fully operational again and we extend our best wishes to them for the remainder of the year.
Below is the full article detailing the emotional experience.
62 Horse barn sees success battling EHV-1 with AniCell Biotech’s EquusCell
On March 9th an equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) outbreak became a scary reality for Be Well at Wellspring Farm, a 62-horse boarding and lesson stable in Wilmington, DE, when they received confirmation of 3 cases of EHV-1 from their veterinarian, Dr. Jamie Minnella (Unionville Equine Associates). One of these, the often-fatal neurological manifestation of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), meant an increased risk to other horses in developing EHM.
Delaware State Veterinarian, Dr. Karen Lopez, swiftly placed Wellspring under a state-mandated quarantine and advised on maintaining a quarantine area, implementing biosecurity measures, and conducting twice daily temperature checks on all horses to monitor for fevers, oftentimes the only presenting symptom of EHV-1. The farm was required to be 21 days symptom free prior to resuming business as normal.
As the virus continued to slowly spread, restrictions were tightened, permitting only essential personnel on the property with assigned work areas and allowing only individual turnout for the horses. These changes left 12-core staff members responsible for meeting all the routine and additional care needs for the farm.
Spirits and energy were waning as new fevers were discovered over the subsequent days, sparking concerns that every horse had already been exposed and the farm would continue to see fevers potentially for weeks. Dr. Angela Pelzel-McCluskey, USDA-APHIS equine epidemiologist, was consulted on the case and suggested a treatment idea that has not yet made it to publication. She recommended AniCell Biotech’s EquusCell, an equine origin amnion therapy administered subcutaneously in 2 doses 4 days apart. Though it is marketed and used for tendon, ligament, and joint issues in horses, new research indicated it was effective in stopping the shedding of the virus in an average of 2.3 days and reducing deficits in neurologically effected horses. It was stressed to the owners that efficacy was dependent on every single horse receiving the treatment requiring approximately 30 boarders to agree to treatment, which they did.
Following the administration of EquusCell, no new symptoms were detected, and Wellspring successfully reopened on April 13th to clients and on April 17th to the public. A total of 14 horses and ponies experienced symptoms during the outbreak, with one pony being humanely euthanized due to the devastating effects of EHM. Given Wellspring’s positive experience, they believe there is hope that utilizing this treatment for future outbreaks will reduce the number of horses effected or lost and mitigate the economic ramifications of an extended closure. Wellspring is incredibly grateful to their staff for their hard work, the community for their many forms of support, Dr. Jamie Minnella for her time and effort, Unionville Equine Associates (UEA), Dr. Lopez, Dr. Pelzel-McCluskey, AniCell Biotech, and Boehringer Ingelheim.
For more information contact Holly at WellspringFarmCamp@gmail.com
Credits:
Barbara Jaconsen –The Engraver
BeWell@WellSpring Stables
The Horse of Delaware Valley
Dr. Jamie Minnella of Unionville Equine Assoc.
Dr. Karen Lopez Delaware State Veterinarian
