I know what you're thinking, how presumptuous, how conceited, how entirely rude.  Read on.

We each gave Bobby something extra, had a routine he knew, had a little something special, different from the next. 

Ah, it's the woman.  She comes to me in the middle of the night, she helps me stand, stretches my legs, makes me feel better, cleans my wounds, wraps my legs,
takes such good care of me.
I love her best.

I know you; you smell like peppermint and let me nuzzle your coat.  I love you best.

It's the man; he washes my legs and takes me for walks.  I love him best.

Here comes the little girl!  Her hair always smells so good and when I nuzzle her hair she makes that sweet laughing noise.  I love her best.

I know this lady, she brings apples and always says hello with that silly sing-song voice.  I love her best.

Oh, it's you!  You brush me so nicely and make me look so handsome.  I love you best.

The young boy!  You always sneak me a treat and let me check your coat pockets for more.  I love you best.

Here you are!  You stretch my legs so well and make me feel so much better.  I love you best.

I've been waiting for you!  You rub my legs and my neck and my back and it feels soo good!  I love you best.

You're back!  You know just the right spot for a good scratching.  I love you best.

Where have you been?  I'm tired and need to lie down, so sit with me and let me rest my head in your lap. I love you best.

She's here!  When you're done feeding, your hands always smell so good, and you let me lick them as long as I want.  I love you best.

I've missed you!  You talk to me so sweetly and touch me with such a gentle hand.  I love you best.

Oh Boy!!  You always leave the hay stall open!  I love you best!

Well, new recruits.  They ooh, and aww and feel sorry for me, they're a little afraid of the way I stumble around, but I'll get to know them.
They'll get to know me.  They'll end up loving me.  I'll love them best.

I know, I know.  You chase me away from the other guys' leftovers, and say "Oh, Bobby!"  when I make a mess in the aisle.
But you clean up after me and laugh at my silliness, you always greet me with a "hi Bobby!" when you come in the barn.

You stretch my legs, you brush my coat, you run to my side when I stumble, you show how much you care in so many ways.
I know you love me, and when you were with me,  I loved you best.
By Cindy Brozenske

 If love were only enough!

 In Loving Memory of one so dear to all of us.
Born in February 2001. Came into the lives of LCR January 31, 2002, and passed on February 13, 2003.

Dear Friends,

Please don’t cry for me because I am truly in a better place. My days here at LCR have been filled with love, compassion, and contentment.
I had given my all and continued to try for those that cherished me so dearly. I had nothing left to offer. I was laid to rest under anesthesia
during my 7^th and final surgery on February 13^th, 2003. I felt no pain and it was time for me to go.

 All my days here on earth were filled with love from all the caring people I got to know. Everyone played a very special part in my life.
There were those times I would drift off to sleep in the laps of loving arms and I longed for the feeling of being a horse; to buck and play
among the others. I’d watch from my paddock or the stretch of grass in the yard that was my very own. I’d see the others playful and free.
I’d whinny, I’d try, but I was just not granted the legs to comply. They’d walk me around; they’d let me do as I pleased. I even got into trouble
and made a mess a few times getting into things. I could walk, but only walk. My therapy was painful and my legs became tired. I traveled
several times for doctors to work their miracles, to be okay for a short time only to slip backwards again, each time a little worse. The growth
in my legs had taken its toll on my malformed tendons and my stressed joints. This last time I grew increasingly painful with more medications
to compensate and I was giving up hope. My right leg was straight but tired and sore for it was taking the bulk of my weight since my left leg
was curled and the joints were deteriorating. They wanted me to try one more time. They wanted it to be okay and for me to be able to run free
like the others, but my crippled leg would just not allow. This time there was no surgical miracle to lengthen my tendons and straighten my leg.
I was not going to be better, I was not going to be able to run, and I could barely walk. I asked to be set free. I asked to run wild and free.

 A special thanks goes to Dr. Randy Bimes of Quakertown Veterinary Clinic for your remarkable wisdom and passion to keep trying it all.
With all my love to those whom I have crossed paths with, I thank each and every one of you. Please don’t cry for me, know I will run wild
and free in the heavens and in the clouds and hopefully in your hearts…forever!

Love Always,

‘Lil Bobby Tuf’ Stuf’

 
Letters from friends.

On February 13^th we were forced to say goodbye to a dear friend. Although deep in our hearts we all feared we would eventually have to face this day sooner or later,
it still doesn’t make it any easier. He was an amazing creature that managed to touch so many people in so many different ways. I know for me personally he was sort
of an inspiration. Having physical challenges of my own, I recall a number of times feeling down on myself or thinking that I was having bad day, I would go in the barn
and see him standing there, or roaming the barn aisle. After seeing what he had to go through every waking moment and how he handled it, it would kind of put things
into perspective. What he lacked physically he made up for with his will and spirit. After all it was his will that made our decisions easier to keep trying different things,
and not to give up on him.
Now I’m sure some of us will ask ourselves if we could have done more, or feel that we have failed. I disagree; in fact I feel we were very successful in what we were trying
to do. Yes we were unable to cure Bobby’s physical problems, but we were successful in different ways. Knowing that we did the best we could for him, and providing him
with as much of a quality of life as humanly possible. For that I thank all who made that possible!
This situation also showed us as an organization that we haven’t even skimmed the surface of our full potential, and that we are capable of a great deal when put all of our
resources together. For that I thank Bobby!
Yes there are those opinions out there that say we let this go on longer then it should have. Well obviously those people have never met Bobby, or could not have seen past
the surface.
In closing I suggest we all keep his memory in our hearts, and let his inspiration drive us forward. When I arrived at Quakertown Vet Hospital, Bobby already had passed.
I looked towards the sky and I saw him run around an open pasture for the first time. He kicked and bucked twice, and then he headed towards the horizon at a proud, but
sort of “snobbish” trot. He stopped, looked back and nodded, as to say thank you to all of us.
 Ben Parto
 

It was 1 year and 2 weeks that Bobby had blessed us with his presence and true inspiration in all of our lives.
It was a year filled with a lot of dedication, time and energy. All well spent. The barn seems empty and a little sad, but
please know that this is what Last Chance Ranch is all about.  We have our set backs and loosing one sometimes
seems to out way the good. But when you look at the success rate of all our rescues, we are more than 95%. That is
something to be proud of considering the dire straits of some of these horses. This takes true dedication, spirit and
inspiration from all of us and is what Bobby's spirit had taught us. Now we need to focus in a new direction to help
the others. Bobby will be proud!
I will be looking forward to working with everyone to help more horses in need. See you all soon.
Thank you, Lori

We are heartbroken, but there are other horses that need us just as desperately as Bobby did. 

I had an idea to sort of honor Bobby's memory.

Every volunteer took time to be with Bobby every time they visited the ranch, whether it was
10 minutes to give him a petting and a treat or an hour to stretch his legs.  If we each would
dedicate that extra time we spent with Bobby to another horse, to brush them or walk them or
just spend time with them, so that every horse had someone special to care for them individually,
it would help us ease our pain, give us a renewed direction of purpose, and give every horse the attention they need.

Cindy and family.

An Ode To Little Bobby Tuf Stuf

 What's life all about Bobby?

Today we laughed a little as you licked my palms through the gloves,

And Lori's hair as she wrapped your crippled leg.

Never a grumble, hardly a sigh, occasionally that sweet whinny we all so love.

 Today as I stretched your leg I knew you were oh so close to the Light.

Those few tail hairs (or were they feathers?) you shared with me,

Reminders of the great Light that shown forth so brightly, if shortly.

Your Spirit, Our Spirit, shining, growing, knowing in all its warmth and brightness.

They say horses are the messengers between this world and the Other,

Will you carry the messages of our hearts with you and return someday with Theirs?

 Today I knew you had gone, a flash of Light heading for the Sun -

Free, Free, Free at last.

They say, In every loss there is also freedom -

For you, no longer bound here in a crippled body.

For us, now free to ponder the unfathomable depths of

Those magnificent pools behind your eyes -

What did you see in us?

What did we see in them?

 Our souls now irrevocably entwined,

Your sweet warm breath so finely felt,

Your gentle whinny indelibly sung,

Your luminous look forever held,

In the fertile ground of my heart.

Today Time stands still -

Fly Free Little Bobby Tuf Stuf, 

With Love, from another one who knew you.

Dear Lori and All the Last Chance Ranch Devotees,

I am so sorry to hear of Bobby's passing.  I always looked for him whenever I went to the barn and
always had a sign of relief when I set eyes on him.  What a trooper he was, as also were those who
were tirelessly dedicated to his care and treatment.  Three cheers to the veterinarians who gave so much
of their all, and to you Lori, working day and night to see just one glimpse of improvement and hope.
When I think of Bobby, I think of one of the most memorable epitaphs I ever saw for a young child.  It read:

 "You were a bud here on Earth,
             May you blossom in Heaven." 

 That's what I pray for Bobby.  May God guide you all in keeping up the good work.
You touch so many 4-legged, as well as 2-legged, souls. 

Sincerely, Sue

 "Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe; dreaming more
  than others think is practical and expecting more than others think is possible"
  Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 January 2003 

Hello everyone, it’s me ‘Lil Bobby Tuff Stuff…only I’m not so little anymore. 

I’ve been growing like a weed and really starting to look like a grown up horse. There has only been one problem, I’ve been growing too fast and my tendons just couldn’t keep up. Once again I was back to where I started off not being able to stand on my own, and once again Lori and all of my “extended family” turned to Dr. Randy Bimes for help. He said I only had one option left, and that was to do one last radical surgery on my legs and hope that it would work. Well after a lot of discussion between Lori and my “extended family”, they decided that the surgery was what needed to be done.           

So once again I was on my way to Quakertown Veterinary Hospital for surgery, only this time Lori said it would be my last. She kept telling me to hang in there just one more time and that everything would be okay. I have to admit I was a little more nervous than when I had my last surgeries, because all of my “extended family” seemed to be more worried than the times before. Well nervous or not it was now time for surgery and off to sleep I went. When I woke up I was too tired to stand but what I noticed right away was that there was no more pain in my legs from my tendons being so tight. It was a great feeling and after resting for a little while I just had to try out my “new and improved” legs! I tried to get right up but I was still a bit shaky from the anesthesia, so Lori and Jim helped to steady me and up on my feet I went. I couldn’t believe it, I was standing as straight as all of my other horse friends and it didn’t hurt at all. It made me so happy to hear all of my family cheering me on as I walked across the backyard to graze; it was probably the happiest day in my life! 

It’s now been about 5 months since the surgery and I’m still able to stand on my own, although there are some days I have trouble standing straight. The Doc said that it’s just because I’m still growing and my legs are just a little slow in catching up to the rest of my body. I don’t mind though, because I get extra special treatment from Lori and the rest of my family. I’m allowed to walk anywhere I want when I’m up to stretch my legs, and I get constant care and hugs from my family and all the volunteers. Lori and I have formed an extra special bond because she is the one who I spend the most time with, and the one who wakes up in the middle of the night to come and get me up so I can stretch and continue to make progress…she is my mom. 

Well I must go rest for now, but I will continue to keep you up to date on my improvement. Before I go, I would like to thank all of my family and all of the volunteers that take care of me everyday…without you my life would be hopeless. I would also like to thank all of you who have written to me and Lori with your words of encouragement, it really means a lot to me to know you care.  Until next time, love life and don’t forget to have fun! 

If you would like to write to Bobby, please address your letters to Last Chance Ranch,  C/O Bobby.
                9 Beck Road
                Quakertown, PA 18951

Photo taken December 2002 

Bobby's update 11/08/02.

  Everybody knows me as that poor TB with bed sores, contracted tendons, and having a hard life. Well, do I have a story for you…

My friend - and sometimes pain in the butt – Jim, has been by my side the last few months since we met one day during the spring. Jim talked to LCR and asked if he could help my rehabilitation by adding a piece of equipment called the Equi-Stim Leg Saver. http://www.equi-stimlegsaver.com This machine accelerates healing by stimulating acupoints associated with my trouble areas or the area of injury. A unique therapeutic waveform restores ion transport to the injured cell membrane. Movement of wastes from and nutrients to the cell resulted in the dramatic reduction in inflammation. This all resulted in an accelerated healing response of my tendons and other areas of injury. This process super-stimulated my immune system to repair itself. (The doctors told me what to say). I was treated in my stall while lying down, and when I was learning how to walk. Jim, and Gary the system creator, told me that the healing process would accelerate dramatically while I was in motion.  LCR agreed and Jim ordered the equipment and donated it to LCR for the use on all equines, not just me.  

My Picture three months ago:

When I had to use my backend to support myself.

 Me with a harness to help me stand.

My therapy program consisted of the Equi-Stim Leg Saver, each day increasing the time, and short walks and grazing. It seemed with all the therapy and attention, I would be getting better faster. I’ve grown some, actually growing a little too fast for my own good. My tendons cannot keep up with the growth of my bones. I had to undergo another surgery for the lengthening of my tendons. I went to Quakertown Vet Hospital, where Dr. Randy Bimes donated his time to perform surgery to release tension on my tendons. It was a one-hour simple procedure. Wow! It was like night and day.  I was very sleepy after surgery, but I felt different - for some reason I was walking normal like all my friends at the ranch. I was standing straight, with my front legs underneath and my heels touching the ground. I spoke with Wild Bill, and he told me that one day I would do this.  Lori and Jim took me home that afternoon. I was ok, but Jim stayed with me for some time, and then Lori was next to be by my side throughout the night.  She told me I had something called a fever. I heard Lori talking to somebody on the phone, and they said it was probably from the anesthesia and to keep an eye on me. If there were any problems, they were to call - it must have been that nice Randy guy they kept calling “Doc”. Well, no problems, come the roosters.  As a matter of fact, I felt a little sore, but I wanted to walk and eat some grass. Jim came and we went outside. He said that for the next two weeks I needed to take it easy and to be careful, and that is what I did.

LCR opened my door from the stall into my own little paddock, so I can walk anytime of the day. I made some new friends. When my daddy Jim is with me, he walks me actively and this I love.  My other helpers are now helping me too!  I like to tease them.  Now I can kick you and I am getting to understand my body. I am in a growth spurt now, which has put me into a setback. I seem to have a tendency to easily develop pressure sores or bedsores. The more I stand and exercise, the better. It is a long, slow road of three steps forward and two steps back. As long as we are going in a forward direction, I’ll be fine. 

Well, I must go for now, but I will write later...

Me walking a few days after surgery.                           

This is 'Lil Bobby taking a nap with his adopted Dad.  

UPDATE: On June 20th, 2002 Bobby went through another surgical procedure on both front tendons. The right front superficial tendon was lengthened and the left front deep flexor tendon was lengthened. (Pictures of the surgery are coming). Bobby is doing wonderful. He is walking normal, (a little slow) but both front legs are now under him and building their strength. His back is straightening and less sore. He wants to buck and play, although he has to have strict supervision so he doesn't get too frisky. He stands most of the time now and his bed sores are healing. More to come!

After eight surgeries on his legs and one on his bowel, all in 11 months,
everyone was giving up and thinking that 'Lil Bobby Tuff Stuff was not going to make it. Bobby, of impeccable breeding was not worth the effort of saving his life because he would never be the winning race horse he was conceived to be.  Without any hopes of earning his owners a fortune, or at  least earning his keep, not to mention the cost involved in his expenses the first few months of life, Lil Tuff Stuff was sentenced to death.  They said "Put him down, he 's not worth saving".......

Well, Bobby was blessed with someone watching over him that day.  A sweet woman, his true guardian angel, had no place to turn and no one willing to help her in her fruitless effort  to save this foal. For months, her
tireless efforts of physical therapy, constant attention and lots of TLC
were paying off and 'Lil Tuf-Stuf was standing on his own.  But, after being confined to a stall of boredom, 'Lil Tuf-Stuf had a setback and was once again put under the knife. He had an impacted bowel leading to a prolapsed of the rectum. After being in the hospital and confined again, his therapy on his legs had taken several steps backward and 'Lil Tuf-Stuf was, once again, unable to get up on his own. His guardian angel, being alone with no help to care for this colt, who was now 11 months old and weighing in at about 450 pounds,  she called LCR for our assistance. She could not lift him on her own. The first day, thanks to our dedicated volunteers,  it took 5 of us just to get him standing. We needed to get him up, and often, to regain his strength so he could get up on his own. Two weeks later, with constant supervision and round the clock encouragement, 'Lil Tuf-Stuf is getting up with little help from us. We are hoping by the late spring he will be able to join Ollie in the field for some recreational play.