Picante, a 12 year-old award-winning Dutch Warmblood mare was leading the national standings the beginning of 2009. An amazing competitor, she was also a best friend to owner Delphine Largeteau.

By June, Picante was dead. She suffered an unnecessary and horrific death after undergoing what should have been routine surgery. Proper medical facilities and care could have prevented Picante’s suffering and death.

One of the strongest bonds between humans and animals is that of a rider and horse. They train together and overcome challenges together. They enjoy each other’s company and spend time together both at work and at play. They bond like no other animal-human team.

Delphine Largeteau and Picante were such a team. Picante was a beautiful 12 year-old Dutch Warmblood mare with a winning personality and a wry sense of humor. She and Delphine spent years working and playing together. As recently as May 2009, they were competing and winning together, taking first place at a three-day competition at the Texas Lions Camp Charity Horse Trails. It was their fourth consecutive win over a six-month stretch and the team was at its peak.

Picante was diagnosed with bone spurs a short while after that competition. A low-risk and routine surgery was recommended. Unfortunately, Houston does not have a modern facility for performing surgeries on large animals like Picante, so Delphine took her to a nearby rural veterinary clinic.

The surgery went terribly wrong.

Picante was anesthetized without necessary medical equipment or supplies present. While unconscious, Picante’s muscles suffocated. Picante regained consciousness, but her fate had been sealed. Her muscles died during surgery and she awoke not knowing why her body was unresponsive.

Picante remained alert for the next several days while the dead tissues in her body slowly poisoned her. As the poisons overwhelmed her, she suffered unimaginably, never understanding why she felt so much pain or why her friends could do nothing to help her. Due to inadequate medical facilities and care, a beautiful animal was gone and Delphine had lost her best friend.

There is no reason Picante had to suffer or die. Tragedies are always devastating, but they tear at our hearts even more when they could have been prevented. Picante’s story should never happen again.