Martha Stewart, widely known for many things, her horse affection one of them, is perhaps more recently remembered by equestrians for her iconic appearance with Snoop Dogg at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games sporting full dressage attire. Those who follow her social media and Up Close & Personal blog however, know that she also keeps a small herd of horses and donkeys at home.
“I currently have 10 equine residents in my stable–four Friesians, a Fell pony, and five donkeys,” Stewart shared in a post earlier in January. 
Photo from our Past Project
One of which, a glossy jet black Friesian named Bond, fell incredibly sick last month and was brought to an equine clinic. First round tests were inconclusive on what was causing the gelding’s symptoms of difficulty moving and eating, low energy, and weakness, but Stewart’s vet, Dr. Kilgallon, suspected Botulism.
Botulism is a very serious neuromuscular disease which can be devastatingly fatal if not treated rapidly. An investigation of Stewart’s stable revealed the culprit causing toxins to block communication between Bond’s nerves and muscles to be a dead snake found dried up in his hay.
Photo from Martha’s Instagram @marthastewartblog
Luckily, Stewart shared with her blog and Instagram last week that Bond is on his way to a full recovery after vaccinations and treatment, along with pictures of him reuniting with his equine friends and regally posing in his stall.
Though he is back home, Stewart explains her barn manager Helen will continue to closely monitor “Changes in vitals or behavior and keeps excellent records of everything. She will also monitor Bond’s attitude, appetite, and exercise going forward.”
Stewart warns, “Check flakes of hay whenever possible. To protect horses from botulism, they can be vaccinated against the infection. Caretakers should also check water and food supplies daily making sure they are fresh and clear of moisture, and keep rodents and pests away.
Stewart’s Blog also details that all her horse’s hay is harvested on property, and this is also the case for many horse farms across the country. Producing hay independently is a great way to better manage quality control, but many commercial hay distributors will offer replacement bales for any returned dissatisfying ones–check with your distributor or stable venue to see if that’s an option.
If bad hay is found, find out the extent to which the contaminants may have spread and dispose of all potentially affected hay. Also report quality concerns to the hay distributor or to any other individuals or farms that are feeding from the same bunch of hay in order to prevent the spreading of contaminates or illnesses.
There are many health risks that can arise from eating hay; some are preventable, and some are harder to catch. Checking hay is so important and the easiest way to identify any prominent causes and might save your horse from a trip to the clinic like Stewart’s beloved Bond.
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By MARLEY LIEN-GONZALEZ
