Texas A&M Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeons Repair Complex Elbow Fracture In Camp Horse

Months after severe flooding in Kerrville, Texas, a horse at Camp La Junta suffered a critical fracture and received life-saving surgery from a team of Texas A&M veterinarians.

For nearly a century, Camp La Junta in Hunt, Texas, has impacted the lives of young men and helped to shape them into  leaders through trail rides, cattle work, and hands-on horsemanship.

But after the July 4, 2025, floods damaged Camp La Junta and other camps across the region, putting those activities at risk, the Texas Equine Foundation, in collaboration with the Texas Equine Veterinary Association (TEVA), launched initiative, including the Back in the Saddle Fund, to help rebuild and support these important horse programs.

That support became even more critical when Smiley, a 18-year-old Quarter Horse known for his calm and dependable nature, was diagnosed with a fractured elbow earlier this year.

Following his diagnosis, the camp turned to a network of veterinarians — including Dr. Kati Glass, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), and the orthopedic surgery team at the Texas A&M Large Animal Teaching Hospital (LATH) — to repair Smiley’s fractured elbow.

Now, thanks to the Back in the Saddle Fund, the Texas A&M Large Animal Compassionate Care Fund, and the collaboration of LATH specialists, Smiley is on track to heal and return to doing exactly what his name suggests — putting smiles on people’s faces.

A Horse With History

Named as a young horse after a scar that healed in the shape of a smiley face, Smiley has a deep connection to Camp La Junta.

Raised at the 7L Ranch outside of Gruver, TX, owned and operated by Paxton Ramsey a Camp La Junta alumnus, Smiley was among the first horses to join the camp from that ranch.

“Smiley is kind of special,” said Katie Cain, Equine Director at Camp La Junta. “He’s one of our best horses, one that I could put anybody on.”

At camp, Smiley mostly serves as a counselor horse, giving riding lessons to campers, leading trail rides, joining overnight trips and assisting with cattle work. Calm and steady, he is a reliable companion for both campers and staff.

“Smiley is more than just a horse. He’s a partner I’ve grown to appreciate and respect over the years,” said Parker Montgomery, a Camp La Junta horseback riding counselor. “He is one of the smartest horses in the stable and always does what needs to be done.”

A Break In More Ways Than One

In January, just before a winter freeze moved through the Texas Hill Country, Smiley was found limping.

“He came in lame, and I was like, ‘Oh, this doesn’t look good,’” Cain said. “But I thought it was a soft tissue injury because there was no swelling.”

Severe winter weather delayed Smiley’s veterinary care. Once the ice thawed, he had an exam and X-rays with their local veterinarian, Dr. Bill Symm.

“They found the break, and at that point, we were talking about having to put him down,” Cain said. “We were looking at probably $10,000 for surgery, and there was just no way to take care of him and all the other horses.”

Through her connection with the Back in the Saddle Fund, Cain quickly contacted Dr. Leslie Easterwood, a clinical associate professor at the VMBS, to explore possible options.

“Within an hour, Dr. Easterwood was like, ‘Can you have him at College Station today?’” Cain said. “So, Dr. Symm put a splint on Smiley’s leg, and I hauled him to Texas A&M.” 

In The Operating Room

Once Smiley arrived at the LATH, he was evaluated by the Equine Orthopedic Surgery Service. Because the fracture involved Smiley’s elbow and was in a tricky location, it required a team of specialists to perform the surgery.

“It was a pretty complex fracture,” Glass said. “With many pieces and fracture lines extending into the joint. The break was tricky to repair.”

During the procedure, surgeons realigned the pieces and stabilized them with a plate and screws.

“We used a locking compression plate and a total of 12 screws to reconstruct and stabilize the fracture fragments,” Glass said. “We were very happy with how it came together.”

Under Texas A&M’s care, Smiley recovered well from the procedure. 

“Our anesthesiologists and their expert team ensured Smiley slept safely and comfortably through surgery.  We stayed with him as he recovered from anesthesia and helped him to stand,” Glass said. “He was immediately able to use the leg well. He walked  comfortably back to his stall.”

Glass emphasized that the surgery was a true team effort. 

“We had multiple surgeons involved, including Dr. Sushmitha Durgam, Dr. Jeffrey Watkins, and myself, all working together in surgery to ensure the best possible outcome,” Glass said. “This teamwork was a huge part of Smiley’s successful surgery and recovery afterwards.”

After two weeks of close monitoring, Smiley returned to Camp La Junta, where he is continuing to heal.

“He’s a strong horse, so it’s no surprise he’s doing well,” Montgomery said. “Once he’s fully recovered, he’ll continue to be one of the best horses in the La Junta stables.”

A Leg Up On Recovery

Thanks to the combined efforts of Texas A&M specialists, TEVA, and the Back in the Saddle campaign, Smiley is on the path to recovery.

“The Back in the Saddle campaign, which we started after the July 4, 2025, flooding, is helping cover his surgery and aftercare while also supporting Camp La Junta and the other hill country camps as they rebuild,” Easterwood said. “The floods put the camp in a position where it simply wasn’t possible to allocate enough resources for one horse, and the extra support made all the difference.”

That support has helped sustain a horse program that is so important to the horses, and the people who care for them, and the camper lives they impact.

“The youth camps of the Texas Hill Country are integral parts of many young people’s lives, and the horses are a key part of that experience,” Easterwood said. “They teach trust, independence, responsibility, confidence, and compassion. Seeing Smiley heal and return to work brings hope to a program that’s still rebuilding.”

While Smiley’s injury came at a challenging time for the camp, his recovery quickly became a shared focus for everyone involved.

“TEVA, Back in the Saddle, and Texas A&M came together to make this happen,” said Cain. “Without that support, we wouldn’t have a horse program. “We’ve been able to keep it going through donations,” she said. “It’s been incredible to see how much Camp La Junta means to our alumni and the community.”