09/24/2026
Please consider helping our dear friends in their time of need ❤️ They are LOVELY, giving people, and Pancake is their absolute heart.
For Kayla Jones, horses have never been just a hobby. They have been a source of strength, healing, purpose, and hope through some of the hardest chapters of her life.
Kayla has faced more than her share of challenges, including a traumatic brain injury and multiple major setbacks that could have easily pulled her away from the things she loves most. But through it all, she has continued to persevere. Again and again, she has fought her way back to the barn, back into the saddle, and back to the life she loves.
Horseback riding is not simply something Kayla does. It is part of who she is.
And then came Pancake.
Pancake has a story of survival all her own. Before becoming Kayla’s beloved mare, she was rescued from a sale in Kansas in severely emaciated condition. She had already endured hardship, uncertainty, and a life that had not always been kind to her.
But Pancake fought her way back.
With care, time, good food, and a whole lot of love, she blossomed into an incredible horse. She became beautiful, healthy, loved, and treasured by everyone who met her.
And this is not the first major medical battle Pancake has faced.
About a year ago, Pancake developed a cancerous tumor on her o***y and required abdominal surgery to remove it. She came through that surgery and healed beautifully, once again showing just how much fight this mare has in her.
Maybe that is part of what makes Kayla and Pancake such a special pair. They both know something about overcoming the odds.
Now Pancake is fighting again.
Recently, the staff at the barn noticed that Pancake seemed just slightly off. It was subtle, but they trusted what they were seeing and acted immediately. Pancake promptly received veterinary attention, and that quick response quite literally helped save her life and get her to this point.
She was diagnosed with a severe case of colic and was rushed to Virginia Tech, where she is currently fighting for her life.
Pancake has already undergone another major abdominal surgery, and there is a possibility that she may require a second surgery during this hospitalization. At this time, her prognosis is cautiously positive, and everyone is holding onto hope that this incredibly tough mare will once again overcome what has been put in front of her.
But the cost of giving her that chance is enormous.
The current estimate for Pancake’s veterinary care is approximately $16,000, and that number may continue to grow depending on what the coming days bring.
For Kayla, this is not simply a veterinary bill.
This is her horse.
Her partner.
Her passion.
Her refuge.
Pancake represents countless hours in the barn, rides that made difficult days better, dreams for the future, and the kind of connection that horse people know cannot easily be explained.
Kayla has spent so much of her life fighting to continue doing what she loves. Right now, she needs a community willing to help her fight for the horse she loves.
If you are able to donate, any amount will help with Pancake’s surgery, hospitalization, medications, monitoring, and continued veterinary care at Virginia Tech. Even a small contribution, when combined with many others, can make an enormous difference.
And if you cannot donate financially, please consider sharing this fundraiser. Getting Pancake’s story in front of more people is another incredibly meaningful way to help.
Pancake has already survived starvation, cancer, major abdominal surgery, and now another life-threatening medical crisis.
Kayla has survived and persevered through so much of her own.
Neither one of them has ever been very good at giving up.
Please help us give this incredibly special pair the opportunity to keep writing their story together.
Every donation, every share, every prayer, and every word of encouragement means more than you know.
Help Kayla bring Pancake home.
https://gofund.me/b1df673b9
