"She is just a nice, plain mare; nothing special."

That is the way Don Blowe describes 16-year-old Halo Silver, a bay mare he purchased in 2001 to add to his small band of broodmares at Ascot Thoroughbreds, a farm he and his wife, Beth, own in Canada.

Blowe never guessed that a few years later, Halo Silver, who quickly proved she was a valuable producer, would be fighting for her life. But thanks to the generosity of a Kentucky veterinarian who donated his services to help, her story will hopefully have a happy ending.

Since the Blowes purchased Halo Silver, they have had considerable success with her, as she has produced five foals, including Saint Arch, an Arch colt the couple sold for $115,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale