Ishtar Boogie, an Arabian who shattered his short pastern bone in his left front leg, has gone home after recovering for weeks from surgery performed by Dr. Al Ruggles (shown at bottom with Ishtar’s owners, Bill and Patricia Novak) at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Patricia Novak was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2006 yet is holding steady. She says Ishtar has been instrumental in helping her through the journey of illness. Novak continued to show and ride him through severe side effects from cancer treatment. I took these pictures shortly after Ishtar came to Rood & Riddle in early February. Novak said at the time Ishtar was "kind and calm" when he would carry her around the ring on her worst days. "Now that he’s gotten injured," she said, "I’m going to take care of him." Novak also said, "It’s easier to live in the moment with a horse like Ishtar around. He gives me something to look forward to every day. I have to be here to take care of him."