Category Archives: Icelandic horses and Shetland Ponies

Kolka Update

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Kolka seems a lot more like her strong 32 year old self today.

She is alert, interested and eating better, although still stiff when she walks but there is more range of movement in her hind legs.

She remains on twice daily painkillers, an injection of antibiotics (which she is very good about – it’s a big one with a large needle), probiotics and is mostly living outside with her waterproof rug on.

Her eating is more enthusiastic too, which is encouraging.

Fivla and Vitamin are close by shouting for their herd but they have to stay where they are as the grass around the house is too rich for them, especially this time of year.

However, the sheep are very unimpressed with this new set-up.

I have barred the entrance to their shed so they can still come and go if they want with no horses inside.

And opposite, the horses can do the same if they want shelter.   There is food and water there too.

So, turn left if you’re a horse and right if you’re a sheep.

As I write, absolutely no one has worked out my marvellous piece of shed management.

But I think the long rich grass, the pottering about with her friends is what Kolka needs to keep her mind and her guts active.

So, keep thinking and praying for Kolka as I keep forgetting she is 32 years old. Yesterday’s drama was not something an old lady should have to go through.  I thank the Gods we got to her when we did.

Live, Please Live!

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Oh, crikey, where to start.

This morning , no Kolka appeared for her breakfast.  Haakon and friends denied all knowledge (useless lot). So Floss and I set off with Kolka’s bucket and found her lying down, motionless tangled up miles away in the back fence.  She had been there some time and was slowly giving up.

We tried to untangle the fence, but it was no good – her hoof was stuck tightly in the wire. I told Floss to go back and get some fence-wire cutters.

It was a long wait – it’s a long way, and I stayed with Kolka telling her we would do this and she must keep going and live.

(Flossie sensibly asked OH for the right wire-cutters and brought them back to me.)

Once we had cut all the wire around and free’ed Kolka’s back hooves, Floss and I tried to get her up but she couldn’t. She had dug a hole with the fronts, was exhausted and now starting to leave us – shaking and her eyes were dull.  Floss went back (and it’s a very long walk) to get some rope and OH.

While Floss was gone, I moved Kolka’s back legs to prove to her that they were free and then I had an idea – to put Kolka’s bucket in front of her for inspiration.  That did it and after many, many attempts she weakly stood up.  Her last bit of effort.

I held Kolka’s bucket and she ate unsteadily while the Cavalry (OH and Floss) arrived.

We let Kolka get her bearings, settle and think.  She was still very unsteady but she had a determination I knew was still in there.

We walked slowly over the hill, through the back gate and into the field.  The long walk actually did Kolka good and she got used to her legs working. She also did two poo’s which was encouraging.

The others came to meet her.  Useless lot, I told them, again.

Once home, painkillers, anti-inflammatories, another bucket and I washed Kolka’s legs, examined them and sprayed with antibiotic spray.  I also put a rug on her as she was still shaking.  She spent her morning around the house, resting and eating with Haakon and Iacs for company.

Monika from Sandness Equine Services kindly visited for Jin Shin Jyutsu healing (a huge thank you).

This afternoon, I dithered, worried and decided to put the horses in the shed – it was raining sporadically.  I wanted Kolka to rest as much as possible.  The boys had to go too, for company.

I had been to the vet and got antibiotic injections too and more painkillers.  He is very aware of the situation.

The haynets are not really being touched, but I am giving the horses fibre-block every 2 hours to keep their guts going and Kolka will get another painkiller and a probiotic tonight too.  The next few days will be worrying.  Kolka is stiff, sore and really feeling it.  The possibility of colic is not ruled out either so thoughts and prayers for Kolka, please.  Everything you’ve got.

(The nursing staff are also on-call – ready and waiting.)

A Day of Two Halves

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It was chucking it down this morning and so the sheep, after their breakfast in the shed, went on strike refusing to go into their field for the day. In return I refused to give them haynets because it was raining.  There’s plenty of grass outside if they want food.  There will be haynets when it snows (and they are all very fat).

My morning was spent researching for the Diaries – going through old family photos, correspondence, making discoveries and looking for anything relevant to include.

Meanwhile, the weather slowly cleared up ….

….. and soon the sun was shining

The Shetland ponies got their haynets for tea.

And I found all the sheep had in fact gone outside, crawled under a fence and were happily eating the long grass in an ungrazed field.

This is a winter field which will be for the old horses and ponies – it offers plenty of natural shelter, and has a forever-running stream.  The sheep also love it here and can let themselves in and out when they want (by crawling under the fence).

That is everyone except for Ster who has to walk through the garden to get out, though he can get back on his own (phew!)

Apparently it is a rather heavenly field, according to Madge.   Funny to think that all the grass will be eaten down in just a few months’ time.  Winter is looming now. I’m dreading it.

Poor Gussie

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Poor Gussie.

Asking, Always Asking

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I took this photo on Sunday evening after we had finished supper.

Nothing is ever wasted here, and OH was busy stripping the roast chicken joint for any meat before the bones were made into stock, ready for another meal.

Monster had already stolen OH’s chair at the table and was hopeful, always hopeful.  Everyone got a piece(s) except for Pepper who has a bad reaction/intolerance to chicken.  She got a pile of her biccies, which she adores so didn’t really mind.  I think she now understands that chicken makes her miserable and ill.

Breakfast today was a windy affair.

And then very rainy so I spent some of my morning attacking the 1985 Diaries – tidying them up and making the format similar to the one I have at last settled on 75 years later!  It hasn’t helped either that WordPress changed their methods too.

I still can’t read some of the diary pages.  If you fancy a stab at it, let me know your results.  All help is most welcome.

Later in the day, waiting for me on my doorsteap were the ducks who were asking for their tea.  Everyone always asks for something around here.

And then ‘Ster appeared too.  He was asking for biscuits – obviously.

As was Gussie.  He does love a biccie.

Pepper was optimistic she might get something.

And Monster was asking to be let out.  My family are very communicative.