Category Archives: Icelandic horses and Shetland Ponies

All Things Biotin

9 Replies

Today, I made a quick trip into town to get all things biotin for Haakon’s hoof as well as get my hair cut.

I spent my morning at the feed merchants looking at labels on all the equine supplements and trying to make an educated guess as to what would be best for my poor old boy.

Feeling that I was getting into a huge muddle with this, I went and stood outside trying to find a halfway decent mobile signal in the drizzle while phoning NAF Equine for more information and some guidance.  They were very sympathetic to Haakon’s situation and I came home with biotin in liquid form (Pro Hoof), a General Purpose Supplement and some TurmerAid (Lambie and friends had finished my supply).

I also bought Haakon a big bag of his favourite veteran mix to add to his food as he knows when I put anything suspicious in, like boswellia, which he loathes and then refuses to eat.  Fussy bugger.

This is Haakon’s afternoon bucket – and he devoured it, complete with supplements and mix.

The smaller of the vultures were also circling.

They knew I had brought little carrots for afters.

Vitamin was fairly certain I would part with them early but I said no as I wanted Haakon to finish his bucket of drugs first.

  

Once the bucket was finished, I distributed fairly my carrots.

Fair’s fair.

And then I went to see the little ones.  All very well in that field. I think Tiddles is over his tummy troubles.

Kisses all round, and then I put everyone else to bed (hens, ducks and called the sheep home).

Do you know it is dark by 4 o’clock?

A Pony of Very Little Brain

3 Replies

My heart lifted this morning when I saw Haakon waiting for me.  Hewas walking a little bit better.  Less agony and more strength of purpose.

So I led him up to the garden to soak his hoof (not sure it needs it but won’t do any harm) and give him his breakfast in peace and quiet.

I took this photo, trusting Haakon not to go a-rampaging, while I drew up a massive injection.

OH held the rope while I put the injection in Haakon’s bottom. He said the only reaction was Haakon stopped chewing for a second!

When I put Haakon back into the field, Iacs was very pleased to see his BFF (and cousin).

And the wife was happy too.

Then I walked back to the Shetland ponies who had been in their paddock for breakfast.  They had taken themselves back to the track…. all except Albie, who can’t work it out.  There is a new section open now and it seems to have muddled the pea-like brain.

It was a case of the have’s and the have-not’s.

I tried to get Albie to follow me and a carrot I had about my person but he said he didn’t really understand.

Like I said – a pea-like brain.

So I took the dog-lead off the big gate (that keeps the gate closed – belt and braces if the gate swings free) and told Albie it was a new kind of headcollar.  Luckily he believed me and walked nicely while I led him to the track.

He did say a polite thank you and then trotted off happy to be in the world of grass with his friends again.

He really is a pony of very little brain.

Only Problems

7 Replies

I am trying to feed up Pepper and get some weight on her.

Due to her one day on/one day off meal regime, Pepper is losing weight and I don’t like that.  The problem is that she is always on the look out for a delicious-to-her rotting corpses and then she gets a tummy-ache and won’t eat for 24 hours while doing room-clearing farts.  Prepared for this regular outcome, I dose up with pre/pro biotics, kaolin (if required) and slippery elm to try and get her tummy working again. So I have decided to double Pepper’s food on the days she does eat, so she is not missing out.  I am also adding salmon oil for weight gain.  I can’t think of anything else to do that would help her.  All suggestions welcome.

The others are disgusted with Pepper and can only see total injustice in this set up.

Haakon is going along but I would not say anything is better.  He spent this morning lying down in the sunshine and I hope he got a good deep sleep.

I have deliberated to just about anyone who will listen whether to bring him inside or around the house but I have to consider the following:

The Pros:
He would be inside, warm and dry.

Cons:
He would be unhappy and stressed = potential colic.
He would need a stable companion.
Haakon doesn’t like hay much and struggles (old age/teeth) eating it and I really want to keep him eating.  He gets two feeds from me each day even in his field just to keep all things going along.
He is doing ok at the moment pottering where he feels he can, eating and drinking. I leave a strategically placed bucket of water for him close by.  I also scatter little carrots around his field so he can find nice surprises.  He only goes as far as feels he wants to.
His friends are close by and join him during the day.
If it gets colder then he can wear a heavier rug.

As it is going to rain overnight, I put a light rainsheet on.

And he is such a helpful old thing.

To town tomorrow to get Farriers Formula and biotin for feet and maybe some nummy food too.

Buckets and More Buckets

3 Replies

My day started as it meant to go on mostly with many buckets.

While I fed the others at the top of the field, Haakon was still struggling to walk, so I broke the habit of a lifetime and took his breakfast bucket to him.  I walked him over the stream and then I put his bucket down so he had to eat with his hooves in the running water.

Haakon accepted my idea as doable and proceeded to eat his brekkie while his poorly hoof soaked in the clean cold water.

Later, I went on a dog walk. I was looking for some sheep therapy.

Dahlia immediately came up for a chat.

She is always very inquisitive and I regretted that I hadn’t brought any carrots with me for everyone.

Dahlia’s son, Gussie, is not dissimilar either.  Food is also important to him.

It was so nice to see that they are very happily integrated with the others now, even to the point of going into the shed to be fed if they want to. It only took just over a year!

Lambie had little to say on the matter.

But Maggie came up for a lovely chat.

Later, in the afternoon, just before it got dark, I went down to the field with hot water in a thermos, two buckets and various bits of necessary kit.

Luckily, only the Shetland ponies were close by which meant they wouldn’t try to steal Haakon’s food.  They wouldn’t dare.

If Bibble and Kolka had been closer, it would’ve been a battle. I know that.  I can’t say Haakon is any better but at least he is not worse.  He is getting around the field in his own way. If he decides not to walk much, then it doesn’t matter as there is long grass everywhere and company.  I think, at the moment, I was rather he was outside pottering gently.  He is happier with his friends.

Day from Hell – Vet Called

15 Replies

My morning started with Tiddles who didn’t want his breakfast. Instead he lay down in front of me and said he would like to die, please. Please, no!

I got him up and he did an enormous sloppy poo, then each one was more watery.  I immediately put him in a stall, gave him a small bucket of soaked sugar beet to tempt and phoned the vet.

While we waited I dosed him up (talked it over with vet first) – Kaolin, probiotic, slippery elm, gut-bind. He was very good and had eaten his bucket.  His stall was awash with many more watery poos.

Then over the hill to feed the others and I noticed Haakon could barely walk.  He was hobbling. So I led him home with the others following.

I phoned the vet again and extended my list, adding Iacs on as well because his eye infection is not responding to treatment.

While we waited for the vet, OH and I soaked Haakon’s hoof to see if that helped.

Tiddles was a bit brighter now, so he rejoined his friends with haynets and, yes, he ate, not very enthusiastically, but he ate.

The big ones were around the house.

I went back to check on Tiddles every minute, secretly.

When I looked again at Haakon’s poorly hoof, I found a deep stone chip embedded at the front.  It left a hole when I eventually prised it out.

His hoof went back into the bucket to draw out any nasties.  At least I now knew why Haakon was hopping lame.

The vet came and, after thoroughly examining Tiddles, said he was much better.

I opened up a bit more of their track.

I left him stuffing his face.

Iacs’ eye – nothing was found so keep going with the ointment.  He may have developed a blocked tear duct.  He was a good boy.

Haakon needs his hoof soaked regularly.  He is on painkillers too and I put them all in the field near the house as it makes it easier for me to treat him.

My last job this afternoon was to give Haakon a bucket of his favourite food, mixed with Bosmerix (boswellia supplement), while soaking his hoof and spraying it with antibiotic spray.  He was such a good boy.  Kolka is furious at all the food and attention he’s getting.

So that was my day. I need a lie down and now I shall worry about Haakon and Tiddles and possibly Iacs.