Tag Archives: Kolka

It’s Blowing a Hoolie

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It’s been blowing a hoolie all day (hoolie = fierce wind, gale).  Tis the season now and the autumn equinox.

As it was so blowy, I decided that I would put all horse/pony food out in their flat “storm” bowls – they don’t blow away as easily and I hate chasing after buckets in the wind. It’s a thankless task.  They can go for miles, always just that bit in front of you and difficult to catch.

 

Obviously I had Pepper with me offering to hoover up any leftovers.  She is such a wee pig and useless on the bucket catching front.

I had a quick glimpse at Kolka’s scar, which I think is healing up as best it can.  As long as it is not infected or painful, then there really is nothing more to be done.   She wasn’t really into me looking at it for too long as the wind made her reactive and nervy at the slightest movement.

I left the field, clutching all my buckets to wash and put away, finished up and went indoors for my breakfast and my daily difference of opinion with Monster.

Along with my daily Wordle and Connections which I failed at dismally.  Monster was absolutely no help.

Moved Them (again)

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After writing my blog, I sent Kolka’s vet the photos of her scar. She told me to stop the painkillers now and I realised that there was no reason to keep this herd in the winter field, eating all my emergency grass for when it snows.

So I went to move them all, but some were having a mid-morning nap.  I hate disturbing them when they are sleeping but they needed to go.

Eventually, with a little encouragement, they shifted because one of them noticed the gate was wide open and an open gate can only mean one thing…… I told them it didn’t and they were to get themselves down to their next fiel.

Fivla took a bit more encouraging.  She had settled in for the day, I think.

I had shut the gates around the track so there would be no unwanted small Shetland pony appearances and the ancients meandered their way in an unhurried fashion down to their old field, which is much nicer and has far more shelter.

They all know this field well, and I am praying Kolka just stays sane and out of trouble.

And she also has Vitamin and Fivla with her, so they will keep her right.

I hope they were listening. So we will see how they go.

The Kolka Theory

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My friend, Monika from Sandness Equine Services, came up with this theory and I think this is very credible.

Basically, Kolka was calmly grazing at the far end of the field with the rest of the herd (Haakon, Iacs, Fivla and Vitamin).  It was nearly breakfast time and they all know to come home for their buckets and had started making their way.  All except for Kolka who looked up, saw everyone had vanished (to be out of eyesight does not take long as there is a small hill) and then panicked, jumping badly straight over the fence into the hill where she got caught up and into trouble.  Icelandic horses are not known for their show-jumping abilities.

Once released, Kolka recovered and she then cut her head slightly while living around the house.  There are old fencing wire rolls, etc lying around.  They went into a field.

The next panic was because Kolka was talking to Vitamin and Fivla over the fence at an early breakfast time when she looked up and noticed her beloved Haakon had vanished again.  He and Iacs were eating their breakfast around the corner.  This time she went into a blind panic not helped by remembering what had happened a few days’ earlier.

The terrible cut was probably from itching her head, which had been healing nicely but getting to that itchy stage, and she opened up the old wound making it much worse.

Monika and I discussed all this after she had given Kolka her second Jin Shin Jyutsu therapy session, which Kolka loves.

I can’t thank Monika enough for standing in the pouring rain working her healing “magic”.

BLOOD ALERT!

Look away now if you are squeamish because Kolka’s wound is not pretty but it is clean and dry and not bothering her one bit.  The vet and I are pleased with how the healing is progressing.

  

Kolka (again)

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Oh crikey – where to begin.

Floss and I got up very early and fed all the animals 2 hours before their usual time (I was driving her to the airport).  It was just getting light but we could see to do our chores.

Floss fed the Icelandic horses for me, while I fed Fivla and Vitamin next door.  I noticed Kolka running around and behaving very oddly, blindly panicking, as if she couldn’t see Haakon and Iacs.  She quickly settled once she eventually found them (in their usual place) and ate her breakfast. But this was very strange behaviour and my waters churned.

I put Fivla and Vitamin into Kolka’s field to see if that would help calm her down and we saw no more odd behaviour.

Later this afternoon, I went into Kolka’s field to take a few photos and found she had split her head open and had a huge forehead to nose nasty cut.  Dear God, how on earth had she done that?  I have no idea but in herself, Kolka was absolutely fine and totally oblivious to her huge injury.

I called the vet and she came over quickly.  While I was waiting I watched Kolka for anymore odd behaviour. Nothing.

I also put Kolka’s forelock into a bunch to keep it out of her wound.

So the vet checked Kolka over thoroughly, and sewed her up under light sedation.

Like me, the vet got not weird vibes off Kolka but we can’t rule out that there is possibly something else going on, possibly she hit her head when she was lying by the fence.  We just don’t know.  And how did she get that huge cut? Did she scratch her head against something in the field and it opened up the previous head cut which got worse?

So prayers for tonight please.  They’re in the sheep’s shed. Haakon and Iacs are keeping Kolka company while I feel sick with worry.

Outside. All of You!

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The horses had their breakfast and then they just stood there in their shed not going anywhere like outside.

Plus some chickens arrived.

By 10.30 it was quite a nice day outside.  The back door was wide open.  It had been all night so everyone could come and go.  We were pretty sure Iacs had worked this out.

Haakon poked his nose outside to see if I was telling the truth about the nice day.

And then a bit more appeared and in the end all three horses filed out and went off to eat some grass.  Huzzah!

The day got nicer but I found Iacs standing around, waiting to help with any food-related chores.

I was trying to feed an errant duck who told me he had missed breakfast so could he have some now.  I stood determinedly stood guard.

After lunch, I decided that the safest place for everyone was the lower field.  Floss found  Kolka had a cut to her forehead (as well as her back legs from the accident) – we have no idea how she did that.  I sprayed it with antibiotic spray, gave her last a/b injection and we led all three down to their new field telling them to stay out of trouble.

The horses were last seen stuffing their fat faces.  I can’t let Fivla and Vitamin in there yet because the grass is that bit too good for them, so they have to content themselves being next door where they can all see each other perfectly well.  Anyway, they have the shed all to themselves so that must count for something.

I’ve had enough of the drama now.  Thank you very much.  Can everyone stop hurting themselves.  The sheep will be pleased, though.