Tag Archives: Old horses

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.)

Rugs off, Rugs on!

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It was a lovely morning, so Flossie and I took off everyone’s rugs, and gave them a brush. It’s always good to see what’s going on underneath because you never know.

 

After brushing everyone who wanted to be brushed, so that’s everyone, we decided to put Tiddles’ rug back on as it is only a 0g fill rainsheet and he’s not that fat.  The other’s, however, have a good covering, though Waffle is feeling a little ribby for the first time ever. I am secretly pleased.

And then onwards down to the old horses and ponies who were very pleased to have their rugs taken off.

Again, it was good to see what was going on under there.

I was particularly impressed with Vitamin.  She looked fab.

The Icelandics were a bit flattened.

Kolka entertained herself with playing with the rugs.  I shouted at her to stop, please.

Floss hung all the rugs on the fence posts for putting back on later.  And, a little known fact, if you suspect you might have cauda equina, climb over an electric fence that’s on and you will soon find out (owie is all I will say and now I know the fence is working and I don’t have cauda equina!)

Later, in the afternoon, just before dark, the sun had long gone away and I called the old horses and ponies to us so we could put their rugs back on.  Fivla and Vitamin did not need asking twice, they were like two old ladies in the January Sales determined to get a bargain.  They cantered over full speed.

The others were a little more casual.

But we put their rugs back on as it was getting cold again and I possibly think they were grateful.

If Fivla and Vitamin could’ve done up the buckles and straps themselves, they would’ve.

Fivla loves her rug.  It is all she ever needs.  That, and food.

The Best Rugs

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Not much has happened today which, as you know, is how I and my back like it.  No drama, no fuss.

Everyone behaved at breakfast and that always makes life simple.  Afterwards, I spent my morning on the phone to a physiotherapist who phoned to talk about my GP referral (he never mentioned that). We had a good conversation and I felt I was understood and a plan might be made. You never know.  I am optimistic.

Then some games with Pepper, which involved me trying not to be chewed while someone tickled her tummy!

 

Pepper is (mostly) adorable and very pleased with herself because a few days back, she caught herself a mouse!  All her very own work too.

Because Pepper wanted to bring it home, I had to swap it out for one of the sheeps’ biccies to get her to give it to me to dispose of. Fair exchange is no robbery in this house.  She was a very good girl about this otherwise she would run around with the mouse in her mouth, tail hanging out like a gruesome lollipop!

The old horses and ponies are doing very well living in the centre of the summer track.  The two year old grass there is slowly being eaten down and will hopefully last a little while longer.  My plan is to keep them in their rugs (either a rain sheet or a 50 – 200g fill depending on the weather) while they live outside in bad weather 24/7.  That way, their rugs will do the job of keeping them dry and warm. I think they are happier like this and have wintered better.  They move around more too.

Anyway, that’s the plan.  It’s not a very cheap one, though.  I have learned the hard way that you get what you pay for.