Tag Archives: Old horses

No Idea What is Going On

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I went out early worried at what I might find in the stable but Kolka, Iacs and Haakon were fine and wanting to leave. I gave them their breakfast and everyone was totally normal.

Next I led Fivla and Vitamin into the field I thought would be safest for Kolka so they could all be together again.

Everyone went in, again perfectly normally.

And since then I have been checking on Kolka every few hours and there has been nothing.

Her owner came to see her and he agreed, Kolka was the same old Kolka, except for the massive wound on her forehead, now stitched up.  He got not vibes either of anything being off and he knows Kolka very well.

So I wonder if it was just a series of unfortunate events – (falling over fence, superficial cut on forehead, panic attack and then major cut on forehead) ie. completely random events that have absolutely nothing to do with each other or is there something else going on?  I just don’t know and I have no clues either from Kolka herself.  She is so normal, like nothing has happened. She remains on daily analgesia and antibiotics.

We will see how things go in the next few days before we make any big decisions.  If I can’t keep Kolka safe, then ….. well, as my mother would say, “we will see”.

 

 

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.

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.