Re: [RC] help! Just got a project horse - Karla Watson
There are dozens of wonderful "rescue"
websites with great advice and lots of rescue email groups that will give you
great advice. We just adopted a rescue arab from horrible conditions and I got
loads of great advice from people who do this full-time. Just search under
"rescue horses" on the internet and you will see a large community of caring
people out there. Yahoogroups.com has quite a few rescue email groups that can
offer great advice.
I'm sure a lot of you went to the convention and hopefully had a
wonderful time!
Well, I didn't go, however, as I drove to the bay area to pick up a horse
I thought was in okay condition because some folks were looking for a home for
this guy. My sister-in-law had asked my brother to call me and he
did. A horse needed a loving home.
I had called an old friend and asked her to go check him out for me (sort
of be my eyes) and let me know what she thought about him as she was only a
few blocks away. She was happy to do it and did.
Long story short, she called me back and said this guy was very very
sweet, had good feet, and a really nice disposition. This is a horse
about 18 yrs old, and the lady wanted a better home with a shelter for
him. He was free.
Anyway, after hearing a real nice report I drove down with my husband and
neighbor who wanted to help out too, and it was her barn he'd be sheltered in
till the weather got better.
We drove from Auburn to Santa Cruz...when we drove up we saw this real
cute face on this guy and from a distance he looked okay. I thought to
myself, "of course we will take him home"...Once I got out of the car and we
walked up to him we were shocked to see he was almost skin and bones! It
was deceiving at first cause he is very furry. Three inch fur! I
thought, oh my gosh. But his spine had absolutely no muscle, or anything
whatsoever. He had completely sunken hindquarter and looked like he was
starving.
The family that had him were nice people and we soon realized that they
were innocently ignorant about horsecare and feeding. I was shocked when the
lady didn't really even realize how seriously underweight this horse is.
Well, after taking a good look at him otherwise we decided we just could
not leave him there so we took him home. I was worried about him hauling
safely for a three hour ride, but he did extremely well, and was very alert
both when we got home and this morning when I check him. I was very
surprised, and gladly so.
Despite his horrible weight, or lack of, he has such a sweet face and a
very bright eye. He looks right back at you, and I sense
a very innocent sweet soul. His fur does have a shine to it,
and his feet were good and didn't show any signs of recent laminitis or
anything bad. He seems pretty sound, however with several neighbors
imput, he does seem to have a sore gaskin, and his stifle pops slightly.
Nothing however seems to cause any head bobbing at the trot. He is
willing to go forward...Anyway, now I come to you Ridecamp for advice...to
help me and my wonderful neighbors, with great kind hearts help me with this
sweet fella....HELP!
I would really like some advice from the vets out there or anyone else
who has brought back a horse from this sort of condition. In my "gut" I
feel he isn't sick or anything...as he just looks to bright and
alert. He walks around okay, ate grass and nibbled on some hay all
day. Drank 10 gallons of water, and pooped normaly. But he needs
about 200 lbs. of weight and needs desperately to rebuild his muscle tissue
back.
What I did notice is that he does dribble food, and there were long stems
of hay in his poop because that is one of the first things I checked.
I've been told to give him small meals at first so I'm doing that right
now.
The only thing that does have me worried is I haven't seen him pee
yet. He does not seem to be dehydrated. I am going to call my vet
tomorrow but any and all advice, stories of encouragement, and nutrition
information I could get would be appreciated. That is one reason why I
like RC so much...
I've taken photos and we will be journaling his progress.
Ironically, my husband has already bonded with him, cause he was injured in an
auto accident 8 months ago, hasn't worked since then, was terminated friday by
his employer cause he can't return to work yet, etc...and somehow, suddenly he
has found purpose in this animal. I think there is a story in the
making......for them both...
