Back in June of this year my Mare Ruby was over in the pasture. I check on her every morning, take her a treat or just scratch her head and tell her I love her and go about my day. But one warm morning I couldn't find her. Now the west pasture is kind of a fairy tail for a horse. A little up and down with a creek running through it. Lots of tall trees, on the lake and plenty of grass. In places you have to walk about twenty feet down to the creek and there are a couple of flat grassy places at the bottom. Not being able to see her anywhere that is what popped into my mind so I got dressed (yes I had a robe on, I live in the country) and walked across the pasture and down into the creek bed and there she was laying down.
Now for Ruby to not get up when I approach is no big deal. All my horses are used to me sitting on them or laying on them. I'm Momma. So I wasn't alarmed. I thought Cool what a nice place to take a nap. But when I approached her she just laid her head down and groaned. Then I knew something was wrong. I went and got her halter, got her up and prayed it wasn't colic. I listened to her belly and it was popping and gurgling just like it should so it wasn't that. So I started her forward and she limped on her right front. I felt down her leg, it didn't feel broken. Could be a green line fracture. But she really didn't walk like it. No swelling anywhere. No rock bruise. No rocks. But she kept laying down on me.
Finally about 3:00 pm I called the Vet. Her regular wasn't in but they would send the on call. When he showed up he was about 60 and looked like he'd been doing this a long time. I felt like I was in good hands. He had me get her up and walk her around. (Now Ruby was a big mare. She is 15.3 hands and pushing 1300lbs. Even though I am 140lbs I like my horses healthy.) Then to my horror he asked me if she had ever foundered. "No" came out of my mouth before I could even gather my thoughts. Then he showed me the crest on her neck. "I thought she just looked good". Then he took out his hoof knife and started picking at her front right foot. Pretty soon this big flat piece the size of her hoof came flying off. He looked at me "Yep a false hoof bed, she is starting to founder". He kept trimming.
Then he must of hit a sore spot cause she reared straight up with me holding the lead rope and took me up with her. He yeld "hang on", and he did too. She took us both up a couple more times before she gave up. Ok that has never happened to me before. He kept trimming and finished her two front feet and told me to have my trimmer finish her rear feet. And to tell him to trim her shorter from now on.
I have never in my life had a horse founder so I didn't know what the symptoms were. Colic yes, just about anything else yes but founder, no. So he was very care with what he said next. (Sweet man) He told me that see needed to go on a diet and lose about 200 to 250lbs. That I needed to be able to see her ribs (see her ribs, Ah!) and she needed to have some withers (another, Ah!) and that the crest on her neck should be almost completely gone. She should be on nothing but grass hay.
Ok, so check, check, check. I did everything he told me to do. Ruby lost the weight. Tim kept her hooves trimmed perfect. (He specialized in barefoot trimming. Now it wasn't his problem about her hooves. She has the hardest hooves so we agreed to keep them long and trim them more often. They are coal black and hard as rocks. He actually corrected problems I had with my other two horses. And he trims my mini, which most people can't do.)
Anyway Ruby is much thinner (I have to get used to it) and runs around with her tail held high and looks like a colt. She has withers for the first time in her life so I know exactly where to put the saddle, Ha!!
While we were in Alabama Tim and his wife Tracy kept Ruby and Spuds (Stud Muffin) for us. They have this beautiful place where they not only have their own stock, but they board horses and have a rescue. They have such a love for the animals that they travel across states to pick up abused animals and bring them home and nurse them back to health where they try and adopt them out to only the right people. If they can't find the right people they keep them. I lost count. Not only do they take in the horses, but they have the sweets young Ladies that volunteer there and in turn they get to work with and ride the horses.
Tim and Tracy should truly have an "S" on their chests. They not only have this huge ranch they take care of, with several beautiful children, dogs and their own horses, but she competes in cowgirl stuff. Then she boards horses. And if that isn't enough she has the rescue and there are so many and she loves every one. Many have additional health issues and were also more that just starved and abused when she got'em. Tim works a 40, then he has his trimming business, and he helps with the boarding business and works the ranch. And as if that isn't enough he helps with the kids. I am so lucky to have met them. They are so sweet and more than knowledgeable about horses. I know that God put them in my life.
Yesterday Tracy asked me if I had ever heard of an IR horse and explained all the signs. They are all the founder signs. For those that don't know IR means Insulin Resistant. Basically it means borderline diabetic. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! She then told me that if I keep Ruby going like she is, and keep her on the diet, and at this weight she will be fine. Watch her weight, keep the treats to a minimum. We will be fine. Ok, I can do it.
Ok, enough of that. while I was riding yesterday I was swatting at flies (I really hate those little boogers) I thought about when I was a teenager I used to make these really cool halter blinds that you hook to a halter that keep the flies off the horses eyes. Also I was thinking about making some horse collars for those Parelli folks out there. I might make some before the holidays and add them to my Etsy website. And I've been thinking about doing some dog collar clips. In case you have seen Bell my 2nd miniature horse (120lb Dog) I was thinking about doing a little somethin, somethin for her since her collar is so masculine and she is such a girl.
Ok, so check, check, check. I did everything he told me to do. Ruby lost the weight. Tim kept her hooves trimmed perfect. (He specialized in barefoot trimming. Now it wasn't his problem about her hooves. She has the hardest hooves so we agreed to keep them long and trim them more often. They are coal black and hard as rocks. He actually corrected problems I had with my other two horses. And he trims my mini, which most people can't do.)
Anyway Ruby is much thinner (I have to get used to it) and runs around with her tail held high and looks like a colt. She has withers for the first time in her life so I know exactly where to put the saddle, Ha!!
While we were in Alabama Tim and his wife Tracy kept Ruby and Spuds (Stud Muffin) for us. They have this beautiful place where they not only have their own stock, but they board horses and have a rescue. They have such a love for the animals that they travel across states to pick up abused animals and bring them home and nurse them back to health where they try and adopt them out to only the right people. If they can't find the right people they keep them. I lost count. Not only do they take in the horses, but they have the sweets young Ladies that volunteer there and in turn they get to work with and ride the horses.
Tim and Tracy should truly have an "S" on their chests. They not only have this huge ranch they take care of, with several beautiful children, dogs and their own horses, but she competes in cowgirl stuff. Then she boards horses. And if that isn't enough she has the rescue and there are so many and she loves every one. Many have additional health issues and were also more that just starved and abused when she got'em. Tim works a 40, then he has his trimming business, and he helps with the boarding business and works the ranch. And as if that isn't enough he helps with the kids. I am so lucky to have met them. They are so sweet and more than knowledgeable about horses. I know that God put them in my life.
Yesterday Tracy asked me if I had ever heard of an IR horse and explained all the signs. They are all the founder signs. For those that don't know IR means Insulin Resistant. Basically it means borderline diabetic. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! She then told me that if I keep Ruby going like she is, and keep her on the diet, and at this weight she will be fine. Watch her weight, keep the treats to a minimum. We will be fine. Ok, I can do it.
Ok, enough of that. while I was riding yesterday I was swatting at flies (I really hate those little boogers) I thought about when I was a teenager I used to make these really cool halter blinds that you hook to a halter that keep the flies off the horses eyes. Also I was thinking about making some horse collars for those Parelli folks out there. I might make some before the holidays and add them to my Etsy website. And I've been thinking about doing some dog collar clips. In case you have seen Bell my 2nd miniature horse (120lb Dog) I was thinking about doing a little somethin, somethin for her since her collar is so masculine and she is such a girl.
If you would like to just visit my Jewelry Site to just see what is there simply click on the green bold words above and they will take you there. But give me a month or so for the horse and dog products.
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