Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue training - August 30/31
Silver Springs/Stagecoach Nevada.
I was able to attend a 2 day training on rescuing horses who find themselves in difficult situations. While we hope things like this never happen to our animals, I am glad to have had the opportunity to participate in this training.
The events with my horses health over the
last 8 months is still a topic of discussion for some. I've avoided posting
stats because I wanted to move past it. However, I feel the need to for
the record.
After 2 months on my own and seeing no progress in weight gain for either of my
horses, I brought in my Vet in March. My Vet and I discussed bumping up
their supplements. In April my horses had their shots and the Vet saw no
difference, so we added in more feed and made a date in May for their teeth.
After consulting with my Vet and Equine Dentist when I had their teeth done in early
May, both agreed the teeth was not the cause of so much weight loss and that
both horses were in good health aside from weight. I took their
professional advice, which resulted in me moving my mares to a place better
suited for my horses needs.
My horses have been under my Vet's care since March and are still being
monitored closely by me and informing my Vet as needed. There is no issue
with my horses’ health now. They are energetic, they have healthy coats,
and they are gaining weight nicely. In fact one of them is now a bit
chunky and is having her diet cut back, the other still has some weight to
gain, but is gaining at a steady healthy pace.
I tape the girls every 3-4 weeks or right
before I got out of town for a while so I can have a number to work with when I
return. They receive 30 pounds of good quality hay a day for their meals
and supplemental feed has been eliminated as of June 20. Between the two
they have gained 20-50 pounds a month since their relocation. I don't have standing shots at all the measurement dates unfortunately, however, these will show some of their progress.
June
3 weight (3 days after moving)
Ehawee
750
Opal
970
June
20
Ehawee
800 – gain of 50lbs
Opal
1003 – gain of 33lbs
July
10
Ehawee
863 - gain of 63lbs
Opal
1023 - gain of 20lbs
August 5
Ehawee 878 - gain of 16lbs
Opal 1049 - gain of 25lbs
August 22
Ehawee 893 - gain of 15lbs
Some crest on
neck and a little hay belly.
I cut out am 5lbs alfalfa as a start and will adjust more
as needed.
Work load is also
increasing.
Opal 1065- gain of 15lbs
I noticed Ehawee was starting to look filled
in at the beginning of the month, but I didn't want to cut her diet while I
wasn't there for a few weeks to watch her. Her weight should be around
875. I know since she was a smaller horse she would not need the large
quantity of feed long term, however, the Professionals I consult with on their health didn’t
want to cut back too early until she got back into a consistent work load. Adjustments have now been made to her diet.
Opal lost the most being the bottom of the pecking order, she is also a much
larger built horse and is getting closer to 35 pounds of good quality hay a
day. She has her own stall and can eat at her own pace, but she still
gets focused in on her food at lunch or dinnertime because she was so hungry
for so long. It will take time for her to get over this, but that's
ok. Opal should be between 1,100 and 1,150 pounds.
The bottom line is this; I did what was in the
best interest of my horses based on the advisement of the Professionals.
If any one has any questions or concerns regarding statements being made by
others regarding this situation please feel free to contact me directly so you
can get accurate information - I'd be
happy to discuss it with anyone.
Emerald
Emmy and Ehawee gossiping about barn happenings.
Emerald (Emmy) has been doing great. Before I left for my family vacation at the begining of the month, Cypress Stables had a just for fun play day in the evening. I took Emmy in a few of the in-hand classes. It was the first time she had been in the arena with other horses. She did her two classes very calmly and listened well. After her classes I had her stand in the arena with me while I ran the rest of the classes with riders so she got exposed to the sounds and noises. She didn't seem to mind much at all.
While I was away, our Barn Manager was kind enough to turn Emmy out for a few hours every other day so she wouldn't be locked in her stall the whole time I was gone. When I returned we noticed she was getting a bit chunky, so we adjusted her diet by removing her morning alfalfa flake. She has plenty of energy these days and I'm considering cutting out her evening alfalfa as well.
This week we've been working on walking over the tarp again and respecting space. Emmy likes to creep up on you and be a pocket pony sometimes, which I don't totally mind, I love when my horses want to be near me, however they also need to respect my space when I ask them for it. My next task will be working to desensitize her sides in preparation for taking a rider in the future.
Time has really gotten away form me the last week and a half. Between lessons and training, I was lending a hand as best I could helping prepare the Stables for several new horses moving in as well as helping cover stall cleaning while our wonderful hard working Jose took his family on a well deserved vacation.
While all this madness was going on the last several days, the girls crossed the line from needing to 'get fat' to conditioning. We are now at the point where they can be ridden and start building up on their lounging time as well. We increased Opal's dinner feeding a bit to help continue her gain, while Ehawee is near her goal weight (and has a little belly currently) and will continued to be monitored to find exactly the right feed amount combination to maintain her weight. Both are gaining at a good, steady rate.
Savanna, one of the younger boarders at Cypress and a good rider, rode Ehawee one day while I rode Opal. Both mares were happy to be back riding in the arena, Ehawee so much that she gave 3 jumps of joy when she first walked forward. Opal was only interested in following her friend around, and wasn't too thrilled I wouldn't let her.
Mustangs hard at work.
Opportunity presented itself for a trail ride with Amigo and his owner Greg, so we jumped at the opportunity. We loaded up early and headed for Round Valley. Opal didn't like going across the bridge first so Amigo lead the charge. The trail started out level and slowly began to rise. We hit some spots where there were big rocks in the trail you either had to go around or they were low to the ground and you had to walk over them. We arrived at a set of 3 that almost made stairs, that's when Opal said "no Mom". I asked again, same answer, so I dismounted and she followed me as I lead her along the trail a bit further. It was hot out, so we stopped several time to water the horses and ourselves. Opal worked up a good sweat and we decided to head back for the trailer on foot over the rocks since we were now going downhill.
Both horses moved along like champs. Once we hit flat ground again we remounted and continued to the trailer. I've never practiced with a real gate with Opal, but decided to give it a try with the cattle gate. It took her a few minutes to understand where I wanted her to go and what we were doing, but we were able to hold the gate open for Amigo to walk through and get through ourselves.
Out on the trail both riding and walking in hand.
Once home both horses got a nice cool bath and lots of goodies and loves.
Emerald
Emmy leading on the left.
Emmy finally got leading on the left earlier this week. Previously she would trot/canter past me when she got to me. Once she got this we worked on the squeeze game and passing between narrow places. (Like the trails Opal and I were on today) I like to have the option to lead from both sides because you may find yourself on a narrow trail and not be able to lead from the correct side. (Hey, that happened on the trail today to come to think of it...)
Track left.
Track right.
Since I had another trailer hooked up, Emmy also practiced loading in a different trailer, she wasn't on board at first but after a brief discussion she went in twice. Emmy likes to exit the trailer a bit fast, so for now I will only be letting her back out slowly.
I continue to work with Emmy on ground work and desensitizing to everything. Ropes being tossed around, tarps, noodles, you name it. We take it one thing at a time.
Emmy LOVES water....as you can tell by the videos below. She has a smaller rubber water tub because she cracked and broke her larger plastic one a few weeks ago. I will fill it no more than twice for her since she just plays in it mostly and I don't want to waste water. This is usually how I find her water tub everyday. (Don't worry, she also has an automatic waterer that she uses all the time)
It has been a busy week of training and working the girls. Opal and Ehawee are looking and feeling great. Ehawee was lounged over a small fence this week in the jump course. Once she focused on her task, she sailed over easily. Opal and Ehawee are still being a little food oriented at lunch time, but this will pass in time. It's time to dust off my tack and get ready to ride again.
Opal was re-introduced to the tarp this week. While she walked over it easily, having it touch her was a little different. Once I convinced her it wouldn't eat her, she let me put it right over her back and walk her with it on her. It was also a windy day, so that hindered and helped me at the same time.
Tarps are not horse eating monsters.
Emerald
Emmy has had a full week of training. Working with mounting blocks, ropes, and tarps. Scary, horse eating tarps. Emmy was very curious at first, she even picked it up with her teeth, then it crinkled, she backed up, it followed her, she snorted, finally dropping it and cantered away from it. Eventually with a guiding line and letting her explore at her own pace, she went over the tarp.
Tarp work with Emmy.
Emmy was also given a licking toy in her stall and a big water tub in her stall. Unfortunately Emmy LOVES water....and after 3 days, her tub suffered a fatality. Future note: rubber tubs for Emmy. She is a very sweet, water loving, and playful mare.
RIP water tub. Carrot flavored lick after 2 days.
When working with the mounting blocks, I line her up to the block, lean over and give her lots of rubs and scratches on both sides of her belly while leaning on her a little more each time. She really enjoys her belly rubs.
