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One year ago today I lost a great friend. Haley was a great horse--not only in stature, but in his ability to create joy to all that knew him. He was a great teacher and inspiration, and that part of him will live on with me forever. I miss you big boy!
When a prospective boarder inquires about retirement for their senior horse, I make sure they know that we live on the property and also that I never leave the horses unattended. There was a time when I had a very aged gelding that would get down and could not get up. He would be laying with his legs uphill and he did not have the strength to push himself up. He would nicker and wait for me to come turn him and get him up!
A crisis can happen in no time at all around here. Case in point this morning: Maggie. She and her companion, Willie, are the first group that I feed and tend to. At 6 a.m. she ate breakfast, stood for grooming and securing fly boots on and all seemed well. By 8 a.m. when I was finishing the final group I looked up thru her pasture and saw her lying down in the grass in front of her shed. That is not a normal time for her to be lying down. She has a history of ulcers and at times they can bother her and she will get colicky. So right now she is on close observation and her hands-on check overs and dosing schedule is stepped up. Her owner has been notified of the situation and that I have her under close watch. I am already seeing some improvement in her, and hope she feels better soon! :)
Maggie's not feeling well, lying down and trying to get comfortable while Willie grazes nearby.
Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Middle Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses. In addition, she provides Equine Nutritional Consultations, has developed a specialized line of Natural Horse & Body Care Products, Herbal Blends and Seed Mixes for Horses, and has written several articles for Natural Horse Magazine. For more information, visit her website at www.ferrellhollowfarm.net or email her at cindy@ferrellhollowfarm.com.
