Saturday March 17, 2012
One woman, 10 horses, 8 cats, 2 dogs and 2 goats. It just took 2.5 hours to care for all of them. So? The horses are spread over 6 pasture/paddock locations. The cats are in 4 different areas. Every horse receives a bucket meal with necessary supplements, and then enough hay until the evening meal comes around. Poop is scooped or sprinkled with DE to deter breeding flies. Nets and buckets are prepared for the next meal. Everyone is checked over. Yesterday we had a colicky horse related to ulcers. This morning that is better. Whew! A draft has active laminitis. Another draft comes up lame and is blowing out an abcess. If you've never worked with drafts, they are quite large and every thing is exaggerated with them. The mare with hoof canker has a foot that is separating. The gelding with the stifle injury is not quite as comfortable as he was a week ago. The 2 Cushing's horses are way too hairy for our unseasonable 80 degree weather.
While this work load may not seem like much to some, realize that I am operating on less than 100%, still rehabbing from ACL reconstructive surgery 9 weeks ago, with continued physical therapy for at least another 2 weeks.
What does the rest of the day hold for this lady? My house needs to be cleaned. My farm house also needs to be cleaned-baths, kitchen, appliances, laundry room and windows cleaned before showing to prospective new tenants on Monday.
The laminitic horse needs a watchful eye and increased care, and the abscessed foot also needs more attention. It is a 7 day a week job with long hours. A labor of love.
If you would like me to work with you on getting your horse healthy thru a consult, but don't want to pay for it, don't ask. If you would like me to board your senior, retired, special needs horse for less than my monthly boarding rate, I can't. If you do however, see the value in these things, please contact me, as I would love to work with you and your horse(s). This is how I make my living. This is how I can take in special needs horses that need this level of care and pay for their upkeep myself. It is not easy work. It is a true labor of love. These horses need me and I need them. They are here to teach me things and I remain open to listening to them.
Please visit my website for more information and support our passion if you can, or share with others--thank you! Cindy Daigre
www.ferrellhollowfarm.net
The horses of Ferrell HOllow Farm are very lucky to have you in their life Cindy. I know that everyone of them gets whatever attention is necessary to retire as comfortable and happy as possible. I appreciate all of your insight and knowledge as you assisted me in transitioning all of my horses to an all natural forage diet~~which includes your seed mixes and herbal mixes. I appreciate the extra time you take to make my two custom herbal mixes for Princess and Kojak. They are all looking amazing and maintaining a great weight. I had always had trouble with either keeping weight on my hard keeper or having an overweight gelding. But they are all doing wonderful with their new bucket meals... In fact if I am late in getting your herbal mixes sprinkled on his bucket meal, my little 3 YO rescue horse Eeyore comes out of his stall and looks at me like "Hey you forgot something"... Thank you again and you rock!!!
Posted by: Dawn Roberts | Monday, March 19, 2012 at 08:47 AM