Whiskey and Cuervo came home on on Sunday June 8. They arrived without any issue. Both mom and baby needed immediate baths and Whiskey needs her hooves trimmed urgently, but Cuervo is a fast learner and a brave little boy. Mom and baby stood well for their spa treatments and Cuervo even let our farrier trim his little hooves yesterday! Whiskey was a different story and needs some working with first. They can be caught and led around our barns and indoor with no trouble.
Tuesday June 10 we made the second trip North for the remaining three horses. When we arrived, Mom "Charisma" was tied to a tree, and her baby "Envy" was in another field crying for her. We quickly reunited mom and baby and they loaded very well. Once I got a hand on Envy she quieted and mom followed her on the trailer. They seemed to know they were going to a better place.
CAUTION GRAPHIC!!!!
DO NOT scroll down if you cannot handle graphic photos or stories.
Than it was time to catch poor Gypsy. This sweet girl was nuzzling our hands when we picked up Whiskey and Cuervo. If we had only known what was in store for her, we would've taken her on the first trip. The stablehand lassoed poor Gypsy and wrapped the rope around a tree. Her hind leg got tangled in the web of rope and she panicked. She was rearing and running 3/4 of the way around the tree. She couldn't get around the tree, since there was 6 strand electric wire cattle fencing on one side.
When the stable hand cut the rope, she was still attached to the tree by her head, but her leg was free. She pushed between the fence and tree and went through the fencing. She cried out loud from the pain and fear of being electricuted and sliced by the wires. When she got out of the web of wire she had minor abrasions and lacerations on her legs...and then she turned around. Her beautiful painted skin had been peeled from the muscle on her chest and shoulder.
This poor three year old had never asked for this. The proud farm owner asked if he should just shoot her. When we realized getting a vet was just not an option, we backed the trailer into her paddock and dropped the gate. She tiptoed right on and looked over her shoulder begging us to shut the ramp. We hauled her and her rope confines home.
Our vet, Dr. Hammond, met us home. He spoke gently to her for 20 mins until he slipped a halter on her and sedated her. She followed him into the barn like a puppy. As she gets in and her wounds are cleaned, a thunder storm hit, and we lose power. Our patient vet never skipped a beat, and continued suturing while we held flashlights and whispered to our little girl.
She stood like a rock for two hours of stitching and cleaning through a thunderstorm. What a brave little girl!
Today, she is on stall rest, but is trusting despite her ordeal. She allows us to feed her and clean her stall. She'll come touch us with her nose and think about nuzzling, but then turns away. We are optimistic about her healing and becoming a nice adult horse.
Thank you for all your help and support through this process: Robert Trump, Annmarie Pallan, Dan Taylor, Ren Adams, Lyndsey Posner, Parker Lightfield Farm, Jamie Manning, Gary Freeborn, Kathie Franco, Loretta Pecora, the Siegel family, and Matt Zele. We would like to extend a very special thank you to the prompt attention of Dr. Hammond's staff on call that night, Megan and Cheryl and of course, the biggest thank you to our wonderful vet, Dr. David Hammond.
Please contact us if you can offer any help, whether it be financial or your time to help socialize the babies.
Numerous clients and friends sent me a newsletter about a woman in British Columbia, named Liz. An orphaned calf had found its way to Liz, and she introduced him to her horses. The first few times people sent me this newsletter, I deleted it. I am inundated with emails daily, and thought it just a horseperson forward, and I overlooked it. The emails of the newsletter continued getting into my inbox from friends, clients and colleagues. I gave in; I opened the newsletter and was interested. So interested, I ventured onto the attached website. I was in awe. All the animals on the farm coexisted together and with their people. There are videos and GORGEOUS paintings and artwork by Liz. Than I found the sales page. Sales?!?! The family is continuously bred and sold? I was confused and disappointed. This newsletter that was finally opened, was only to disappoint me? I found the contact page and contacted Liz and one of her horses. I discussed my feelings and expected either no response, or one telling me to mind my own business. I was instead contacted without any hard feelings. Liz and I shared a few emails, and I am no longer disappointed at all. Liz and Winnie have successfully convinced me the sales page is not what I had first believed it to be. I encourage you all to please visit Liz's website http://www.lizmittenryan.com/ I further encourage you to watch her video on youtube (also on her site) and maybe even buy one of her books. She and the herd will donate a portion of the sales to our orphans so both herds can be helped with just a little support from you. Hopefully you don't procrastinate as I did.
