RE-HOMED!
Dolly's Journey
Close to 11 years ago I purchase a young Thoroughbred Mare from the Lara district of Victoria as my new future riding Mare. Back 10 years ago she was well under-feed, wasted, and just had a run of bad luck in a drought effected area, not owners fault, just a bad year. I put in the time at a very young age myself to bring this mare to her full "healthy" potential and show her love she hadn't yet received before. Fast forward 1 year and we were both at stage in our partnership we were now show jumping, and enjoying it. One fatal unexpected accident left me unable to ride for a while. I then sold Dolly onto a ambitious young show jumper teenager, like myself, but it turned into a horror story.
Do not trust anyone despite if they look and sound to good to be true. Teenage minds change, they go through changes themselves, they will sometimes lose interest, and this is what happened to my Dolly when these events happen.
- Left my care
- 1 year in care of new owner, then 2 years of being abandoned with just a canvas rug on. No ventilation, no check-up, no love, no care and through all our harsh seasons. Including our sizzling heat.
- Sold on: Is feasted with no fur and skin patches missing.
- 8 years in a uneducated owner's care who found her on previous property, but then proceeded to butch her feet in a home farrier job. Was at least fed, but no dental care. Ended up being for sale.
- Stumbled upon her and purchased her for $100
Dolly finally came back home to me on the 3rd of March, 2013.
Do not trust anyone despite if they look and sound to good to be true. Teenage minds change, they go through changes themselves, they will sometimes lose interest, and this is what happened to my Dolly when these events happen.
- Left my care
- 1 year in care of new owner, then 2 years of being abandoned with just a canvas rug on. No ventilation, no check-up, no love, no care and through all our harsh seasons. Including our sizzling heat.
- Sold on: Is feasted with no fur and skin patches missing.
- 8 years in a uneducated owner's care who found her on previous property, but then proceeded to butch her feet in a home farrier job. Was at least fed, but no dental care. Ended up being for sale.
- Stumbled upon her and purchased her for $100
Dolly finally came back home to me on the 3rd of March, 2013.
10 Years ago
Left: When I first purchased her. Right: What she looked like in my care.
Left: When I first purchased her. Right: What she looked like in my care.
2013 - Now
4TH March
After a worm, feed and wash. Due date with the farrier is 5th of March.
4TH March
After a worm, feed and wash. Due date with the farrier is 5th of March.
5TH March
As Dolly's hooves were butchered by the previous home and were already short and cracked to the coronet band, the Farrier had to unfortunately trim Dolly hooves as best he could to start the corrective trimming. Dolly's hooves were cut far too much under her which resulted in her frog being crushed and sitting on her heel. The smell was stomach turning! As to be expected Dolly will be unsound til new hoof growth will form.
It is extremely important for any horse to have a Master Farrier to correctly trim/shoe, so issues like Dolly's do not occur. No hoof, No horse!
After trimming. Lame and very tender, and on a course of Bute (Pain killer + anti-inflammatory)
As Dolly's hooves were butchered by the previous home and were already short and cracked to the coronet band, the Farrier had to unfortunately trim Dolly hooves as best he could to start the corrective trimming. Dolly's hooves were cut far too much under her which resulted in her frog being crushed and sitting on her heel. The smell was stomach turning! As to be expected Dolly will be unsound til new hoof growth will form.
It is extremely important for any horse to have a Master Farrier to correctly trim/shoe, so issues like Dolly's do not occur. No hoof, No horse!
After trimming. Lame and very tender, and on a course of Bute (Pain killer + anti-inflammatory)
6TH March
Vet came to give Dolly a check over. Lungs and gut are clear. Temp normal.
- Treating for a Goiter (Enlarged thyroid gland)
- Received a tetanus and Strangles Vaccination
- Phenylbutazone booster Injection
Dolly will be paddock bound til at least is able to walk soundly and pain free.
Til then the Dentist will be arriving on the 12th!
15th March
Dentist has been(12th) and gone. A thanks to Brendon Cohen!
Brendon confirmed my suspicions that Dolly had not had any dental care for a numerous number of years, and although her teeth were in good heath they were sharp as razor blades. A good file to remove those sharp edges and already Dolly was eating better.
Today, Dolly had a bath in a herbal wash to help remove the built up dry skin in her coat and add back some natural oils. She also received a brand new summer cotton and a winter rug for the upcoming wet winter we are expecting.
Think she like the Blue? :D
Dentist has been(12th) and gone. A thanks to Brendon Cohen!
Brendon confirmed my suspicions that Dolly had not had any dental care for a numerous number of years, and although her teeth were in good heath they were sharp as razor blades. A good file to remove those sharp edges and already Dolly was eating better.
Today, Dolly had a bath in a herbal wash to help remove the built up dry skin in her coat and add back some natural oils. She also received a brand new summer cotton and a winter rug for the upcoming wet winter we are expecting.
Think she like the Blue? :D
18th March
Wormy belly gone and coat improving greatly.
Wormy belly gone and coat improving greatly.
23rd March
Vet came again this morning to give Dolly more Bute and to check over her hooves as she has been struggling with extreme amount of swelling in three of her legs because she's not walking around her paddock do to pain from the hooves. The soles of her hooves are SO soft and thin that if she were to walk on a rock she's be bruised and in more pain, also very prone to abscesses forming . One of her frogs (V shaped area under hoof) located on her front right is nonexistent which it not good thing to have, and her other frog and soles are very level with each other. In other words her frog part of Dolly's hooves need to grow more for her to walk better.
Later that morning I soaked Dolly's front hooves in Epsom Salts this morning after lunging her ONLY at a walk around the arena to get some blood circulation going more freely--To reduce the swelling in legs. Vet expects her to be like this for 2 months.
Will soak her feet in a hot Epsom salt solution again tomorrow. Also will be having a trailer load of sawdust delivered to give her a soft ground to walk on.
The bad hoof
Very flat concaved looking frog (V shaped area)
Vet came again this morning to give Dolly more Bute and to check over her hooves as she has been struggling with extreme amount of swelling in three of her legs because she's not walking around her paddock do to pain from the hooves. The soles of her hooves are SO soft and thin that if she were to walk on a rock she's be bruised and in more pain, also very prone to abscesses forming . One of her frogs (V shaped area under hoof) located on her front right is nonexistent which it not good thing to have, and her other frog and soles are very level with each other. In other words her frog part of Dolly's hooves need to grow more for her to walk better.
Later that morning I soaked Dolly's front hooves in Epsom Salts this morning after lunging her ONLY at a walk around the arena to get some blood circulation going more freely--To reduce the swelling in legs. Vet expects her to be like this for 2 months.
Will soak her feet in a hot Epsom salt solution again tomorrow. Also will be having a trailer load of sawdust delivered to give her a soft ground to walk on.
The bad hoof
Very flat concaved looking frog (V shaped area)
2nd May
Dolly has had some wonderful progress happening over the last few weeks.
Her anxiety is less and only pops up occasionally.
She's had another farrier visit to only trim her hoof shape. Her sole was untouched as well as frog for the time being. She's walking much better and her sole is thickening, which is great to see. I lunge her regularly on soft sand(Hard surfaces she can't handle yet)to keep her active and simulate her brain, and have been starting her on some repetitive groundwork.
Groundwork lessons Dolly receives are turning hindquarters, ground poles, backing(Alphabet shaped), and giving to pressure through bridle and halter work. Even though Dolly has previously done this with me 11 years ago when I first owned her, she has been left untouched til now. I am treating her as if she's a young horse and reintroducing it all to her.
Dolly backing through L shaped ground poles. This exercise is good for coordinating the hind-end
Dolly has had some wonderful progress happening over the last few weeks.
Her anxiety is less and only pops up occasionally.
She's had another farrier visit to only trim her hoof shape. Her sole was untouched as well as frog for the time being. She's walking much better and her sole is thickening, which is great to see. I lunge her regularly on soft sand(Hard surfaces she can't handle yet)to keep her active and simulate her brain, and have been starting her on some repetitive groundwork.
Groundwork lessons Dolly receives are turning hindquarters, ground poles, backing(Alphabet shaped), and giving to pressure through bridle and halter work. Even though Dolly has previously done this with me 11 years ago when I first owned her, she has been left untouched til now. I am treating her as if she's a young horse and reintroducing it all to her.
Dolly backing through L shaped ground poles. This exercise is good for coordinating the hind-end
A picture can tell you a thousand words.
27th May
2nd June
Barefoot trimmer is now trimming Dolly's hooves to try a different way, as I want to try and keep her barefoot for her health, also because of the abuse her hooves have been through. What a difference! We did discover some nasty surprises. All four hooves have wall separation, blood bruising and scarring, new and old, along with seedy toe on 3 hooves. All her issues will be treated, especially the seedy toe with a mix of Cooper sulfate and Vaseline into the effected area and manuku honey. She'll have another trim is 5 weeks time on the 7th July.
Here are some photos of the result during the barefoot trim.
Barefoot trimmer is now trimming Dolly's hooves to try a different way, as I want to try and keep her barefoot for her health, also because of the abuse her hooves have been through. What a difference! We did discover some nasty surprises. All four hooves have wall separation, blood bruising and scarring, new and old, along with seedy toe on 3 hooves. All her issues will be treated, especially the seedy toe with a mix of Cooper sulfate and Vaseline into the effected area and manuku honey. She'll have another trim is 5 weeks time on the 7th July.
Here are some photos of the result during the barefoot trim.
17 July
It has been two months since the last update of Dolly, but no worries, it is all good news. Dolly's hooves have improved greatly, and the majority of the wall separation and bruising is disappearing. They are still small size hooves, but with time they will gather more of a normal healthy length. Dolly also still has slight seedy toe, although again with more time that will disappear as well, especially with the weather warming up.
On the 12th of July all my horses had Noel Cunningham equine chiropractor give them a look over and Dolly had various places out. She was to be suspect in great discomfort as the places she was out was her poll, neck/shoulder, 5 vertebrates along her spine and pelvis. Noel will be coming again in a month to give her another look over.
Photos below are BEFORE Dolly's chiropractor visit.
It has been two months since the last update of Dolly, but no worries, it is all good news. Dolly's hooves have improved greatly, and the majority of the wall separation and bruising is disappearing. They are still small size hooves, but with time they will gather more of a normal healthy length. Dolly also still has slight seedy toe, although again with more time that will disappear as well, especially with the weather warming up.
On the 12th of July all my horses had Noel Cunningham equine chiropractor give them a look over and Dolly had various places out. She was to be suspect in great discomfort as the places she was out was her poll, neck/shoulder, 5 vertebrates along her spine and pelvis. Noel will be coming again in a month to give her another look over.
Photos below are BEFORE Dolly's chiropractor visit.
Last update!
After a lot of thinking I placed Dolly up for retirement, as she just was not suitable or coping with a loud stressful environment. So for her health I went in search for her new home. After a careful process Dolly has been re-homed to Maffra with a lovely couple to retire on large 42 acre property with plenty of other horses!
Here are some photos of Dolly in her new home with Victoria and Adam Salopek!
After a lot of thinking I placed Dolly up for retirement, as she just was not suitable or coping with a loud stressful environment. So for her health I went in search for her new home. After a careful process Dolly has been re-homed to Maffra with a lovely couple to retire on large 42 acre property with plenty of other horses!
Here are some photos of Dolly in her new home with Victoria and Adam Salopek!