RichZ
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2001
- Messages
- 1,876
- Tractor
- Kubota 4630 with cab and loader
We moved from the suburbs of Long Island to a small farm in upstate NY, 9 months ago to fulfill a lifelong dream. I've developed a morning routine, before showering and getting dressed for work. I feed our two 175 pound dogs, and take them out to their penned play area, feed and water our chickens, feed and water our goats, and check on the three horses that belong to our friends, but live with us. This morning, as I got done feeding the goats, I heard a horrific cry coming from the horse stall. Chance, a very large Belgian/Arabian mare was down in the stall, moaning, screaming and farting very loudly! Kid, an Arabian gelding was trying to groom and comfort her, and Sprite, a 24 year old thoroughbreed mare was standing by obviously distressed. To my inexperienced eyes it looked like colic, and I knew she should get up, so I ran into the stall to try to get her up. She got halfway up (into a sitting position, like a dog), and then she started to collapse on top of me. Chance weighs over 1500 pounds, and I had a mental flash of my wife walking into the stall later, finding me dead and crushed, with Chance dead on top of me. Not a good way to start the morning. I managed to lay her down as gently as possible, (just shows what adrenalin can allow you to do in an emergency) and she started moaning and screaming again. I thought, this is more than colic!! She's dying!! I ran into the house to call my friend to come right over. She lives less than 5 minutes away. My wife called the vet. We were both fighting back tears, as we love all our animals (even though the horses aren't truly ours). Our friend Eileen arrived, and said "Don't worry, this happens to Chance periodically. It's colic, she should be OK when we get her up." We got her up, and Eileen walked her. In 15 minutes, she was eating, and ready to create some sort of mischief, as she usually does. Everything turned out OK, but it just showed me, that we have alot to learn living on the farm!!! Of course its worth it!!!
(Cowboydoc! I sure could have used your sage advise this morning!!!!)
Rich
(Cowboydoc! I sure could have used your sage advise this morning!!!!)
Rich