pony care

Yesterday we took a long day trip to SGF, MO. to meet up with some folks. One of those was a potential place for Pandora, my mini-pony to board. The situation here is not ideal. The people mean well but they really don’t understand the pony metabolism and I have been living with a low grade, constant worry that Pandora might founder because of it.

We met up with Pam who owns about 10 acres and has two minis, as well as chickens and a pig who is being fattened up. She grew up on a farm, has a mini she drylots now,  and I feel confident about her care for Pandora.

The price will be $60, decreasing our current ridiculous ponyboard price of $150. I’m all about reducing bills because we will soon be paying for two households.

Pandora also got her shots today and I’ve started her on a loading dose for glucosomine. The pellets are alfalfa flavor so she gobbled them up with no problem.

Last time we were trimming she was having a hard time lifting up her feet as well as her back leg popped with the effort. Next weekend we will try again and see if she is more comfortable after a week of supplementation.

When we left 3H she had trouble getting into the trailer – it seems to be an issue with her hindlegs and one of those has scarring from an old encounter, most likely with barb wire. Then she had trouble getting up after rolling when she was at FR.

Those problems seem to have increased and I blame it not only on her age but the fact that FR and the current situation has allowed Pandora to get too heavy. This is putting her at risk of foundering and I definitely want her moved before we get the fall rains, and the grass greens up for a short time before winter.

I’m hoping to get her moved Aug 27/28. Husband will already be finishing up his first week of work in SGF for MCK and can keep an eye on her, as well as keep her trimmed.

it’s all in the grass…

Went out to check on Big Guy at his retirement home and to give him his annual vaccs (which went without a hitch). Weight wise he looks excellent! I also dropped off a 50# bag of Triple Crown Senior only to find his barrel still 2/3rds full when I was expecting it to be about half or less.

When we first moved him out there they were feeding him the same amount that he was getting fed at FR. But for some mysterious reason, my feed barrel wasn’t going down as quickly as it did at FR. I’m not sure what was up with that – either they were feeding more at FR or they are feeding less at the retirement pasture then the 2 scoops I showed them to feed. I don’t feel that FR would have stolen the feed or used it for other purposes or misfed. So it is a just a mystery at this point as to what was going on.

Now he’s on 10 acres of grass and getting fed one scoop a day and not only maintaining but gaining weight. The only difference is the grass access and it’s making all the difference in his level of weight, especially for a senior.

Vaccs and Dental

Vaccinations done on Z which I decided to add the Rabies since she is young (turning four in August). I’ve got the injections for Big Guy and Pandora (no rabies) so I’ll give those most likely on Sunday.

Both BG and Pandora have been with me at least 7 years and once we were at a farm that had strangles – while other horses were dropping like flies, neither caught Strangles. They must have a pretty robust immune system so I try not to interfere with it. Personally, if they were on my own property and not being boarded, I would opt for vaccs every 3-5 years.

I had originally planned on getting Z’s dental done today but it turns out that it will be more then just a filing… she has a loose, wiggly babytooth that didn’t fall out; wolf teeth to be removed, AND filing. So Dr. Cowgirl will come out sometime next week and finish it.

No wonder Z has been mouth sore!

vet visit

Last week BigT came up lame on the right hind – the same area of the pelvic fracture. After five days of Bute and stall rest, it did not improve so I had scheduled the vet to look at him today.

Good news – it is merely a stone bruise on the toe and he should be feeling better soon. Tomorrow I will do an epsom salt soak for him.

She also checked his mouth and we were both very pleased by how it is healing. At the end of August, she will work on rasping him and making the teeth meet again.

At that time she’ll give shots to Z and Pandora; leave a shot for T (not good idea to do it at the same time as teeth work due to dislodging bacteria in the mouth etc…); and take a Coggins on Dee. I need to check my horses’ Coggins, but don’t think they are due until next spring. Since we don’t plan on going anywhere this fall/winter, they should be okay.

Confirmed that Dee’s issues were the fly allergy (not that I didn’t believe her owner, but I always like to doublecheck) and that her slow eating was not due to teeth which looked fine.