Gypsy - Neglect Case - 2 Weeks In! (Post 13)

firelight27 · 11-03-2009, 10:20 PM

Well, I'm up another horse again. I just can't seem to stay at two. I went to the NSPRA Finals (National Senior Pro Rodeo - people over 40) in Nevada this last weekend and helped my step-dad work his bulldogger and his hazing horse all weekend, and I really started missing having a full grown horse with some GO! Right now I have two yearlings, and I just sold my old mare as she was a "slow as a slug" rail horse. The 4 year old gelding I spent a year training last year was just too tiny and narrow bodied and I couldn't lie to myself about my size anymore (le sigh), so I found him a wonderful woman to be his new mom last fall.

In any case, to make a longer story a little less long, I was cruising Craigslist wistfully on Sunday in our hotel room and came across this horribly starved looking gelding named Clyde (not sure if he still needs a new home, if anyone in S. Oregon is interested let me know, she wants a $200 rehoming fee.) The girl who had him also had a mare. She happened to be a girl I was in 4H with ages ago, and she told me she had rescued these two horses only two weeks prior from an old man who couldn't afford to care for them.

I looked at the mare first, and I was really drawn to her. I rode her (I won't be riding her anymore for awhile until she gains weight, but I wasn't just going to purchase her without a short test ride.) You can tell someone did allot with her although she is rusty. She is very smooth and calm. Lets just hope some hidden crazy thing doesn't come out once she gets her weight back up and is feeling better. She is an appendix Quarter Horse who is supposedly registered and we'll see if I can get papers. Its confusing because the girl said the old man claimed he had the mare and Clyde from birth (the mare is 6, Clyde is 7 I believe.) However, she said there was something fishy and there are rumors a certain semi-famous country singer may have had them in training and just abandonded them when they didn't work out for her? Don't know, just rumours. Hopefully I can get her papers.

Her muscles are wasted away as if she was locked up 24/7 (maybe out of the owner's embarassment.) I'm hoping she'll fill out in the hip. I know she is long backed, and she is definitely sickle hocked to a degree with longer cannons than I like, but she does have TB in her. I'm hoping her back/hind end looks better with weight and muscle. It doesn't look as bad in the photos as she really is as she has a winter coat coming in that masks her ribs a little. You can really feel her spine and when you stand next to her you can see it jutting up. Poor thing! She is on pasture 24/7 now with all the grassy alfalfa she can eat and I'm starting her on a pelleted feed/rice bran mixture (building up slowly). Just started giving her one of those Safeguard Super Pack things although she doesn't strike me as super wormy (can't remember the exact name, I usually use Panacur Powerpacs for new horses.) Getting an appointment with the vet for teeth. She has ridiculously sharp points. I also put a nice heavy blanket on her.

Her feet are awful. Looks like elf shoes almost, and the photos I am posting are AFTER a first trim (not too much off at once so she doesn't go lame.) Just got a second trim today after the photos. Two or three more trims two weeks apart and she should be pretty normal as her feet are actually really nicely shaped except for an underslung heel from all that mismanagement.

(DEEP BREATH) Now that I've yapped your virtual ear off. Here are photos. I only got her Monday, so I've only had her one day.

- Click Me

- In fact, click any of these photos to enlarge.

(This photos makes her look much better than she is, but the sun was setting and not reflecting on her coat anymore.)

(I'll update in the next couple days of pictures of her with the fresh trim. Better than these, but still has a ways to go. I also clipped her face and bridle path tonight. Didn't even flinch. I'll post some photos of her freshly clipped, pretty face too.)

I'd like to get back into barrel racing and pole bending with her next spring. I'd also like to try my hand at breakaway, but I don't even own a rope or know how to rope so we'll see.

Native Winds · 11-03-2009, 10:30 PM

You have your work cut out for you. She looks like she just needs some serious TLC. Poor baby. Its sad to see those that are in need like that and have no vioce to cry out for help. Hopefully you can get her back to health and back to being happy. Keep us posted on your/her progress. As far as those feet are concerned, look like they need some good trimming jobs and time to grow back out more normal. Her heels are severlly underrun. Has she foundered before? (ie the front left hoof in the last picture)

firelight27 · 11-03-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Native Winds

You have your work cut out for you. She looks like she just needs some serious TLC. Poor baby. Its sad to see those that are in need like that and have no vioce to cry out for help. Hopefully you can get her back to health and back to being happy. Keep us posted on your/her progress. As far as those feet are concerned, look like they need some good trimming jobs and time to grow back out more normal. Her heels are severlly underrun. Has she foundered before? (ie the front left hoof in the last picture)

Not sure. The farrier didn't mention anything like that. Just seems to think her feet will do well with regular care. She isn't lame or sore footed, so thats always a plus. The heels do bother me allot though, but I've seen feet come back from allot of cr** when maintained properly so here is to hoping.

FancyASB · 11-03-2009, 11:11 PM

Check out my Darby before and after pictures I rescued last April, good food and care does wonders. Good luck with your girl! I cannot figure out how to post pictures here but no problem in the gallery. Just click on my images and you can see Darby 17 year Paso Fino mare.

Native Winds · 11-03-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firelight27

Not sure. The farrier didn't mention anything like that. Just seems to think her feet will do well with regular care. She isn't lame or sore footed, so thats always a plus. The heels do bother me allot though, but I've seen feet come back from allot of cr** when maintained properly so here is to hoping.

Sometimes its just hoof conformation and then add neglect and what not to it.. With proper trimming, time and nutrition and even shoing (if needed) the hooves can be brought back to normal.. Granted there are no underlying problems. I had a rescue whoes feet were terribly underrun and though her feet where never 100% they were much better than what they were. She was slowly brought back to better angles. It took about a good year to year and a half to get a better heel on her and then to maintain the entire hoof and what have you.

Its amazing how much a hoof can change even after one trimming. ie. the photo.

firelight27 · 11-03-2009, 11:58 PM

FancyABS, great job! I know I can get the same results you did, just gotta work hard at it. Luckily she seems to gain weight well. The gelding is worse than her, and Leslie said she looked just as bad at first. She has gained allot more than I would think in only two weeks with Leslie, and on grass hay only.

Native Winds - YIKES! That is a terrifying photo. At least Gypsy's heels aren't THAT bad. Well, they are definitely bad...but there is just something scary about that foot.

FancyASB · 11-04-2009, 06:32 PM

My one rescue ASB mare came with old worn out shoes, one hoof was 3 1/2 inches and the other 2 1/2 inches and she had a club foot. Took at least 6 months of my good old farrier working on her but she's fine now and totally sound. Just think that would be like walking with a broken heel on you shoe. Now to make it worst she had been at a trainers for 3 1/2 months and I paid for shoes and full training and board (in another state) I didn't get anything but a horse with original shoes, 100 lbs underweight and never ridden. So they don't even have to go through an auction to be mistreated.

firelight27 · 11-05-2009, 11:21 PM

Just a quick update. As I said before (I think), she had another trim and I clipped her face. She just stood there half asleep as I clipped away. I did her bridle path and her nose, and today I tried her ears (just the outside/edges). She didn't even flinch. Most horses are at least semi-irritated with ear clipping. She could have cared less. So, here are some clipped-face photos. I brushed out her mane. Its ridiculously thick and soft. It was hard to get her ears forward. I shook plastic bags, cans, everything I could think of and she just looked at me like I was an idiot. Not phased by any of it. Why would someone let such a nice, calm horse be neglected so much? Her temperament is amazing! (Click photos for larger views.)

(She has such soulful eyes.)

And her feet after the second trim:

(Still a long way off I know, but only a little at a time.)

FancyASB · 11-06-2009, 09:33 AM

With just a little trim what a doll! When the sparkle comes back to her eyes it makes you so happy. The feet, the feet takes so long to get them back after so much neglect. Long and slow process. Good luck she's such a lucky girl to have you!!!!

mftx4 · 11-06-2009, 12:09 PM

With the expression on her face, she looks to be an 'old soul'. Don't you wish they could tell what they think and feel. Perhaps she's just resolute to whatever comes next, good or bad. Once she's back in good shape, she'll feel the brighter side of her new life. She'll be very nice looking mare once she's back in condition.

11-03-2009, 10:20 PM	#1
firelight27 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 1,114 Images: 121	Gypsy - Neglect Case - 2 Weeks In! (Post 13) Well, I'm up another horse again. I just can't seem to stay at two. I went to the NSPRA Finals (National Senior Pro Rodeo - people over 40) in Nevada this last weekend and helped my step-dad work his bulldogger and his hazing horse all weekend, and I really started missing having a full grown horse with some GO! Right now I have two yearlings, and I just sold my old mare as she was a "slow as a slug" rail horse. The 4 year old gelding I spent a year training last year was just too tiny and narrow bodied and I couldn't lie to myself about my size anymore (le sigh), so I found him a wonderful woman to be his new mom last fall. In any case, to make a longer story a little less long, I was cruising Craigslist wistfully on Sunday in our hotel room and came across this horribly starved looking gelding named Clyde (not sure if he still needs a new home, if anyone in S. Oregon is interested let me know, she wants a $200 rehoming fee.) The girl who had him also had a mare. She happened to be a girl I was in 4H with ages ago, and she told me she had rescued these two horses only two weeks prior from an old man who couldn't afford to care for them. I looked at the mare first, and I was really drawn to her. I rode her (I won't be riding her anymore for awhile until she gains weight, but I wasn't just going to purchase her without a short test ride.) You can tell someone did allot with her although she is rusty. She is very smooth and calm. Lets just hope some hidden crazy thing doesn't come out once she gets her weight back up and is feeling better. She is an appendix Quarter Horse who is supposedly registered and we'll see if I can get papers. Its confusing because the girl said the old man claimed he had the mare and Clyde from birth (the mare is 6, Clyde is 7 I believe.) However, she said there was something fishy and there are rumors a certain semi-famous country singer may have had them in training and just abandonded them when they didn't work out for her? Don't know, just rumours. Hopefully I can get her papers. Her muscles are wasted away as if she was locked up 24/7 (maybe out of the owner's embarassment.) I'm hoping she'll fill out in the hip. I know she is long backed, and she is definitely sickle hocked to a degree with longer cannons than I like, but she does have TB in her. I'm hoping her back/hind end looks better with weight and muscle. It doesn't look as bad in the photos as she really is as she has a winter coat coming in that masks her ribs a little. You can really feel her spine and when you stand next to her you can see it jutting up. Poor thing! She is on pasture 24/7 now with all the grassy alfalfa she can eat and I'm starting her on a pelleted feed/rice bran mixture (building up slowly). Just started giving her one of those Safeguard Super Pack things although she doesn't strike me as super wormy (can't remember the exact name, I usually use Panacur Powerpacs for new horses.) Getting an appointment with the vet for teeth. She has ridiculously sharp points. I also put a nice heavy blanket on her. Her feet are awful. Looks like elf shoes almost, and the photos I am posting are AFTER a first trim (not too much off at once so she doesn't go lame.) Just got a second trim today after the photos. Two or three more trims two weeks apart and she should be pretty normal as her feet are actually really nicely shaped except for an underslung heel from all that mismanagement. (DEEP BREATH) Now that I've yapped your virtual ear off. Here are photos. I only got her Monday, so I've only had her one day. - Click Me - In fact, click any of these photos to enlarge. (This photos makes her look much better than she is, but the sun was setting and not reflecting on her coat anymore.) (I'll update in the next couple days of pictures of her with the fresh trim. Better than these, but still has a ways to go. I also clipped her face and bridle path tonight. Didn't even flinch. I'll post some photos of her freshly clipped, pretty face too.) I'd like to get back into barrel racing and pole bending with her next spring. I'd also like to try my hand at breakaway, but I don't even own a rope or know how to rope so we'll see. Last edited by firelight27; 11-17-2009 at 09:30 PM.

11-03-2009, 10:30 PM	#2
Native Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lexington KY area Posts: 2,044 Images: 10 Blog Entries: 19	You have your work cut out for you. She looks like she just needs some serious TLC. Poor baby. Its sad to see those that are in need like that and have no vioce to cry out for help. Hopefully you can get her back to health and back to being happy. Keep us posted on your/her progress. As far as those feet are concerned, look like they need some good trimming jobs and time to grow back out more normal. Her heels are severlly underrun. Has she foundered before? (ie the front left hoof in the last picture) __________________ They say money does'nt buy you happiness, but I know it would solve alot of my problems which makes me unhappy. "Trust No One" x-files

11-05-2009, 11:21 PM	#8
firelight27 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 1,114 Images: 121	Update Just a quick update. As I said before (I think), she had another trim and I clipped her face. She just stood there half asleep as I clipped away. I did her bridle path and her nose, and today I tried her ears (just the outside/edges). She didn't even flinch. Most horses are at least semi-irritated with ear clipping. She could have cared less. So, here are some clipped-face photos. I brushed out her mane. Its ridiculously thick and soft. It was hard to get her ears forward. I shook plastic bags, cans, everything I could think of and she just looked at me like I was an idiot. Not phased by any of it. Why would someone let such a nice, calm horse be neglected so much? Her temperament is amazing! (Click photos for larger views.) (She has such soulful eyes.) And her feet after the second trim: (Still a long way off I know, but only a little at a time.)

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11-03-2009, 11:11 PM	#4
FancyASB Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 70 Images: 17	Check out my Darby before and after pictures I rescued last April, good food and care does wonders. Good luck with your girl! I cannot figure out how to post pictures here but no problem in the gallery. Just click on my images and you can see Darby 17 year Paso Fino mare.

11-03-2009, 11:58 PM	#6
firelight27 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 1,114 Images: 121	FancyABS, great job! I know I can get the same results you did, just gotta work hard at it. Luckily she seems to gain weight well. The gelding is worse than her, and Leslie said she looked just as bad at first. She has gained allot more than I would think in only two weeks with Leslie, and on grass hay only. Native Winds - YIKES! That is a terrifying photo. At least Gypsy's heels aren't THAT bad. Well, they are definitely bad...but there is just something scary about that foot.

11-04-2009, 06:32 PM	#7
FancyASB Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 70 Images: 17	My one rescue ASB mare came with old worn out shoes, one hoof was 3 1/2 inches and the other 2 1/2 inches and she had a club foot. Took at least 6 months of my good old farrier working on her but she's fine now and totally sound. Just think that would be like walking with a broken heel on you shoe. Now to make it worst she had been at a trainers for 3 1/2 months and I paid for shoes and full training and board (in another state) I didn't get anything but a horse with original shoes, 100 lbs underweight and never ridden. So they don't even have to go through an auction to be mistreated.

11-06-2009, 09:33 AM	#9
FancyASB Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Penn Valley, CA Posts: 70 Images: 17	With just a little trim what a doll! When the sparkle comes back to her eyes it makes you so happy. The feet, the feet takes so long to get them back after so much neglect. Long and slow process. Good luck she's such a lucky girl to have you!!!!

11-06-2009, 12:09 PM	#10
mftx4 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cordova, Ill. Posts: 2,095 Images: 48	With the expression on her face, she looks to be an 'old soul'. Don't you wish they could tell what they think and feel. Perhaps she's just resolute to whatever comes next, good or bad. Once she's back in good shape, she'll feel the brighter side of her new life. She'll be very nice looking mare once she's back in condition.