[smokypocolena]

Hello, I am hoping to get some help/advice here. I live in Northeast Louisiana and just escued a 24 month old stud colt form a lady who surrendered him to me. She's had him since birth, her husband left her about a year ago, she lost her house and had no where to keep her horses. This was the last one she had and she was holding on desperately to him. She put him at a friends house about a year ago, where I just got him from. She was paying someone to feed and care for hiim since she lived out of town. When she came to check on him, she was horrified. There are 3 of 9 horses being kept in a small area, (including the one I got) about 100' x 150'. There is not a blade of grass in this area, it is a muddy mess, no hay to eat, no fresh water. The water that was available was rainwater and was contaminated with mosquito larvae and chunks of rust from the metal container the water was in. Two days prior, they had NO water at all. Before leaving, we dumped the water and gave them fresh water, they drank until the tub was dry and we filled back up again.
2 of the horses are 2 years old, VERY thin, one can hardly walk, has labored breathing, huge belly and eyes are very heavy. The other I was able to remove. I have it in my pasture now. It is also very thin, back bones, hips bones showing, no meat at all.
The owners of the other horses left are out of town for a week, they left May 19. The other 2 year old colt will not make it without vet care.
We filed a report with out local Sheriff's Dept, animal control said they could not do anything, it was out of their hands.
On this property is chickens, ducks, geese, cats and dogs. And one dead rabbit in it's cage. The chickens were eating the dead rabbit. The cats were eating the horse feed that fell to the ground. The horses were eating their own feces. The little colt is peeing green.
We do have several pictures of the horses and their environment. We were told two horses had died, one just foaled, hurt her leg somehow, drug herself around for 2-3 days and finally died. The horses have open wounds and cuts, mostly from barbed wire just lying around as well as unsafe fencing in most areas. Four other horses are kept in an adjoining pasture, which is good. They look pretty healthy, but they had no means to water, so we opened up the gate so they could get in to get to the water, they drank and drank.

We finally had someone from the La Brand Crimestoppers go out, but could not go on property without a warrant. They were able to see a round bale of hay had been put out there. I guess the owner got scared.
If they are unable to help them, we will get the media involved.
What I need to know now, is how to get this 24 month old stud colt back to health. The owner did take him to the vet Friday and had all his shots and had him micro chipped. He only has one testicle down (it just dropped over the weekend) so he is not gelded yet. She wormed him with Ivermectin on Sunday and he is still passing small white worms. I have him on just pasture right now (rye/bermuda) with my 5 year old gelding. When shoudl I worm hiim again and with what? What about my horse he is pastured with, He was wormed in March with 5 day Pancur and wormed again in April with Ivermectin. Here is a link to see the colt, he is at bottom of page. I willa lso be adding pictures of the other horses still left. Thank you in advance for nay help/suggestions. http://www.freewebs.com/viladabxrs/index.htm

[Simon Says]

so a report was filed and they siad it was out of there hands? How is animal control saying it is out of their hands?
And the colt was taked to the vet and they didn't say anything about his weight? he doesn't look terribly skinny in those photos, if he is that bad why didn't the vet say anything? Also where is La are you?

[Shuri]

The colt in the pics is not in that bad a shape. A month of good food should see him to a just fine weight now that he's been wormed; unless he has medical issues. I'd be far more worried about the cost to geld him (sounds like he's a cryptorchid, by two years both testicles should be down).

[mtgirl]

Welcome to the forum! You have come to the right place to find a wealth of information

Sorry, I can't help you, I will leave that to those who are more knowledgable on this subject.

I hope everything works out for you, it sound like your little guy will have a great home!

Good Luck!

[rhen]

Personally I think he looks pretty skinny!!!! Maybe I just like chub on horses but I'm sorry I think he needs groceries!!!!

[Shuri]

Originally Posted by rhen

Personally I think he looks pretty skinny!!!! Maybe I just like chub on horses but I'm sorry I think he needs groceries!!!!

He does need groceries, but he's hardly about to keel over. You
can see flesh on his frame and his back isn't sunken down and while
he has a negative crease, his vertebrae aren't visible. . . with proper feeding he should look fine in a
month or so. No one said he wasn't thinnish, just that he's
not very far gone and it will not take very long to put some weight
on him.

[denraydar]

Smokypocolena,
I read your post regrding the horses in Louisiana in need of rescue. I live in Texas but want to help in some way. There is a rescue agency in Shreveport that you can email for help or look them up on the internet and call them. Hopeful Haven in Shreveport, Louisiana. email info@hopefulhaven.com If they cannot help then just ask them to referr you to another horse rescue in Louisiana, they should know about other places. I forwarded your post about the colt and the other horses to Hopeful Haven but discovered later that you did not have contact information on the post so they cannot contact you to help. Please contact them or any other rescue as the horses in need are suffering every minute that goes by. Thanks so much for posting what you have seen and experienced and for loving horses.

[smokypocolena]

I am in Monroe, LA, I have contacted the Hopeful Haven in S'port and they put me in touch with La Brand Crimestoppers. They have already been by to look at horses through binoculars, do nto have a warrant to go on property ye, so much red tape involved. The colt I got is not as skinny, but is still very poor, neglected hooves, ribby and hip bones protruding which do not show in pics.....his back bone protrudes as well. I uploaded a few pics uner rescue horses, again, the pictures do not do the situation justice as you cannot see the distress the horses are under, nor the smell and condition of the place.

[Berkeley1]

I live in southern Louisiana and for some reason Louisiana doesn't seem that diligant on animal care. I have called animal control before and I always get the same run around.
On another note, I am so thankful that there are people out there like that is trying to help these poor animals. The colt is so adorable and looks so sweet. I am so happy he now has a good home. I hope the others will be rescued before its too late.

[dreamrdr1]

I live in Louisiana as well. I think it great you got involved and are trying to help the horses out. I hope that they can get out of those poor living conditions. Please keep us posted. Tonya