The lack of updates is mainly due to the fact that not much has been happening up until last night.
After the initial rapid weight gain, and the dentist visiting, all we can do now really is be patient and wait while Snowy's body recovers.
He is noticably weak - in fact, when prancing around the paddock last week, his back end gave way, and he ended up crashing heavily to the ground. On struggling to his feet, we noticed him limping badly, and I have to admit that my heart was in my mouth, but after a few strides, his gait was much improved, and after half an hour, he was walking around normally (for him).
It did serve to remind me though, that the lack of nutrition, and probably the lice, have left him quite weak and run down, and though the improvements are pleasing, we are all too aware that he still has a long way to go....
With that in mind, we decided that he would benefit from some light lunging, two or three times per week, for a few minutes each session, and maybe a light weight (brave!) rider walking him around, to start strengthening his muscles. Hopefully this will improve his fitness and co-ordination, and we can build up from there.
The problem was always going to be finding someone brave enough to climb on board, given that he is full of good feed...
Enter our youngest (and bravest) daughter - Abbi!!
She initially sat on him (on the leadrope), with a view to seeing how he would react. The leadrope of course, was for Abbi's psycholoical benefit. Deep down, we all all know that if a thoroughbred is going to tank off into the distance, one leadrope attached to it, isn't going to make a blind bit of difference! However, we figured that, being young, she would bounce better than an adult, and she's quite keen on hospitals...
Well, to our enormous surprise and delight, Snowy behaved perfectly! And with instructions to just let him loose walk around, she set off on him around the paddock with him. He was calm, unflappable, and quite content to potter around.
He is a long way from being ridden out and worked correctly, but these little achievements, are the ones that make you smile the most.
Friday, 27 April 2007
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Wednesday 18th April 2007 - Post Dentists Visit
Firstly, before I write anything else, I would just like to personally thank Diane Holliday and Brian Wilson (the EDT's) for their fantastic work. Please feel free to contact me for their details, as I would highly recommend their care and expertise to anybody whose horse needs dental work. Everything was explained in great detail, and advice was given out. Nothing seemed too much trouble, and Snowy's care and comfort was their highest priority throughout the whole procedure. Even our vet seemed highly impressed!
It would appear that Snowy never had a parrot mouth at all!
Because the back teeth were in such bad shape, the jaw was unable to align correctly, forcing the lower jaw back. Diane tells us that there should be an improvement in a relatively short time, and even this morning an improvement in alignment could be seen.
Brian will float his teeth in six months, and there will be a return visit by Diane in twelve months to do some more power work, then with the usual regular checks and care, he shouldn't need any further major work (fingers crossed!).
So, after the huge amount of work done yesterday, we kept Snowy at home last night so that we could keep an eye on him, but this morning he seems bright, happy and well in himself, so will return to his paddock later today to chill out and relax.
Next step - the farrier.
It would appear that Snowy never had a parrot mouth at all!
Because the back teeth were in such bad shape, the jaw was unable to align correctly, forcing the lower jaw back. Diane tells us that there should be an improvement in a relatively short time, and even this morning an improvement in alignment could be seen.
Brian will float his teeth in six months, and there will be a return visit by Diane in twelve months to do some more power work, then with the usual regular checks and care, he shouldn't need any further major work (fingers crossed!).
So, after the huge amount of work done yesterday, we kept Snowy at home last night so that we could keep an eye on him, but this morning he seems bright, happy and well in himself, so will return to his paddock later today to chill out and relax.
Next step - the farrier.
Friday, 13 April 2007
Monday 9th April
The EDT Brian Wilson has been out, and has given Snowy's teeth a thorough inspection, checking not only inside the mouth, but also the whole outer facial area. Snowy was a little nervous and tense, but the chap was very calm, soothing and gentle with him, and I was very impressed with his obvious knowledge and experience.
The verdict is that Snowy has some of the worst dental problems he has ever seen.
The upper incisors have never erupted properly, and the teeth wear is hideously uneven throught the mouth, meaning that extensive treatment is needed with electrical tools, with the likelihood of gum incisions being required.
The jaw muscles are very under-developed, meaning that he has not been chewing his food because of his teeth, and we were told that had he been left as he was, it is extremely unlikely that he would have survived beyond another year.
With a little logistical planning, the treatment date has been booked for Tuesday 17th April, with Brian, his colleague Diane Holliday from the Northwest coming down, and our vet in attendence in order to administer sedation.
I have to admit to being a little worried that all this dental work, and the associated after-pain, might mean he has a minor set back with regards to getting enough nutrition, but it's a neccessary evil, that we're confident will lead to a drastic long term improvement.
Please send your positive vibes our way at 2pm on the 17th....
The verdict is that Snowy has some of the worst dental problems he has ever seen.
The upper incisors have never erupted properly, and the teeth wear is hideously uneven throught the mouth, meaning that extensive treatment is needed with electrical tools, with the likelihood of gum incisions being required.
The jaw muscles are very under-developed, meaning that he has not been chewing his food because of his teeth, and we were told that had he been left as he was, it is extremely unlikely that he would have survived beyond another year.
With a little logistical planning, the treatment date has been booked for Tuesday 17th April, with Brian, his colleague Diane Holliday from the Northwest coming down, and our vet in attendence in order to administer sedation.
I have to admit to being a little worried that all this dental work, and the associated after-pain, might mean he has a minor set back with regards to getting enough nutrition, but it's a neccessary evil, that we're confident will lead to a drastic long term improvement.
Please send your positive vibes our way at 2pm on the 17th....
Sunday, 1 April 2007
Sunday 1st April 2007
It's now 8 days since Snowy arrived, and it's already hard to imagine what life was like without him. Certainly less busy, that's for sure!
This past week seems to have been one long saga of phone calls, visits, feeding, grooming, treating him for one thing after another - the list seems endless.
He still has some lice, so his treatment is ongoing, but he certainly seems happier in himself.
He is however, getting fed up with being poked around and messed with, and seems very ungrateful at times - especially when he tries to bite or kick you.
All that said, it has to be remembered that he is a horse, and doesn't understand that what we are doing is to help him. His treatment, especially for his mud fever, must be painful at times, and I've no doubt that sometimes he must wish that he is back where he came - left alone, untouched by meddling human hands.
Oddly though, he is always pleased to see us, and actually cantered up the paddock to us yesterday. It might though have something to do with the bucket of feed that accompanies us, rather than the pleasure of spending time with us...
I have taken a photo of him today, and added it to the photo collection in order to compare them.
Minimal change, but fingers crossed we will see an improvement over the coming weeks and months.
This past week seems to have been one long saga of phone calls, visits, feeding, grooming, treating him for one thing after another - the list seems endless.
He still has some lice, so his treatment is ongoing, but he certainly seems happier in himself.
He is however, getting fed up with being poked around and messed with, and seems very ungrateful at times - especially when he tries to bite or kick you.
All that said, it has to be remembered that he is a horse, and doesn't understand that what we are doing is to help him. His treatment, especially for his mud fever, must be painful at times, and I've no doubt that sometimes he must wish that he is back where he came - left alone, untouched by meddling human hands.
Oddly though, he is always pleased to see us, and actually cantered up the paddock to us yesterday. It might though have something to do with the bucket of feed that accompanies us, rather than the pleasure of spending time with us...
I have taken a photo of him today, and added it to the photo collection in order to compare them.
Minimal change, but fingers crossed we will see an improvement over the coming weeks and months.
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Wednesday 28th March 2007
After much debate, and a phone call to the ILPH, we finally agreed a feeding programme of unmolassed sugar beet, Top Spec Conditioning Flakes, a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement, and Alfalfa.
Snowy has a parrot mouth, with obvious uneven teeth wear, so sloppy feeds are the order of the day, and a dentists apointment is the next step.
Having given him a couple of days to settle in, he was bathed and deloused yesterday - his coat was heaving with the critters. He also has some sore areas around his heels, so they have been cleaned and creamed up.
Hooves are okay at the moment, but there are a couple of minor hairline cracks on his fronts, so we will get our farrier to take a look and see if he requires some work on them.
After his initial quietness on arrival, on seeing him this morning, he trotted up to us with a lovely greeting. Hopefully a sign that he is feeling a little brighter...
Snowy has a parrot mouth, with obvious uneven teeth wear, so sloppy feeds are the order of the day, and a dentists apointment is the next step.
Having given him a couple of days to settle in, he was bathed and deloused yesterday - his coat was heaving with the critters. He also has some sore areas around his heels, so they have been cleaned and creamed up.
Hooves are okay at the moment, but there are a couple of minor hairline cracks on his fronts, so we will get our farrier to take a look and see if he requires some work on them.
After his initial quietness on arrival, on seeing him this morning, he trotted up to us with a lovely greeting. Hopefully a sign that he is feeling a little brighter...
A Brief History
Broughtons Mill is a grey Thoroughbred gelding, born on 10th March 1995.
He ran his first race at Newmarket on 19th July 1997 where he came 6th out of 12 runners.
His 'career' was less than illustrious, and having been raced on the flat, and over jumps, he ran his last race at Market Rasen on 9th June 2004.
His history in recent years is decidedly sketchy, but he was, up until the present time, used for hacking and funrides, and came to us on Saturday 24th March 2007 in a rather sad and sorry state.
This diary will hopefully record his progress.
He ran his first race at Newmarket on 19th July 1997 where he came 6th out of 12 runners.
His 'career' was less than illustrious, and having been raced on the flat, and over jumps, he ran his last race at Market Rasen on 9th June 2004.
His history in recent years is decidedly sketchy, but he was, up until the present time, used for hacking and funrides, and came to us on Saturday 24th March 2007 in a rather sad and sorry state.
This diary will hopefully record his progress.
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