This page is for horses in recovery.
Please read Nov 14, 2009 announcement at the bottom of this page.
This is Gem and her colt Whiskey. A.k.a Mellon Head. She came from some people who were moving away and couldn't take them. Gem foaled July 4, 2009.
This is what they looked like upon arrival:
 Click on picture to view slide show
This is their first week in rehab:
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This is their week 2 of rehab:
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This is week 3 of their rehab:
 Click on video to view slideshow
Week 4 & 5 will be coming soon....
Here is a video of how curious Mellon can be:
 Click on picture to view video
Both Gem & colt are leading very well. Gem had originally came from a ferral herd, so it will take some time to come around, but her colt is doing very well. He leads, picks up his feet, loves getting attention. He's has had bug spray training and we are starting parelli training. He's done the first game and handled it like a pro. He even fell asleep when I was tossing the haltershank lightly all over him.
Gem is coming along nicely. I can touch her on her face neck and have made it half way down her back. She's still very skittish on her legs and belly, but in time, will come around. She leads like a pro. Very relaxed. Loves to be brushed and have been able to bruch her to her hips before she moves away.
Octbober 10,2009
Well, yesterday was interesting...lol
Farrier came to the barn so the attempt was made to get them into the barn. Stable husband took Mellonbrains and I took mama. Mama was jittery but was very respectful of the halter and didn't attempt to bolt on me. Mellonbrains, well that's a whole new story. Little twerp walked as nice as pie to the barn door, then just exploded. Drug the husband a good 30 feet in the opposite direction. Ended up putting a bum rope on him to get him back to the barn, then he was pulling and I was pushing. When that failed, I let mama get to the door way, let her survey the situation and she walked right in. Him on the otherhand, wouldn't follow if his life depended on it. After a call from her, he came in the barn. Put them both in a stall. She paced a little bit as her boyfriend 2 paddocks over was still outside, so when he came in, she settled right down.
I couldn't be more proud of mama. Him on the otherhand, not so much....
He got his feet trimmed. Took half hour as he was going in circles. He doesn't do it outside, but taking into consideration, that this is the first time they have ever been in a barn in their life, I'll take the dancing over rearing and striking. Mama on the otherhand, well, I'll be consulting with the stable vet that's coming next Sat as to sedate her now or put extra work to her and get her feet picked up.
I've had to go very slow with her as when you pressure her, she has a freak attack that your going to hurt her. We are realizing, that when I get to certain spots on her body, her fear instinct kicks in 10 fold as someone or something in the past has abused her. I've managed to get half way to her front left knee before she starts stomping her feet badly like something is attacking her. I know over the last few years, there has been a cougar in the area and several horse has been killed by it. She doesn't have any visible scars like something has got her. She's just going to take more time to come around. Her and I have bonded and earning trust in eachother more and more. She knows I won't hurt her. I have never raised my hand to her, haven't raised my voice either.
She doesn't handle new things well. As soon as all 4 of her legs are out of her paddock, she will stand there and vibrate. More so when a man is around. She is getting better with the husband, but if I have friends over to see them and there is a strange man, she'll stand there and vibrate. Yet when I'm in her paddock and a man is around, she'll either hide behind me or stand beside me.
I have confidence she'll come around more and more, but will take time.
Oct 24, 2009
 Click picture to view slideshow.
Well, the stable vet came out on Sat to do teeth. We waited till the end as we weren't to sure how she would react to all the action going on in the barn. Mellon didn't have a freak attack when he got to the barn door this time. He'd rather just plant his feet and not go in. Thank god for bum ropes. With some encouragement, he walked in.
The vet was fantastic. I gave her the history of Gem without mentioning names, and she was very gentle with her. After about 10 minutes of message therapy on her neck, she accepted her first needle to draw blood for her Coggins without flinching. We were very proud of her. The vet also copped a feel to see if the boys were all there on Mellon, and they are. I was a little worried as the day before, I could only feel 1....lol
She's still a work in progress. These things just take time....
Nov 14, 2009
It is with total heartache that I announce that Gem & Mellon were humanely euthanized on Nov 9, 2009 by veterinary injection. It is a total shock to us that this had to be done, but we found out that Gem was a carrier with a fatal blood bourne disease that she passes onto her offspring. It was a hard decision to make but for the welfare of both of them and the quality of life for both of them, we didn't want them to suffer. She has had this disease, when she was pregnant with Mellon and he had it when he was born. The fairest thing to do was to put them down.
Gem and Mellon will always be remembered by everyone who met them by their characters. Gem, the shy one who wanted to get to know you but always watched your actions and responded accordingly and Mellon, the nipper, who every chance he got, would nip at you, the run away kicking his heels up. I have also taken tail clippings from both of them and am having memory bracelets made.
I'd like to thank all the people who called and emailed when the news broke about their untimely death. Your words of support are much appreciated.
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