Newsletter Update August 2006

In This Update:

Manny Survives major surgery
Its a Filly!
Wrangler Jayne Clinic
New Barefoot Website
70 Year Old passes Level 1
Book Review
Calendar & Classifieds

Hello Horselovers!
So much has happened in the past month that I thought I'd write this update while the news was still fresh in my mind.

Manny Survives Major Surgery
Colic is one of the biggest killers of horses world-wide and my turn came to make decisions on this less than a month after my friend, Jen lost her beloved Jack to colic.

My 18yo wonder horse, Manny, who took me through all my Parelli levels and did Agfest demos for 9 years, started to colic a few weeks ago. He seemed to recover quickly from his initial attack but a few days later he had another.
I kept him close to the house for observation and as the days progressed, his colic attacks became more frequent. The vet was called each time but he was often showing no symptoms by the time they arrived. After the usual treatment with drugs and parrafin oil, he seemed to get some relief for a short time - but then he'd go down again, trying to roll so his legs were up-hill which seemed to help.
After 10 days of little sleep on my part and an examination by another vet in the same practice, an odd lump was felt in his small colon. He came back the next day and was unable to find it again so the decision to operate had to be considered - I was to nurse him for another 3 days over the weekend and let them know if I wanted to go ahead with such a major operation.

Pete (and puss) with Manny during a colic attack just prior to surgery.

After a horrible night with Manny's symptoms becoming worse, there was no doubt in my mind that he could only be saved by abdominal surgery, and we had to do it soon as his energy was waning. I rang the vet that morning and he scheduled the op. for 2.30pm - we had a couple of hours to prepare a stable and move horses around so when he came home, everything would be in place. The Deloraine vet practice doesn't have an operating table so Manny was put on his back on the lawn outside the surgery. Fortunately a tumour the size of a grapefruit was located fairly quickly and the two vets, Roger Blackwell and Kendall Crocker went to work, removing the section of colon it was blocking, then re-joining it carefully. Two hours later, Manny was back in one piece and receiving huge amounts of fluids as he started to come out of the anaesthetic. There were some worrying moments during the two hours it took him to stand up again - his age and sensitivity to the anaesthetic made for a long recovery and finally at 8.30pm that night, we were able to carefully transport him the 15km home.

For the next 5 days, the poor horse had to endure 4 injections a day of antibiotics and penicillian plus oral painkillers which he hated the taste of.
Despite his discomfort and the shock to his system, he started to eat a little, especially bran mashes, apples and carrots.
I led him out to pick on grass to get his appetite going and he started looking brighter, especially once the injections and painkillers were completed.
The 20cm incision in his belly swelled up initially but after a week, had subsided and eventually the stitches will dissolve.
The biggest issue for Manny was being confined in a stable - he has never enjoyed that and fretted every time his alpha mare and best mate went out of sight. So they are in semi confinement too - keeping him company in a yard beside the stable where he can see them at all times.

Now, almost 2 weeks after the operation, he is accepting the routine of stabled life and enjoying the extra attention and treats every time someone visits him.
His eye is bright again and his step is getting perkier each time we go out for an hour on grass - he's even enjoyed a roll.
The tests came back on the tumour and it is a lympho sarcoma which means there is a slight chance the cancer cells are active elsewhere .... but only time will tell.
In the meantime, Manny is enjoying a pain free life and a functional digestive system - so that's the least I can do for him, after all he's taught me.

In 4 weeks time, I will enjoy watching him run free again, and be thankful there are vets who give their all to help save a special horse.

Its a Filly!

Remember Armero, my arabian mare I discovered was in foal to my 2 year old colt, Finale? Well, we weren't sure of the exact foaling date as Finn bred her before he was supposed to (at 18mths of age) and now I have the prettiest little filly as a result.
She was born on Sunday morning, after 2 sleeplesss nights of me checking on Armero who had waxed up and was running milk.
The weather had been wet and cold so we put up the Afgest marquee for her as a temporary shelter and set down a bed of straw on Saturday night - which she used to foal on - clever girl.
At my 3am check, there was the cutest little filly, up and trying to drink, still wet and all wobbly. I stayed up with them the rest of the night to ensure the filly was safe as the tent was on a flat spot but with a steep bank nearby, which she wobbled towards too often. As the weather worsened, I decided to close them in so added 2 more walls and the door to make a cosy stable.
I cuddled up to the shivering little bundle in the straw as the dogs snuggled close to a haybale and Armero stood protectively over us.
She's a wonderful mum, very accepting of people and absolutely doting over her daughter, nibbling and licking her while she drinks and touching noses often.
In those first few hours of life, little Ameretto (Amy for short) imprinted on me as well as her mother so has no fear and soon discovered that people are good for a scratch. She picks up all her legs for me, yields forwards, backwards and hindquarters - all learned from very short 2 minute or less sessions during our regular interactions.
I do believe in imprint training a foal, but not in 'flooding' them with sensory overload. I tend to do things as the opportunity presents itself, and when the foal is happy to accept little steps of learning. That way, pressure can be added very gradually and the foal doesn't learn to resist or see humans as a source of annoyance.
We are certainly priviledged to have a fresh canvas to work with when a foal is born and our job is to enhance it, rather than develop issues the foal will then carry with it for the rest of its life - definately a challenge.
I'll keep you posted on her progress.

Wrangler Jayne Clinic - Early Bird Reminder
There are only two rider positions left for this clinic so be quick to register.
Jayne Glenn, better known as Wrangler Jayne from Mansfield in Victoria, is coming to Tasmania for the first time to teach a two day Advancing & Refining Level 1 clinic on September the 16th and 17th.
This clinic offers the best natural start possible for you and your horse. Introducing ground games, building trust, confidence and respect, understanding horse psychology, natural riding dynamics and more - the perfect natural foundation skills for more fun, safety and success with your horse!
The venue is the Topline Rugs Indoor Arena near Westbury and rider positions are limited to 10. There is an early bird special offer of $200 including gst if paid in full a month in advance (by August 15). Riders must send a $100 deposit at the time of booking to hold their place, with the balance of $100 due 15 August. If you pay in full after that date it's an extra $20. Observers are welcome at $50 per day which includes hot drinks. To book a position phone the clinic coordinator, Cynthia Cooper, on 63 695177.
For more information on Wrangler Jayne go to www.wranglerjayne.com

New Web Site to Browse on...
Natural hoof Care Practitioner, Jeremy Ford, now has a web site that has been developed by his wife, Sharon. www.wildabouthooves.com.au features a lot of information on barefoot trimming and lifestyle.
You can read about Jeremy's own transistion from traditional farrier to be the first certified Hoof Care Practitioner with the AANHCP in Australia.
You will see some great examples of how trimming has helped all sorts of problem hooves and read about client's success stories and how a Tasmanian trainer is leading the way with barefoot racing in Australia.
Jeremy's clinic dates are listed and they are working on a web shop so you can purchase trimming tools and related books.
If you have broadand, you can also enjoy the hundreds of photos in the web albums, especially those of Jeremy and Sharon's recent trip to the USA where they observed wild horses and their hooves.

In the next newsletter the rescue of Shirley who's hooves are shown below will feature in Barefoot Bits & Pieces.

Contact Details:
Cynthia Cooper - Natural Horse World
46 Wattle Lea Lane, Golden Valley, Tasmania,
Australia. 7304. Ph. 0363 695177.
Email Me