|
News / Events
15-11-10 - Foster Homes Sought
We are currently looking for foster homes that could over-winter some of our female equines. Four of them have no foals and then there are two with colt foals at foot.
We will provide any ration & supplements required and would be very grateful if you could provide the hay/haylage. We would also cover any veterinary costs should they arise. They are all microchipped and wormed up to date.
______________
5th October 2010 - Izzy Update
Some of you may remember Izzy who was found tied to a farmers gate with a severe wound on her left hind leg on the 9th of May last ... well we took a photo of the ‘injured leg’ the other day and think you will agree that her recovery was very successful :) Here is a photo of the wound a month after treatment started and then one showing how it looked last weekend (the original photo of the injury is further down this page).
 
__________________
29th September 2010 - Unexpected Arrivals
We got a call today to assist with 2 equines in an emaciated state who were in the process of being seized and so the horsebox was hitched up and off we went....
When we got there all that was left to do was load them up as the guards, vets, etc had completed the legal work for the inspector to have them removed and so with no hesitation at all they walked up the ramp for the commencement of the journey to our own vet for full medical assessments and treatment, etc.
Upon examination they were both found to be suffering with well established pneumonia and worm & lice infestations, severe rain scald/mud rash along with being totally emaciated. The vet gave us antibiotics, decongestants, etc and off we set again to make them comfortable and commence what will hopefully be a recovery for them both.
Please keep your fingers crossed as it will be a long slow road ahead for them.
If you would like to assist in the cost of their care they are being fed on a combination of the following:
Stud Mix, Alfalfa, Speedibeet and Hay
If you are an equine dentist or know of one who would like to help the lady photographed above please contact us as she also needs to get her teeth done
______________
27th September 2010 - Some Recent Farewells
Over the past few weeks we have said farewell to four of our gang - Kelly, Bobby, Rasta & Wispa. It is always sad to say goodbye but at the same time great to see them heading off to new homes where they will hopefully be very happy and loved.
Of course it also frees up space to give our fields a much deserved rest before the onslaught of winter 2010/2011 .......... With Anna, Bree and Colter still available for homes we hope our recent rehoming pattern continues to give them their new starts.
________________________
3rd August 2010 - “Brothers Are Doing It For Themselves”
Rocky has been getting ‘bigger & bolder’ over the past few weeks and so it was decided to seek out a companion for him who would join in with his ‘fun’ ........
As luck would have it we found out that Rocky’s brother (same Daddy), Hobo, who was in the care of the ISPCA had been recently weaned from his mother due to her being due to foal again soon and so we were delighted when we got the ‘thumbs-up’ from them for him to come here to join Rocky :o)
Here is a photo of the two boys together at lunchtime two days after Hobo arrived.
_________________________
 10/7/10 - Courting The Horse
Is Going “Living In The Field”
The Project
On the 27th of July Maria Wood of Courting the Horse will be kicking off her ‘Living in the Field’ project which means that she will actually be living with Hazel and Pollyanne for four full days. She will be, as much as possible, fitting into their way of living in order to see what it is like to live according to another species routines. It is generally the case that horses are expected to adapt to our way of life and Maria wonders how many of us realise how difficult that is for them. Maria will be staying out for four full days with only two 15 minute breaks for essential maintenance per day. She will see what it is like to walk around with them all day, sleeping when they do and sheltering where they shelter. She hopes that she will learn a lot about their lifestyle, their habits and their needs by being able to observe them for such a long uninterrupted period. She hopes that there will also be the opportunity to connect on a deeper level to them both and to bring her new awareness into all that she does in the future with Hazel and Pollyanne.
How you Can Support Maria
Maria needs support to motivate her to stay out in the field for the full four days. She feels that if people show their support and if she can help other equines in need she will remove the temptation to give up when the going gets tough. If you would like to support Maria in her efforts please choose one of the following methods. There will be something that everyone can do no matter where or who you are.
Donate In order to motivate her to stay out once she has started Maria has decided to fundraise for several equine rescues details of these will be announced soon. She feels that it would be otherwise too easy to give up when she gets tired. So this is a vital part of the overall effort. Also there are a lot of equines in Ireland who need your help.
To make a donation to Maria’s “Living In The Field” or to learn more about
Maria & Courting The Horse check out her very interesting website.
_________________________
8/7/10 - Site Updates
Our orphan has been christened Rocky, to learn all about his life so far and/or to find out about his ‘guardian angel’ and/or to find out how Izzy’s leg injury is doing, etc go check out our new Equines ‘R’ Us page where you can read all about some of the various equines currently residing with us
__________________
21/5/10 - Sometimes Your Best Is Not Enough ..
The past few days here have been a time of great sadness, exhaustion, soul searching and even a moment which should have been happy & joyful was overcast with worry, doubt, fear and pain ........
Estimated to be around 19yrs old, Faith, who was full of love, trust and gentleness despite the cruelty and neglect she had suffered prior to her arrival here on the 27th of April full of lice, worms, infected rain scald and completely emaciated we knew it was not going to be easy to help her recover but we had to at least try. The day of great sadness soon arrived despite us doing everything we possibly could .... it was just too late for Faith and Mother Nature called her home to the endless fields of green last Sunday morning, the 16th of May;o(
On Tuesday the 18th, Polly, the 5-6yr old mare that had arrived with Faith, was missing from her field and we presumed that the loss of her friend led her to ‘wander off’ whilst no one was watching. When we found her she was lying down in a wooded area and upon investigation it was noted that she had a flesh wound on her leg and side and appeared to be unable to get up. A call was made and soon two kind males arrived to help with getting Polly back on her feet ... it was soon discovered though that we were not going to succeed and the vet was called. Whilst awaiting the vet’s arrival we found ourselves witnessing and assisting with the ‘arrival of new life’ .. Polly gave birth to a handsome colt .. clearly unable to assist her foal it was up to us to step in and help her carry out her role.
The vet duly arrived and was quick to administer the necessary injections to Polly and confirm that her inability to rise was not due to her wounds nor were any sprains or breaks evident and that it was put down to sheer exhaustion, long-term malnutrition and that it was clear that she had given all the benefits of the food we were feeding her to her foal since her arrival and she appeared to have kept nothing in reserve for herself. After getting the colt down beside his mum to see if we could get him to suckle some essential colostrum from her we left them alone to give them some time alone and see if she would manage to rise by herself now that she was obviously carrying even less weight.
Despite the medication administered by the vet and follow-up medication which was prescribed for her, high nutrition feed & fluids, the fact that she weighed less, turning her every few hours, massaging her, providing supplementary feeds for her foal and lots of rest, etc we were devastated to discover that sometime between 3.30am & 7am on Thursday (20th) Polly left our world to join Faith at the Rainbow Bridge ;o((
So the original ‘fight’ to help two mares regain their health and learn that not all humans are the same has turned into hopefully rearing a strong healthy foal ... certainly not what anyone expected and definitely not the outcome anyone wanted but it is the ‘hand we have been dealt’ and we must now strive to do the best we can with the little orphan that Polly has entrusted to us.
To Two Angels Who Deserved So Much More
It was a busy day when you came to stay
Just a quick look at your bodies’ told us your tale
The lice, the scald, the bones, the gums so pale
Life to you both had been so unkind
No care you were shown, no one’s heart in yours entwined
For over two weeks our best efforts we gave
Nothing was deemed too much in trying to save
Two special girls such as you
The love and nourishment we showered was not enough
The battle to live became for you too tough
First to bid farewell was sweet old Faith
The patience she showed each time her back we did bathe
It was an ease to us to see the peace with which she went
Clearly as she slept her body decided her life was spent
With Polly still here give up we could not
In foal we knew she was but not that she was ready to pick her spot
Her body was not given sufficient time to get strong
Without a thought for herself her son she brought along
We tried all we could to keep her with us, specially as she was now a Mum
But just as with Faith the damage was long done and too soon her end did come
With broken hearts and tired souls we say goodbye
To raise an orphan now we must try
We light a candle for you both to guide your way
Your hearts’ in ours entwined to stay
RIP Faith 1991 to 16-5-10
& Polly 2004 to 20-5-10
Run Fast & Free And Eat Plenty At The Rainbow Bridge
____________________
9-5-10 Information Appeal
Do You Know This Mare ???
We are actively seeking information on the above mare who was dumped on a farmers land in the Liscannor area between the 4th/5th of May last.
If you know who her owner is or have seen her grazing or ridden around the County recently you can either contact Sheena on 0871315904/0868587142 or the guards in Ennistymon on 0657071020 as we intend pursuing a cruelty & neglect case due to the following untreated extensive injury to her left rear leg which you can see is very obviously completely infected.
It is not yet known whether this mare will be ‘savable’ due to the severity of the above injury and the delay in her receiving appropriate essential medical care.
Any donations towards the costs of her medical care would be very welcome.
________________
February - April 2010
After what will be referred to for generations as ‘the worst Winter’ in decades we have gotten lots of new arrivals between February and April. Some obviously worse than others and some that we cannot give details on due to investigative processes.
   
December 2009 - January 2010
Well I’m sure it will be of no surprise to many of you that this prolonged ‘Big Freeze’ we are experiencing is having a large affect on the amount of work we have to do daily in order to ensure that all the animals here have sufficient food and water .....
Have not yet remembered to bring the camera to take photos of the sheep or goats during this weather but here are a few of the equines that have been taken from the 22nd of December right up to yesterday, the 10th of January. All these equines, 14 in total, are getting extra hay and ration at the moment so if you feel you would like to sponsor any of them then please just contact us by email, text or phone and we will gladly discuss the various methods you can do so by.
 
Needless to say we have also been getting an increased number of calls from members of the public whom are concerned about the welfare of animals they have seen. Unfortunately we have not been mobile to check any of these yet due to the dangerous road conditions both where we are and where the animals are located. Please be patient as we have not forgotten and we will get to each and every one of the locations as soon as we can do so safely.
 
|
