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DANCESWITHSHEEP...
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Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
I know you lost a very close friend in March and I was wondering how you and Haljur are doing?...
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I know you lost a very close friend in March and I was wondering how you and Haljur are doing?...
Very sweet of you to ask, Beth. When Gloi survived his broken leg several years ago, I brought Haljur down from British Columbia to be his companion. Haljur was a much older horse, reserved and with a little arthritis, a perfect match for the lame Gloi. They shared a small pasture, separated from the main herd. Not surprisingly, after Gloi died, Haljur became very lonely, and so I wanted to return his kindness to Gloi and find him a companion. As luck would have it, I found just the right horse, an older gelding known to me from the breeder from whom I got all my other horses. His name is Dustin, and I had him trailered up from Santa Barbara the beginning of May. The two are doing fine and have even started grooming each other (a very big deal, as Icelandic horses in general, and Haljur in particular, are by nature stand-offish). Anyway, one of these days I'll have to post some pics. And thanks again for asking about Haljur.
Didn't your horse have about the same kind of injury as the Derby winner? Did he need anything near that many screws and plates?
Pretty much the same, but is was a front leg, and so fewer screws and only two plates. Still, he was suspended in a harness for two months, then another two months confined to a stall in the barn at home. A long, risky recovery, as any reinjury after his ordeal would have been the end of it. As it turned out, he had three happy years more than he otherwise would have.
That suspension in a harness treatment is tough and always runs a real risk of pneumonia due to lack of exercise and lung compression. It takes some good luck and lots of expensive care to get through that with something as large as a horse. We've done it for a shorter period of time with some animals lighter than a horse, but it is a major commitment of time and energy, isn't it. It's a great feeling when you are successful though.
Well, the alternative was unthinkable. The tragedy, of course, is that after all Gloi had been through, and as happy as he was in spite of it, colic got him in the night when I was not aware of it until too late.
"it says a lot about a man what he says about his horse"
don't know who said it, but I think it appropriate.
one of these days I'll have to post some pics
I, for one, would really like to see them! God bless you Robert. It's a very honorable job to watch over and keep God's creations! Thank you for doing a good job of it.
The day you posted of Gloi's passing, I saw a side to you that is not often shown in here...and it has come thru again with you getting Dustin....
I would love to see the pics of all your companions....I know they are as devoted to you as you are to them...
Danceswithsheep...
The day you posted of Gloi's passing, I saw a side to you that is not often shown in here...and it has come thru again with you getting Dustin....
I would love to see the pics of all your companions....I know they are as devoted to you as you are to them...
Ditto.
Clouder..
Lest me forget my fine mare, "Lady O' Peace". [:D]
quote:Originally posted by dlrjj
That suspension in a harness treatment is tough and always runs a real risk of pneumonia due to lack of exercise and lung compression. It takes some good luck and lots of expensive care to get through that with something as large as a horse. We've done it for a shorter period of time with some animals lighter than a horse, but it is a major commitment of time and energy, isn't it. It's a great feeling when you are successful though.
Well, the alternative was unthinkable. The tragedy, of course, is that after all Gloi had been through, and as happy as he was in spite of it, colic got him in the night when I was not aware of it until too late.
After recently going through a bout of that with one of my horses I feel for you. It comes on so suddenly and if you aren't right there with the right people and meds it's over. My horse and I were lucky that it happened during the day when the wife and I were there to witness him hit the ground the first time and we were told by the vet and a couple horsemen/women I trust that we were very lucky. A good horse is as hard to find as a good friend. Regards.
They are pretty! Here is this until Rob gets time to post some photos of his friends: http://www.imh.org/imh/bw/iceland.html