Bit of a fright

BBs

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This morning I had a bit of a fright.
My horses have been coming in for a few days now, as the weather has been so horrid.
Bertie my old boy would love to be brought in every night if he had his way.

Anyway, at 7am this morning i had YO ringing me to say that theres a problem with Bertie.
He couldnt get up, he was moaning and groaning, more frustration i think, but bless him he really was struggling.
I was getting dressed at the time and said im on my way.
YO was padding out the stable as he was struggling to get his footing as the straw was dragging back and exposing concrete.
Anyway, this helped and the old boy eventually got up. He dusted himself off, pricked his ears and whickered lol

PHEW!

I honestly thought he was a goner this morning.

Hes now out in the field quite happily munching.
 
I'm glad he is OK now......would rubber matting help if he has to come in, at least he could get a better grip....just a idea!
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Naughty Bertie, not what you need first thing in a morning. Glad he is OK now, you must have had your heart in your mouth. Mind you, if I have slept in an odd position, it can take me a few goes to get up - its the aging process
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Yes good idea OC
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Will have a look on Ebay, and see what i can find.

I guess at his age its to be expected, but when i had that phone call i honestly thought that was it
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Theres not a lot else i can do it there?
 
Either matting or a really deeps shaving base for his bed, they can help the oldies to get up to. Or perhaps give the veteran society and see if they have any good ideas.

Hopefully just a one off though bless him, poor Berts bet he was a bit worried himself.

Give him a cuddle from me please.
 
Oh I know how that feels, you have my sympathy, my old horse did that on me for the last few years (finally last month he did it for the last time
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He was on a deep easibed bed on top of rubber matting which was warmer for him, but I have to say that if the rubber matting was damp he slipped like mad on it (even worse if he had knocked his water flying!), it didn't give him any footing at all.
I hope you and your horse the best, and try and keep Bertie out if you can.
Good luck.
 
Oh really johnsongreyhorse
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Ive just looked on ebay, they have some really good rubber mats on there too..
Maybe one just by the door will help, his stable is quite small, we have automatic water drinkers so no chance of him spilling his water and hes not really a wet horse.

Prob is his arthritis isnt great in this damp weather and his field is pretty soggy so dont want him laying in it too much.

Poor love, hes not a horse to make a fuss. Ive seen him struggle in the field to get up too, takes 2 or 3 attempts.

LittleJulie - bertie is 26 now
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ex pointer, ive had him 17 years. Hes got everything wrong with him, but hes full of life, although hobbly due to his arthritis.
 
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Glad he's ok V. What a shock first thing.

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Thanks.
Something i could have done with out.

Hes so perky in the mornings, always winnying and chatting to me.
Will bring him in at lunch time as weather is due to turn again
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Oh no! Poor Bertie. Glad he's up and ok now. What a dreadful fright.
Ditto what the others say about matting and shavings/flax - I looked after an elderly ex racer for years and he would struggle to get up in the mornings until we put him on auboise and rubber matting, which he found much better.

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My old horse used to do that in the field. She had COPD too and would get out of puff with all the struggling. Its horrid to see but she did it for years on and off and apart from that was happy and full of life...
 
Ive just emailed Cobra about their rubber mats.

Mum has said she will pay for 2 and i will pay for 2 so should be able to fill his stable with them.
 
What a shock. Glad to hear he's back on his feet. Would it be worth giving thermatex type leg wraps a go one night to see if this helps keeps the circulation going and helps stop him stiffening up. I have used them on my old boy with good effect.
 
Glad he's ok now. My oldie used to have this problem as she was very arthritic. I used rubber matting and a shaving bed on top and it made all the difference. Sadly eventually the arthritis got the better of her and she was pts at 34 but the matting gave her a few more years I'm sure.
 
Hi BB's glad you took my advise the reason I said about them is they also help keep the joints warm as well and they saved my friends cob who was a old girl quite a few times when she struggle to get up in her box......well worth the investment!

Bertie I'm sure will luv 'em!
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my old pony has trouble getting up too so I decided to start feeding her cod liver oil. I also pad out the sides of her stable so she has lots more straw to get a grip on and pull herself up...it is hard when they get older....they carry loads more weight then us and dont have hands so their poor back legs have to arch them up...phew!!
Glad Bertie is ok
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I didn't want to put you off just to let you know that they could be slippery when wet, I do agree that it makes the bed much warmer for them, I still use them for my other two.
Also agree about the leg warmers, I used to use them on mine and it did make a difference, good luck
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