ERFinFrance
Active Member
As lots of people have expressed an interest in the future of Malaga, we thought it best to start a new thread as her story was getting lost in the pulled threads.
A quick recap - Malaga is an 18mth grey filly purchased via a rescue forum. When we first saw her, she was at the Safe Haven in stable without any bedding. Of all the horses there, she caused us the greatest worry as she is clearly in the worst state. Malaga was in such poor condition that the DDSV (French departmental vets) should have been alerted. We have seen horses ordered to be euthanised in the same condition. Every bone on her body was visible. She had no bedding, so it is likely that she would only have laid down with exhaustion, and it was evident from the filth on her coat that she had laid down. Her limbs were swollen presumably because of her 24/7 confinement. She was wary of people, and tolerated human touch in a Stockholm Syndrome manner. She had some scarring on her knee, and was too weak stand properly. Her coat was dull and stary, and she was covered in tics and scurf. The look in her eye was heartbreaking.
ERF were granted permission to move her along with two other horses to a nearby foster home which could give more specialised care. Unfortunately, after arranging all the details and arriving with transport, the owner changed her mind and said she would fly out the next day (Monday) to arrange care for her. As yet, the owner has not arrived at the yard although she has finally given permission for a vet to be called this afternoon (we believe Malaga has now been at the safe haven for approx. 2 weeks).
Unfortunately, the owner (Venus) has refused to communicate with ERF and now appears to be shopping around for the cheapest option for her care. It is no surprise that this is the safe haven who have offered to look after her for just costs, no livery charge. GtF continues to advise them but this support cannot continue at this level - she has already spent many hours today on Malaga and her care. ERF have strongly expressed their opinion on this matter but as the owner refuses to acknowledge our e-mails or give us a landline telephone number, there is very little we can do in the immediate future. Welfare issues are difficult and timely to pursue in France.
We have costed the care that we think Malaga requires which is based upon previous experience. Here is the break down:
<font color="blue"> <ul type="square"> Vet visit and chipping and signalement ......110
Examination ..........................35
Wormers 5-day panacur ....35
encysted redworm .....20
tapeworm wormer ..... 20
Equilibra 29 x2 bags + diesel (150km trip to pick up).....64
Bag sugar beet pulp........10
Bag crushed barley..........9
Bag grass nuts.................8
Farrier...........................40
Dentist...........................60
Diesel costs transport to foster home ......20
sub total so far........... 431
Livery including:
shavings bedding, stabling, turn out, electricity, water, time, insurance 60pw
Estimate 10 weeks to have her fit to travel 600
Additional medication / vets visits at cost. [/list] </font>
At ERF, we feel that yet again, the current YO is being taken advantage of. To be expected to intensively nurse Malaga for nothing towards the bills, let alone the time is unreasonable. There is also the question of knowledge and experience to consider along with basic requirements like insurance. We will wait (and hope) to hear the results of the vet visit.
A quick recap - Malaga is an 18mth grey filly purchased via a rescue forum. When we first saw her, she was at the Safe Haven in stable without any bedding. Of all the horses there, she caused us the greatest worry as she is clearly in the worst state. Malaga was in such poor condition that the DDSV (French departmental vets) should have been alerted. We have seen horses ordered to be euthanised in the same condition. Every bone on her body was visible. She had no bedding, so it is likely that she would only have laid down with exhaustion, and it was evident from the filth on her coat that she had laid down. Her limbs were swollen presumably because of her 24/7 confinement. She was wary of people, and tolerated human touch in a Stockholm Syndrome manner. She had some scarring on her knee, and was too weak stand properly. Her coat was dull and stary, and she was covered in tics and scurf. The look in her eye was heartbreaking.
ERF were granted permission to move her along with two other horses to a nearby foster home which could give more specialised care. Unfortunately, after arranging all the details and arriving with transport, the owner changed her mind and said she would fly out the next day (Monday) to arrange care for her. As yet, the owner has not arrived at the yard although she has finally given permission for a vet to be called this afternoon (we believe Malaga has now been at the safe haven for approx. 2 weeks).
Unfortunately, the owner (Venus) has refused to communicate with ERF and now appears to be shopping around for the cheapest option for her care. It is no surprise that this is the safe haven who have offered to look after her for just costs, no livery charge. GtF continues to advise them but this support cannot continue at this level - she has already spent many hours today on Malaga and her care. ERF have strongly expressed their opinion on this matter but as the owner refuses to acknowledge our e-mails or give us a landline telephone number, there is very little we can do in the immediate future. Welfare issues are difficult and timely to pursue in France.
We have costed the care that we think Malaga requires which is based upon previous experience. Here is the break down:
<font color="blue"> <ul type="square"> Vet visit and chipping and signalement ......110
Examination ..........................35
Wormers 5-day panacur ....35
encysted redworm .....20
tapeworm wormer ..... 20
Equilibra 29 x2 bags + diesel (150km trip to pick up).....64
Bag sugar beet pulp........10
Bag crushed barley..........9
Bag grass nuts.................8
Farrier...........................40
Dentist...........................60
Diesel costs transport to foster home ......20
sub total so far........... 431
Livery including:
shavings bedding, stabling, turn out, electricity, water, time, insurance 60pw
Estimate 10 weeks to have her fit to travel 600
Additional medication / vets visits at cost. [/list] </font>
At ERF, we feel that yet again, the current YO is being taken advantage of. To be expected to intensively nurse Malaga for nothing towards the bills, let alone the time is unreasonable. There is also the question of knowledge and experience to consider along with basic requirements like insurance. We will wait (and hope) to hear the results of the vet visit.
