Okay, I Don't Feel Like a Sucker Now!

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Tia

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I feel good about taking this horse and I hope he survives.

Background; late last night a lady came knocking on my door and literally begged me to take a horse. A vet had told her the horse had no molar teeth (sheesh!
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) and was suggesting she put the horse to sleep as it would die of starvation soon. She came to me as a last chance; from what she said it sounded like she just needed a decent vet who can actually SEE teeth! And have them floated. Lady was very upset and I was sucked in to saying that I would take the horse. She told me that it looked like a coat-rack and she didn't know what else to do with him.

Anyhow, I have him at home with me now; his ownership has been signed over to me. He does have molar teeth - all are in place however he does desperately need them floated. My vet is out of the country until next week, so am hopeful that he will cope until he arrives back in Canada.

I have taken some photos of him immediately after his arrival here. I think he is a rather nice old boy and we are pretty smitten with him already, but he is in a bad way and does need some help so we will pull out all of the stops to try to make everything come right again for this old horse.

Here is Pal; please keep your fingers crossed for him.

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looks a charming old chap, Tia.


i'm sure he'll pull through...if "internals" are ok..i dont see any reason why not, once the teeth problems are sorte.
 
He looks gorgeous
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I'm sure he'll be fine with you looking after him - after all you managed to nurse one with a hole in its head!!
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How old is he?
 
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Yes I am hopeful that all internal organs are fine, and that food will not blow his system.

I was told last night that the vet who visited him told lady he was over 30 years old; well he isn't. He's around 23 or 24; mind you what do you expect from a vet who can't bloody well see molar teeth
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.

The photos don't really show how skinny he is, although you can see that he is skinny if you look at his shoulder joints sticking out, a lot of the bones are just barely covered, poor old guy.

I'm watching him out of my window and he seems perfectly happy munching on the grass. I have rugged him to as to not lose energy that way, and I am fairly confident that he will come right with time and food.

At some point in his life he has clearly been well looked after; he has no splints, his feet are in good order and he seems like a very easy going old chap. It will be nice to get him back to some of his former glory.
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Oh bless him - I am sure he will be just fine.

Although I am confident you are already doing this, feeding him his feed like mush will help him get what he needs into him in the mean time until he can chew properly again.

Good luck with him!
 
Tia, you old softie!
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Seriously, I am really glad he is in good hands now and I am sure he will improve with you.
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I am looking forward to the pics (I believe you can do anything after your "hole in head" horse!)
 
Oh Tia, He looks a real sweetie!!!!

He is a very lucky boy to have landed in your hands!!

I'm sure you will get the weight to go back on once his teeth are sorted. Fingers crossed that his insides are ok.

Hopefully he will be like Dub's Snowy and look great in no time!
 
no problem for the "big yin"!
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Youll have him bouncing off the walls in no time
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. He is a pretty boy and a lucky one to boot
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. Keep us informed. M.x
 
Oooh Tia, I am drooling!
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Barring any underlying health problems, I am confident you will have him looking totally different by Christmas, in fact, I am pretty sure that he will progress rapidly under your care within weeks.

DO keep me updated!
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Thanks everyone; I think he is a dear old thing too and I am really glad that I didn't just turn a blind eye to him. I see horses like him all the time around here; I'm offered them every week but rarely these days do I take anyone up on it. I think it took real strength for someone to turn up on my doorstep with tears in her eyes, to ask for help; how could we say no.

Who knows how long he will last but if I can get him back on the road to being a bit more healthy for at least a little while, then that will be good. I don't see any reason, once he has gained more weight, why he couldn't be ridden. He's apparently a beginner ride, so hey if all he does is give some learners a ride once in a while then that can keep him ticking over.

Funnily enough, he doesn't appear to be arthritic in any way; his eyes are clear, legs are in super condition and he is certainly "with-it". Nah, I'm glad I took the old soul.
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Thanks Dubs, will let you know how he gets on.

Sorry Rosie; yes floating is the term generally used when power-floating. Rasping tends to imply manual filing, or at least that was how my EDT differentiated it.

My EDT in England used to use a Dremel to power-float.
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Well I'm obviously hopeful to pile on some weight before the winter comes but of course am held back by not knowing how his insides will cope. Winter is incredibly harsh on old horses here, so I really do need to get some weight on him as soon as possible.

I'll update you all in a couple of weeks. I did have another like him about a month ago; just here temporarily to gain weight as had been rescued back by his owner from a loan home. Horse gained 150lbs in 10 days and steadily has gained weight; now he looks perfectly normal and shiny again. He has just moved back to his owners now and they are very happy with him. He was about the same type/build as this guy, although was a bit younger. I had vet give him some vitamin shots, so will be looking at that too, as they really do seem to help bump start the process. And then lots and lots and lots of good grass hay.
 
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