Shipping from Cyprus to UK - Day1 disaster (Pics)!!

horsimous

horsimous

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 November 2004
Messages
941
Visit site
It started off lovely, loaded well travelling well on the way to pick up the other horse. However, we had to get passes at the entrance to the other location and there was a queue. My horse got hot and it wasn't the place to unload. She started to create but we thought moving again would solve this.

Oh no next minute she's broken the breast bar and knocked the whole partition to bits, is facing the wrong way and trying to exit the trailer. That's when she cut her face. From forelock to just below the headcollar, straight through the skin and digging into what's below a bit. Not a pretty sight on what was a pretty mare. We weren't in a position to unload and there was nothing to tie her to. Couldn't turn her round. We had to close the back and carry on the journey (5 mins).

We did our best with the wound, fixed the trailer and decided our best bet was to get to the port. We only had one shot at this as we thought the risks of doing this all again would be higher than carrying on and also may not have the chance to ship her again. Too many horses here end up thin and neglected.

I'd been ringing vets. two refused to even come and look, not interested. One even said, I knock off at 1.30 and there's not time to get there and back!!!!

I managed to find another an hour away. Time was running out so the lorry and horses were loaded on the ship and also the vet and his car. The injury was stitched up in the lorry and antibiotics and other stuff given to the groom.

I hope I did the right thing, it was a horrible day.

There's before and after pics in my album
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/album.php?albumid=929
 
Gosh poor horse. She does look rather sorry for herself.

Looks like the vet has done a good job.

Hope the rest of your journey goes well.
 
It's a 10 day journey. 2 days on the boat and then 2 days rest in Athens. Up through Italy and on via France to UK.

I get a headache just thinking about her face
 
Poor lass

Ok now relax (as much as you can) nothing you can do till she lands in Athens.

The Grooms and transporters do this trip a lot and will have deault with much worse.

I know I know easy to say..

Ouzo?????
 
Can I be really nosy and ask where in the UK you are travelling to? My YO said to us that we had a new horse arriving from Cyprus at the end of sept. Just wondering if that's you! I am in Glasgow by the way.
Either way I hope your journey improves! She is a lovely looking girl!
 
My girlie cut open her face (not as big but as deep) and had to be stitched up a few weeks back. Today I tried to see where the wound had been and had to look really hard, even the pink bits have turned back to their natural colour. So hopefully you will be as amazed by how quickly horrendous looking wounds can heal. But what a nightmare for you, at least if its all smooth from now on you will be on an up!

good luck with the rest of the move!
 
No I couldn't go with her. Not allowed and also I have to supervise the packers for the furniture and finish off at work. We're going to Dorset.

There are flights it goes Larnaca to Jordan and then Heathrow. It costs £5500 and you have to get three horses for it to be viable but if I'd done that I wouldn't have any money for a car!

Thanks, hearing someone had something similar is a comfort. I will see what it's like in 9 days.
 
No she hasn't arrived yet. They were delayed 12 hours on the boat as there were strikes in Greece. Her face swelled up and they changed the antibiotics.

Arrival friday, hopefully in one piece!
 
She's arrived. It took 12 days as due to strikes in Athens and fog in Italy. Lost alot of weight but I was expecting that, specially due to the tauma on the way to the port! looks like a horse in racing, either that or a greyhound...

Had the vet out today and the stitches taken out. She's gradually getting her appetite and energy. Yesterday she pulled me flat on my face and gallivanted up the fields - so much for quiet in hand grazing lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top