May 31, 2014 Starting Feed and Learning Mischief
Yesterday when I came home with the boys we didn't see Star and Gingy come to greet us. So we unloaded the car and I looked out to find them and saw a pretty Palomino tail swishing in the front pasture! They managed to open the gate and get into that lovely fresh spring grass! Jeremy was soon coming down the drive so we met to walk out and bring them back in- (Star's pasture time is still limited to one hour and Ginger is still working on accepting a grazing halter). As soon as they saw us coming they trotted quickly back in to the front shelter and when we arrived were snuggling in the shade of the shelter as though they had been there for hours! Quite mischievous and sweet ponies!
Star was able to begin eating a half pound of Equine Senior Feed yesterday. She was not initially accepting of the feed, but with patience and guidance she was now eating grain from a dish by the end of today! Yay!
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
May 26, 2014- Finding Her Legs
May 26, 2014- Finding Her Legs
Sweet Star has never had her hooves trimmed and her legs look so painful as a result. We have an incredibly good ferrier and a plan. We are working on getting her ready for July 3, however if she is not ready to have her hooves trimmed; we will have to use a bit of oral tranquilizer to get it done. We are hopeful that she will trust enough to let us handle her, however that is a lot to ask of Star after all she has had done to her. As her coat is shedding now that she has nutrition it is evident that she has a lot of scarring- it is painful to see. She does already smell our faces, nuzzle the children, let us pet her face, and is staying for a bit of fly spray and ear scratches. Not having nutrition or her hooves ever trimmed has made it difficult for Star to run; however she is finding her filly legs! As we exercise Ginger and train her with the grazing muzzle Star will run across the pasture to us! At first she was so clumsy we worried she would hurt her legs worse, but she is starting to trot along and enjoy moving her legs! She is even trying to buck out a bit and see what she can do! We do not think she may have ever had room or energy to try her legs before- she acts as though they are a new discovery! It will be so wonderful when she does not sit back on her hooves and can really run and play and be a filly! Pics below-
Sweet Star has never had her hooves trimmed and her legs look so painful as a result. We have an incredibly good ferrier and a plan. We are working on getting her ready for July 3, however if she is not ready to have her hooves trimmed; we will have to use a bit of oral tranquilizer to get it done. We are hopeful that she will trust enough to let us handle her, however that is a lot to ask of Star after all she has had done to her. As her coat is shedding now that she has nutrition it is evident that she has a lot of scarring- it is painful to see. She does already smell our faces, nuzzle the children, let us pet her face, and is staying for a bit of fly spray and ear scratches. Not having nutrition or her hooves ever trimmed has made it difficult for Star to run; however she is finding her filly legs! As we exercise Ginger and train her with the grazing muzzle Star will run across the pasture to us! At first she was so clumsy we worried she would hurt her legs worse, but she is starting to trot along and enjoy moving her legs! She is even trying to buck out a bit and see what she can do! We do not think she may have ever had room or energy to try her legs before- she acts as though they are a new discovery! It will be so wonderful when she does not sit back on her hooves and can really run and play and be a filly! Pics below-
Friday, May 23, 2014
May 23, 2014- Pasture Time!
May 23, 2014- Pasture Time!
Star was able to go into pasture to eat for the first time today! She LOVED it! Ginger was very upset to have to wear a grazing muzzle. Unfortunately in order for Ginger to graze in pasture with Star she will have to wear a grazing muzzle, so she does not gain too much weight. Gingy soo loves to eat and can eat a lot very fast! ( as a Shetland can!) It was hard work keeping her from hurting herself or me today, but we made it. Star did not like seeing Ginger upset and began running in circles around me and bucking! Glad to see her energy up! ha! It will take time, patience, and lots of training to get Ginger use to the grazing muzzle, but hopefully she will and will be able to graze with Star during the day. Star will now be able to graze in pasture for an hour each day! She hung her head through the fence after we brought her back in....she so loved it! It was fun to see her run to Ginger every time she had a bit of distance between them. I checked on Star a few times during the night last night- just to make sure she was doing ok after the wormer. She seems to be handling it well and hopefully it is working! Will be wonderful to get rid of the parasites so she can recover quicker! More pics tomorrow-
Star was able to go into pasture to eat for the first time today! She LOVED it! Ginger was very upset to have to wear a grazing muzzle. Unfortunately in order for Ginger to graze in pasture with Star she will have to wear a grazing muzzle, so she does not gain too much weight. Gingy soo loves to eat and can eat a lot very fast! ( as a Shetland can!) It was hard work keeping her from hurting herself or me today, but we made it. Star did not like seeing Ginger upset and began running in circles around me and bucking! Glad to see her energy up! ha! It will take time, patience, and lots of training to get Ginger use to the grazing muzzle, but hopefully she will and will be able to graze with Star during the day. Star will now be able to graze in pasture for an hour each day! She hung her head through the fence after we brought her back in....she so loved it! It was fun to see her run to Ginger every time she had a bit of distance between them. I checked on Star a few times during the night last night- just to make sure she was doing ok after the wormer. She seems to be handling it well and hopefully it is working! Will be wonderful to get rid of the parasites so she can recover quicker! More pics tomorrow-
Thursday, May 22, 2014
May 22, 2014- Star is Wormed!
May 22, 2014- Star is wormed! Hurray! The molasses training the last few days worked! More details and pics tomorrow. This was a huge milestone in he recovery. Now we can rid of those parasites! Going out again now to check on her. We will check on her periodically throughout the night to make sure she is doing ok. So far - she is doing great!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
May 21, 2014- Acting like a filly!
May 21, 2015- Acting like a filly!
Star is beginning to act like a young horse! This is wonderful news! She is showing curiosity and even rolling on the ground! We have made progress towards worming thanks to Ginger! They are now licking molasses off of my hands! Soon we will mix wormer into the molasses and hope she laps it up! At first Star would not go near the molasses. She is afraid of new dishes or containers, but not my hands; so I began hand feeding molasses to Ginger and Star began licking once she saw her "new mommy" licking!
Lots of fun pictures below of Star licking minerals and molasses and Micah took a great pic of when Star was curious as to what we were doing in the barn! She then came into the barn all on her own to see us! It was a wonderful moment when we knew she was beginning to feel loved and at home. Now- to get rid of these dangerous parasites! Which is why we have included a picture of one of our chickens. The chickens are wonderful helpers to Star too! The chickens scratch and break up her manure and eat the worms and help to stop the cycle of the parasites. That is great news for all of the animals here. Thanks chickies!
Star is beginning to act like a young horse! This is wonderful news! She is showing curiosity and even rolling on the ground! We have made progress towards worming thanks to Ginger! They are now licking molasses off of my hands! Soon we will mix wormer into the molasses and hope she laps it up! At first Star would not go near the molasses. She is afraid of new dishes or containers, but not my hands; so I began hand feeding molasses to Ginger and Star began licking once she saw her "new mommy" licking!
Lots of fun pictures below of Star licking minerals and molasses and Micah took a great pic of when Star was curious as to what we were doing in the barn! She then came into the barn all on her own to see us! It was a wonderful moment when we knew she was beginning to feel loved and at home. Now- to get rid of these dangerous parasites! Which is why we have included a picture of one of our chickens. The chickens are wonderful helpers to Star too! The chickens scratch and break up her manure and eat the worms and help to stop the cycle of the parasites. That is great news for all of the animals here. Thanks chickies!
Monday, May 19, 2014
May 19, 2014- Making Friends
May 19, 2014: Making Friends
Yesterday we had a bit of a scare as Star began kicking at her stomach. This can be a sign of complications and definitely of pain she is having. We do not know what Star may have eaten trying to get any food. We do know her gut is full of sand and dirt and this can cause problems during the re-feeding stage. Luckily she is doing much better today. We have a strategically planned fenced in garden area near the chickens and connected to both the paddock and front pasture. This way we can work in the gardens and be with the horses. Perfect! especially for keeping a watchful eye on Star. She enjoyed eating hand picked grass from the children and I enjoyed being able to watch her for most of the day. She has not been seen kicking her stomach once today! yay! I will save you the descriptions of her bowel movements- but we do watch these carefully as they are our best insights into her digestive health. She was moved up today to more alfalfa in her diet and she enjoyed it! She also has her free choice grass hay, hand fed grass, free choice minerals, lots of fresh water, and free choice water with apple cider vinegar added. The wonderful thing Ginger does is that she gets excited for all of the new items to her diet! So, she runs over and drinks the apple cider vinegar water and licks the minerals! So, as a filly will follow her mother; sweet Star follows Ginger and tries them too! yay! So now we are being pressed in time to get Star wormed. Her parasite count is dangerously high. The new plan is to introduce nicely how lovely molasses is and then to one day mix the wormer into the molasses and hope she laps it up! Here is hoping! It has worked for many rescued horses, so Star we are going to try!
Pictures posted show a "baby colt" I found jumping fence to see Star and Gingy! and look at Star going to barn doors to greet people!!!! Yay!!!
Yesterday we had a bit of a scare as Star began kicking at her stomach. This can be a sign of complications and definitely of pain she is having. We do not know what Star may have eaten trying to get any food. We do know her gut is full of sand and dirt and this can cause problems during the re-feeding stage. Luckily she is doing much better today. We have a strategically planned fenced in garden area near the chickens and connected to both the paddock and front pasture. This way we can work in the gardens and be with the horses. Perfect! especially for keeping a watchful eye on Star. She enjoyed eating hand picked grass from the children and I enjoyed being able to watch her for most of the day. She has not been seen kicking her stomach once today! yay! I will save you the descriptions of her bowel movements- but we do watch these carefully as they are our best insights into her digestive health. She was moved up today to more alfalfa in her diet and she enjoyed it! She also has her free choice grass hay, hand fed grass, free choice minerals, lots of fresh water, and free choice water with apple cider vinegar added. The wonderful thing Ginger does is that she gets excited for all of the new items to her diet! So, she runs over and drinks the apple cider vinegar water and licks the minerals! So, as a filly will follow her mother; sweet Star follows Ginger and tries them too! yay! So now we are being pressed in time to get Star wormed. Her parasite count is dangerously high. The new plan is to introduce nicely how lovely molasses is and then to one day mix the wormer into the molasses and hope she laps it up! Here is hoping! It has worked for many rescued horses, so Star we are going to try!
Pictures posted show a "baby colt" I found jumping fence to see Star and Gingy! and look at Star going to barn doors to greet people!!!! Yay!!!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
May 17, 2014- Laying Together
May 17, 2014: Today we are in the same feeding schedule: free choice hay, grass paddock, and a flake of alfalfa, free choice minerals, hand fed grass, and lots of fresh water! Today is also the first day we find Star and Gingy laying together and Star is also nuzzling all of us more. She is approaching us and smelling and feeling. Star will always be stunted in development, but all we are hoping for is her health. Micah said today that he dreams of Star running, with the wind in her-
Yes, that is our goal: Star running- with the wind in her-
and thanks Gingerbread for being such a great Mommy to Star! such kindred Spirits they are-
We also attended the Holistic Horse Fair today as a family and then Jeremy was able to attend a Parelli Training Session as well!
Yes, that is our goal: Star running- with the wind in her-
and thanks Gingerbread for being such a great Mommy to Star! such kindred Spirits they are-
We also attended the Holistic Horse Fair today as a family and then Jeremy was able to attend a Parelli Training Session as well!
May 16, 2014 Feeding by hand!
May 16, 2014- Today Star was feeding from our hands a lot! A whole store of grass horse treats opened and was sold out in minutes! Ginger and Star loved the fresh picked grass! Star is currently on an unlimited supply of grass hay, a flake of alfalfa a day and hand fed grass clippings. She also has free choice minerals and is drinking lots of fresh water! In the pictures below you will see her hand feeding as well as a picture of our Manu. Manu deserves recognition as a wonderful friend to Star. He is a black Labrador Retriever and crawls up to Star and lays down near her, so she may approach him and nuzzle him. He then leans back and kisses her nose. It is beautiful to see. He knows. We know. and we hope you will feel Star's energy that touches us all with such love. We have been asked and do wonder as well: how did she ever survive this harsh winter? You have such gifts Star; thank you for sharing them!
May 15, 2015, Star's Story and Intake
Star's story: As we piece together Star's story we are amazed by her incredible strength and gentle nature. Today we had our farrier look at her hooves from a far and our veterinarian to give an assessment and plan. Star is approximately 8 months to a year old filly. From what we saw she may be a Welsh Pony and Quarter Horse mix. She scored a 1-2 from the veterinarian. She has been starved for a very long time. She has never been touched or received any care. She was unwanted and going to "rid of" within two days. She has a high parasite count and a high sand count which means she has only been able to eat dirt. To us; she is a beautiful filly full of love and affection. She clings to Gingerbread pony for love and safety and follows her everywhere. We have a Veterinarian and Farrier formulated plan for recovery. It will be a long journey- we just hope to get her through this difficult re-feeding period. We love you Star! You have brought such meaning to all of our lives!
In the pictures below you will notice a special horse that has come to visit Star and bring her alfalfa! ( Micah in costume! he he!) and also a fire fighter who wanted to make sure the barn was safe! ( Espen)! and the street sweeper (mama!)
In the pictures below you will notice a special horse that has come to visit Star and bring her alfalfa! ( Micah in costume! he he!) and also a fire fighter who wanted to make sure the barn was safe! ( Espen)! and the street sweeper (mama!)
May 14, 2015-- Arrival Home
After work on May 14, Jeremy rescued Star Filly and brought her home. She was welcomed by Gingerbread Pony and quickly felt the love and affection of Ginger's motherly instinct. Welcome Home Star! We Love you and will do everything to help you heal, grow, and live safe and happy!
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