Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Under My Wing


Apparently, spending hours fussing and fretting over one horse isn't enough for me. :-) Ever since April, I've kept a close eye on one of the full-board horses--her name is Tiffany and she's a feisty 21-year old Mustang mare. Unfortunately, she has Cushings disease and because of it she foundered--I'm not sure exactly when, but it was approximately 9 months ago.

At first, I would just occasionally look in on Tiff and see how she was doing. On the weekends, some of the other boarders and I would maybe take her out for a bath and some pampering. And of course, being obsessed with hooves, I was always snapping pics of the latest (usually frightening) things that had been done to her hooves.

But I didn't start really getting involved until August. I became very concerned because I would walk by her stall and every day she would be lying down and panting heavily--some days, I honestly felt like she was in major distress. I even alerted the barn owner, who told me that, "yes, that's just how she is now."

Of course, I started taking her out and hosing her down for 20-30 minutes several times a day. I asked the BO to ask Tiff's owner if I could body-clip her. He told me that the lady who normally clips her had been called, but said she wouldn't be able to make it out for at least a month. After I had hounded him about my offer to body-clip Tiff several times, he told me, "Well, Dr. F was out here today and demanded she be clipped, so go ahead and do it." (I just want to point out that I put absolutely no blame on the BO--it was just one of those communication breakdown things where nobody could get ahold of anyone else!)


Tiff The Yak pre-clip


The hair you see here is from ONE leg!


Much better! :-)


Honestly, how could anyone resist that face?

After I clipped Tiff, I got a call from her owner Judy, thanking me profusely. The BO had told her what I'd done and she was thrilled that I had been able to make Tiff more comfortable. She had been trying to get Tiff clipped, but had had no luck. And, since she has some health issues that severely limit what she can do, there was no way that she would have been able to do it herself. Looking back, I'm SO happy that I did just step in and shear Tiff because that's what brought Judy and me together. I had seen her once before, but hadn't really gotten to know her because we were never at the barn at the same time.

And yet...what I *really* wanted to do for Tiff, I didn't feel like I could do. Yet. Her hooves were in horrible shape and I was watching her deteriorate, growing more and more uncomfortable with each passing week. She was lying down so much that she developed raw, painful pressure sores all over her body. Every time Candy was out to do Salem's hooves, I would have her look at Tiff--we were both dying for Candy to get her hands on those hooves.

More to come...


6 comments:

eventer79 said...

Awwwwe, poor pony. That stuff is hard for me to watch and not take action either. Gets me in trouble sometimes, but oh well. So glad you were able to meet Judy and help her and pony!

Achieve1dream said...

Dang cliff hangers. I want to hear what happens. That was really awesome of you to stand up for Tiff and do the things her owner couldn't do. I bet she's so much happier and more comfortable thanks to you.

Regarding your comment on my blog, I have read that and I know that the plates in the back/withers are the last to close, but I just can't wait anymore. For the first year all I'm going to be doing is walking and very light trotting. No circles or heavy work. No cantering. No saddle, it will be bareback (which is why I may not do much if any trotting since I won't be able to get off his back while bareback - I may get a bareback pad with stirrups but I've heard they put too much pressure in too small of an area). I'm really just going to put the basics on him and only ride him two or three times a week if even that. I don't want to hurt him, but I just can't wait another year. It's been so hard not to just sit on him now lol. Do you think that will be okay?

Alana said...

I want more updates!!!
Poor girl, her coat pre-clip reminds of of my Mo-man, remembering all the ups and downs with him, the hours spent clipping, clipping, clipping and clipping him, and learning so much about feet, nutrition...everything from him. I didn't realize how many people loved him until after he died, so many people missed seeing his huge orangeish white self...sorry...*teat* I really miss him.
Tiff is a right spiffy looking lady after that clip job! The sore on her hip is pretty distressing though. I can't wait to hear the rest of the story. And some updates on Salem pony and the rest of your critters???

Kristen Eleni Shellenbarger said...

HeeHee..it only gets better people!! GOOD FOR U...u are BACK online!! :)
Btw, this is the first time I've seen Tiff's face/body (other than her tootsies) and she is JUST GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!! And u my friend, are a saint. Can't wait to read more! :) xo

SprinklerBandit said...

Super cool! Can't wait for more.

Sarah said...

Thank you so much for what you did for what you did for sweet Tiff! My old girl was in a similar situation with her feets so I can't wait to read about that:)