Harvey came to us this fall, thus the name we gave him "Harvest Moon". He's an 8-10 year old miniature shetland approx 37 inches. This is a case of severe criminal confinement. He was contained in a 10 X 10 area with his son for as many years as you'd care to think. There was a 4 foot + mountain of manure pushed up and on the top of it they shoved him a round bale of moldy cow hay over the fence. That's it. No food, no shelter, no water, not even a bucket was seen nearby so I don't know what he did for water. His back bone was up, hip bone too, and a big belly hanging under it all and standng in manure with no clean place available.
His feet are a problem but he is not foundered. They grew way out and curled under his hoof and then continued to grow, locked up to the sole for lack of a better description. Obvously he had to learn to walk like that all his life with that mess stuck under there. With sedation, the poor guy had to endure the surgery getting the hoof removed from underneath which made him very sore as you can only imagine, so he was on pain killers for a week because he was hurting too badly to move.
We began de-worming very carefully because it was clear, that never happened for him at all. We had him vaccinated, and began feeding him slowly with Safe Choice and nice clean hay.He was not exactly halter broke, knows nothing at all, but he is doing pretty good with that now and standing nicely for grooming. Turns out from daily handling, Harvey is as friendly and as personable as can be.
Harvey was gelded today. He's gained some weight but he is far from where he needs to be. Back bone, ribs and hip bone still protruding but the belly has begun to deflate. He had his 2nd hoof trim and is hobbeling around learning how to cope and walk with his new feet.Its going to be a slow process trying to re-hab him but there is no reason to think he won't come around in time. He's going to make a nice buddy for someone to hang out with.
We have a lot of bills on this boy. Very thankful to you all for any help we can get.
His son was purchased so he's freed from that place too.
His feet are a problem but he is not foundered. They grew way out and curled under his hoof and then continued to grow, locked up to the sole for lack of a better description. Obvously he had to learn to walk like that all his life with that mess stuck under there. With sedation, the poor guy had to endure the surgery getting the hoof removed from underneath which made him very sore as you can only imagine, so he was on pain killers for a week because he was hurting too badly to move.
We began de-worming very carefully because it was clear, that never happened for him at all. We had him vaccinated, and began feeding him slowly with Safe Choice and nice clean hay.He was not exactly halter broke, knows nothing at all, but he is doing pretty good with that now and standing nicely for grooming. Turns out from daily handling, Harvey is as friendly and as personable as can be.
Harvey was gelded today. He's gained some weight but he is far from where he needs to be. Back bone, ribs and hip bone still protruding but the belly has begun to deflate. He had his 2nd hoof trim and is hobbeling around learning how to cope and walk with his new feet.Its going to be a slow process trying to re-hab him but there is no reason to think he won't come around in time. He's going to make a nice buddy for someone to hang out with.
We have a lot of bills on this boy. Very thankful to you all for any help we can get.
His son was purchased so he's freed from that place too.
