This morning was not good for me :(

I went out to do the horses as usual, got their feed ready and called them, but only two came up - Josh and the chestnut mare I look after. Annie - the older mare (who I look after for my neighbour), was nowhere to be seen. I didn't have my lenses in but I thought she would be making her way up - she's slow on her pins - so I started walking over the field (14 acres).

As I got to the top of the hill, still calling her, I looked down and I could see a shadow on the ground. I couldn't see properly, but I felt sick all the same. I got down to the shadow, and it was Annie, flat out, covered in frost and barely breathing. I managed to run all the way back (i don't do running) and get a blanket, Jon, and a headcollar...and Jon called the vet and roused her owner (he owns the land around us). Anyway, I sat with her for a while and she had obviously been down for hours. She was barely breathing :( I was so upset - I get very emotional over pets. It was very upsetting, sitting in the frost, freezing, and I honestly thought she was going to die with me stroking her nose.

Luckily, the quilt I got on her seemed to be warming her up - she was coming round a bit and trying to get up. The vet gave her the rubber glove treatment (she wasn't impressed) and we finally managed to roll her right over and get her up. She has a sore on her leg and is very very shaky...she has bad arthritis. She is now eating and will be on Bute, she had a shot from the vet aswell.

The thing is, the neighbour who owns her never used to bother with her or the other one till I moved here. He even admitted that had I not been looking after them, she could have been at the bottom of the hill for days because he wouldn't have noticed

Why is it that the people who don't give a toss about their animals, always seem to get away with things and have very strong healthy animals, and therefore think that its the right way to just let their animals get on with it??!!

Poor Annie :(
Thank Heavens you were there and found her....it doesn't bear thinking about
if you hadn't been checking on them.
I hope she gets stronger and feels better soon poor love.
I hope that the weather isn't too cold for her, does she have a stable for shelter?
Hope the nieghbours conscience pricks him heavily....

She's very lucky you found her when you did. Poor thing :(
At least there is a happy ending to the day. You should be proud of yourself :)
Some owners really don't deserve the loyalty of the animals who depend on them
Lara x

Couldn't agree more !!!
What a callous **** he is. Don't these people realise animals feel too ??
Well Chloe, pat yourself on the back for saving the poor animal. Had you not been meticulous in what you do, then she'd surely be gone now ??
I bet he doesn't even have a conscience that could be pricked.
Did he pay for the Vet's fee's??
If you never moved in, then what would be happening to the horse's now??? A rather neglected state, I'd bet !!!
Please keep us informed on any developments with the poor girl.
Well done again, Chloe

I made him clear out the field shelter today and laid it all out with knee deep straw (something he's been promising to do). He even had to order a skip and get it delivered today . They have lots of natural shelter here, but she's 26, and if she goes down, she can't get up - so at least if she goes down in there she will be warm...

Christ almighty, there must have been some mess in the shelter if he's needed a skip to clear it all. And I'll bet he's not even remorseful :(

Well, he used to think they would still use it - even with rolls of barbed wire and stuff - till I put him straight and he closed it off (promising to clear it). Theres lots of natural shelter here, but she needs a bit more than that. She's never been rugged and I can't start now...so she needs a good dry shelter. Now she has it :)

Poor old girl is 26..she has hardly any teeth, so I have to feed her a couple of times a day with a warm mash - he didn't even have a clue about that until I got the vet to check why she was losing weight - he hadn't noticed He doesn't mean to be cruel - its just ignorance. He bought the pony for his daughter - and she's moved on, and Annie has been left

yeah, they move on and the poor horse gets left behind. :( ...very
Does this guy appreciate what you do Chloe??? I mean if you're having to feed her the mash a few times a day, then that is time consuming on your part. Yes, I could imagine you saying that' it's not a problem, with you being a true animal lover, you do what you have to to help...but does he really appreciate the lengths you're going to for his horse ?? <<just curious>>
As for you crying bucket loads for this horse waiting for the vet, let me promise you that you would not be the only one, I would have been too.
Good on ya girl for all you do :)

No, he doesn't appreciate what I do - I think he is grateful I do it, but has absolutely no idea of the work I put in - scrubbing out water troughs that have never been done before, mending fences and removing nails and grooming etc.

I do it for Annie, and the other Chestnut - who was left with a headcollar on for months until it grew in - again, her owner doesn't bother with her. It took me three months to get her trust to let me catch her and get her teeth and hooves done.

Everyone keeps telling him how much better she looks (she was even worse before I started giving her the right food and cod liver oil and garlic and cortaflex etc etc). But I don't care what he thinks - I know she appreciates it.

I do get to keep Josh there free of charge, and I can walk my dogs on the fields, so I don't mind. He pays for most of it. I will never leave her though - never. I'd steal her before I left her there (if we moved)!

Thanks for all the nice comments. I am freezing now - I think I have a chill from being out there with no decent jacket this morning..and it has helped a lot to sound off about it :)

Well that's it......regardless of what he thinks, you do it for the wellbeing of the animal.
I couldn't believe it when you said about the headcollar being left on for months !!!! <<mad>> How could anyone do that????? I mean, you don't need to be a genius, but for gods sake, where's their common sense??? That poor horse must have been in a hell of a state !!!!
You've gained their trust Chloe, (which is no easy feat) so that in itself, I imagine, would be reward for all your hard work.
As for your moving, or not moving......my sentiments would be the same - I'd steal them or something, but I'd damn well not leave them to him.

I do hope the old girl is o.k Chloe.

liberty
Junior stable girl ;)

How frightening! :( I'm so glad you managed to get her back - it was bloody cold last night, so being down too long could easily have finished her off.

The sight of her lying there will live with me forever. I don't mind admitting I cried a lot of tears over her while I waited for the vet. Bless Josh though, he came over while she was lying there and gently sniffed at her ears before I had chance to move him away...

It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about her, all those years of devotion given to her rider and then forgotten......
At least she has a guardian angel in you now...and the chestnut too.

It reminds me of Black Beauty.....I bet they'd both have some sad stories to share.
Thank heavens that you are looking after them now, I'd be the same just wanting to know that they were ok.
I'm glad he's cleared out the shelter at least she'll be out of the wind and cold.

Please keep us updated....I used to ride when I was younger but the lessons got too expensive for
my Mum and Dad to afford them. I still love Horses though....but don't have enough money or the know
how to look after one myself.

Locally we had a sad story a young woman was killed whilst riding her friends horse and the horse was PTS
as they were involved in a road traffic incident. The horse Cherry was badly injured, not sure how the accident happened :(

Well done Chloe.

Well done you ! :)

Poor old girl, she was very lucky as something like that would have put her into shock and it could well have been too late to save her.

How is she this morning ?

Lucy
xx

Hi

Stiff - swollen joints, but steadier. She's had a good feed and she's on Bute for a few days...so she's feeling better in herself I hope. I have to admit to not sleeping too well last night though :(

Chloe - you're an angel :). Hope Annie continues to improve.

Joyce

awwwwww chloe ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))).:( :(.

Just read this - poor old girl. So glad you are there for her Chloe

Gina x