2. Flicka's Journey - Before Pictures.

Flicka arrives at the farm and I remind myself how horses live in the moment.  She has horse companions across a rail fence for now; a slow feeder with low sugar hay (I have to shake it to get rid of the part that is alfalfa in it.)  She finds plenty of water, a salt block and shelter from the wind.

Flicka arrives at the farm November 21, 2014

She is overweight and lonely, but already has friends!

 I remove the halter that had been on her for somewhat  too long.  I cry, remembering how amazing this little horse looked in 2011, and I cry with relief knowing that she now has a chance.  I only hope the situation can be turned around; then I cried with fear that perhaps I had waited to long to offer help.  It is in the dark barnyard, as Flicka is getting used to a new place, that I make a commitment to myself and the horses I love to start a Facebook Page for Flicka.

Slow feeders are great for weight loss but . . .

This is to encourage discussion on horse care and to open some eyes and perhaps influence more people to become passionate about providing reasonable and proper care for their horses, and help others to understand that it is something that is required if you are going to own a horse.

The slow feeder is great, but what this pony needs is to be accepted in the herd, and get out into the field for the winter.  There she will move, eat lots of fibre which low sugar sun cured grasses can provide all winter.  In fact, she will probably have to paw through the snow to find this natural source of food.  She also needs the herd to keep her happy and feeling safe.  Give me a day or so and we will make this happen.

By taking care of horses in your community, you take care of our larger horse industry; link global, act local.  The next night I remove burrs from Flicka’s mane and tail.  I cannot wait to get out to see her the next morning and my husband takes photos while I deworm her.  I deworm for bots (we just had the first major frost and cold snap), and worms, including tapeworm.  I learned that the fall is indeed also the best time to deworm for tapeworms since they usually reinfect in the spring, so that would give the horse a good 6 months being tapeworm free - nice!  In the early days, we did not even know horses could get tapeworms.  I have a good friend who told a story about tapeworm caused colic, that story has probably saved some of my horses. 

Deworming for everything!

I had made an emergency call to the best hoof care specialist.  I am fortunate to know him; he is the hoof care provider for my entire herd for 3 years now, along with my Long Rider friend Catherine.  As well, I sent a quick email to my herds’ nutritionist who was also scheduled for her yearly visit the next day.  Heads up; I have a laminitic horse I need assessed and a mineral ration for. 

I make a pact to myself, this pony is going to take extra care, at extra cost, and then will go into training in the spring at even more cost.  The budget for this is not coming out of my budget for my existing herd, they will all stay on their program.  I can do this, only because my husband and I have an incredible piece of native grassland, with willow shrubs, native grasses perfect for winter grazing, hills and a spring that flows year round.  It is the best winter pasture for my herd of Canadians and for a small pony, who, once her feet are trimmed and on the mend, and once she is dewormed and given a clean bill to be able to walk and run with a herd, needs plenty of fibre, mineral and companionship and movement to bring her back into reasonable condition.  If all goes according to plan, she will have the winter to lose weight, rehabilitate her feet and get in condition so she is ready for a trainer by the end of March in 2015.


 Copyright Windy Coulee Canadian Horses - Heidi Eijgel