Ok...this might be long and I hope I'm not breaking any rules on here... I am a complete horse newbie. I am in awe of them and want to learn anything I can! My mother whom I live with has been taking natural horsemanship lessons for 4 years but we have never owned a horse.
In 2007 my parents sold their house in Montreal because it has been my mother's dream since she was young to have horses. They bought 20 acres and built their dream home and dream barn. Before my mother had a chance to get her horses my father was hit by a car and killed. The past 4.5 years everything has been at a standstill because of the criminal trial and civil trial. A year and 2 months ago I took my 20 month old son and left me husband who had become abusive. (He attacked me in front of my son and I was not staying in a situation like that.) I made the decision to leave the city and move in with my mother on her beautiful property because I believe it will be an amazing experience for my son. (Sorry that whole paragraph was a downer... Now for the good stuff!)
Now that the trials are done my mother decided that this year we are finally getting horses! I made the mistake of starting to browse classifieds and fell in love with a 6 year old Pony named Sugar. Then I made a 2nd mistake and went to visit her and that sealed the deal, she is as sweet as her name. I came home and scrambled to get an area set up for her and went to buy supplies. (Bedding, dewormer, brushes, hoof cleaning tools, hay, equalizer, salt etc.) and they delivered her to our property Sunday late afternoon. I had been given a list of questions by a neighbor to ask about her, everything from what she has been fed, when were her last vaccines, medical history, has she foundered etc.) The couple who was selling her had only had her 3 weeks. They seemed like good people (they were concerned about her well being, they said they were getting rid of her because the wife had promised her husband to take care of her and apparently she was too busy with a new baby to give her the attention she needed. They wanted to make sure she'd have a companion etc.) But their whole story seemed off a little. She apparently belonged to the husband's friend's daughter and when they could not keep her anymore this couple took her in 3 weeks ago. When I visited her she was in a tiny tiny outdoor enclosure (10 x 10 ish) and her hooves looked really long. I saw her roll roll around in the snow and she rolled in her poop and was filthy. I fell in love with her and wanted to get her out of where she was but they could not answer ANY of my questions about who her vet was, her medical history all they could tell me was that she is 6 1/2, was ridden by a little girl (who is now 9) until they took her in and that she is supposed to be up to date on her vaccines. I asked if they could call this friend and they got back to me and said there was no answer... So all in all the story is odd... but I wanted to help her and get her out of there so I bought her. (I kind of feel like I paid for a rescue Pony if that makes any sense?)
I got her settled in Sunday night and the next morning took her out for a walk. After a few minutes I let her roam free because she follows me everywhere and listens to me (About 3 acres around the house are fenced in so even if she took off she can't go anywhere) I slowly introduced her to our 4 dogs and everyone gets along great. (St Bernard mix, Leomburger mix, Boston Terrier and Chihuahua!) I called and made an appointment with a farrier and he came by yesterday. While he was trimming her hooves he told me "she has had laminitis at some point in her life" (my stomach sank a bit but I bought her to give her a better life and I am committed to doing everything I can to help her.) He told me he suspects she may have had it more than once and that she was probably left to go on grass when "she wasn't ready" (I understand that it is too rich for her but I don't understand what he meant by not ready.) Today I am looking for a vet to book an appointment and obviously I will be getting her veterinary care but I had some questions regarding Laminitis and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction?
Should she be eating 1st cut hay? (She was eating 2nd cut when I got her Sunday)
I had purchased Purina Equilibrium Equalizer but haven't given it to her yet because I saw one of the ingredients is Wheat Shorts and I read that a horse with Laminitis should not eat anything with corn, wheat etc in it... Also I wouldn't let me dogs touch Purina food with a 10 foot pole so is Purina for horses ok?! Any advice on what equalizer I should be giving her?
If a pony has had laminitis is there a specific supplement I should be giving her?
I'm scared of her being lonely until my mom gets her horse so I've been spending a good part of the day outside with her. The 2 big dogs stay out most of the day with her, is that ok as a companion for now?
If the farrier said she has had laminitis at some point that means she doesn't have it now? (I understand if she's had it she will be more susceptible to having it again and I need to take major precautions) everything I've read online is basically horror stories... If I'm committed to doing everything I can for her to be healthy is there any hope of her having a good life?
I'm sorry if this post was a little all over the place! Any information would be greatly appreciated!
