DUI - AUTO v. MINI

[Tam VanderWerf]

The phone rang about 45 minutes ago and it was our friends Sue and Carey, who live about 45 mintues from here up in the mountains. Sue said that some person, driving drunk, had gone through their fence and collided with three of their miniatures. Her stallion, Tobey, had been completely run over. Her other stallion, Rowdy, had been hit and was bleeding from the nose and his leg was swelling. Her mare, Catalina, that we sold them this summer had been hit in the ribs.

She had been calling the vet - our vet - for over an hour and she hadn't returned their calls.

I grabbed my Horse Owners Vet Guide to see if there was a section on trauma and didn't really find anything of use for this situation. Dan hooked up our 2-horse trailer and we gathered blankets and whatever supplies we could think of at this hour and he's headed their way.

All three horses are up, but appear to be shocky. Of course, there's your abrasions, but they sound rather minor.

What do you do in a situation like this? We've never been through a trauma like this.

A note on Sue - she's now in a wheelchair (temporary we hope) because she has a blood clot in her leg and has back problems that recently worsened.

Please send your thoughts and prayers for the horses and Sue & Carey. I'll add to this post once I have some news after Dan arrives. Thank you!

PS: Mr. DUI is on his way to jail.

 

[Meavey]

Oh my god, that is your worst nightmare...

They must feel so helpless...

I hope they don´t have any interneal damage, please keep us posted.

I hope the horses will get true it.

 

[*minis*]

Oh my god! I really hope that they're not severly injured (internal). What a horror to not even be able to reach the vet! My thoughts and prayers are with the owners and the horses. Please keep us posted

 

[Getitia]

How horrible. Special prayers that they are not seriously injured and will completely recover.

 

[CKC]

Prayers coming their way.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Keep them as warm as possible, and as quiet as possible. Deep beds, lots of blankets, free access to food and water. Watch water intake. If they are used to being together keep them together. Then pray. We will do so with you. Good Luck, I lost two colts this way, stone dead, (For which, having seen the damage, I am grateful) Never did catch the kid. I hope they at least have the drunk- bad as it already is, it could have been a Schoolbus full of kids just as easily.

 

[Barbie]

Tam-

You know my prayers are with Sue, Catalina and the others. What an awful thing. Sure am glad Angel wasn't with them. Please keep us posted - well, I'll be on the phone shortly.

Barbie

 

[Tam VanderWerf]

Here's a little bit of an update.

Still no return call from ANY vet. The other vet we've used in the past is out of town. Then Sue called another group, who no longer work on horses. They referred her to a group in the next county north and six of that group are out of town. So maybe our regular vet is out on another emergency and that's why she hasn't responded.

Dan arrived and looked everyone over. Respiration and temperatures were all normal for everyone. The bloody nose on the one stallion has stopped and he's bearing weight on the leg that was swelling. Catalina just seems to be shaken up -no cuts or abrasions, and she doesn't seem to be tender anywhere. They're all blanketed and being kept comfortable until they can get a vet to respond. Hopefully there is no internal damage.

Thank you all for your prayers. Keep em coming!

 

[jacks'thunder]

Oh my gosh! This is just a nightmare for you all! I'm so sorry

!

I'll keep these little guys in my prayers! Keep us updated!

Leya

 

[SHANA]

I hope they are alright. This happened to my cousin's WC Show Pony Stallion, Barney. He got out of his pasture, how, they still don't know, and went on a major highway and was hit by a car pretty bad. Luckily he pulled through. My cousin has since raised the fences and has put 3 strands of electric inside the mesh as well as one on top. She thinks he somehow managed to jump the fence. All 44-45 inches of him. It was a 5 foot fence to begin with. The person who hit Barney stayed until the vet arrived, he felt really bad. My cousin told him it wasn't his fault, that it was hers. She would not take his money to pay the vet bills and her insurance paid for the damages to the guys car. The guy came back many times to see how Barney was doing and now they are good friends. Barney is to be gelded if all goes well this winter. He is a cyprochid, never dropped.

EDITED TO SAY: His registered name is Forever In Trouble. Guess Barney lived up to it.

 

[Kathy2m]

How terrible, prayers coming their way. Kathy

 

[RNR]

Oh Man! I am Praying and wating to hear! That is my biggest fear! we live in the middle of nowhere but the druggies and drunks live at the end of our street!!

They are all in my prayers!

 

[ChrystalPaths]

You are all in my prayers. Please keep us updated. My heart just breaks for those poor babies!

 

[Mijke]

OMG, how awfull...

We keep them in our minds and sending healing thoughts their way...

 

[Cathy_H]

Sending best wishes to your friends & thier horses. Such unnecessary heartache for all................................ I have no sympathy whatsoever with DUI's & only wish I could be the judge in those cases.

 

[SWA]

Holding your friend in healing prayers. Goodness gracious! Holding their horses in heart and prayers as well.

As for Drunk Drivers...I have no sympathy either, and pray that stiff justice will be served where due! However, beyond serving what's due, I do also pray this person will WAKE UP and turn around before far worse has a chance to evolve.

God be with them all.

 

[Tam VanderWerf]

Here's another update on Tobey, Rowdy and Catalina......

Sue was able to get a vet to call her back close to 8 a.m. today. The vet said Sue might be out of their area, but she would come anyway and be there around 10 a.m.

I spoke to Sue after 8 this morning, when all the fear of her being on the phone and missing a vet's call subsided. I asked her the details of what happened. She said that she had heard a neighbor arguing with someone and told him to get off his property. That someone came racing down the road toward Sue's house and she got up to look out her front door to see what the car was doing. She said she watched the whole accident and it appeared that he DID IT DELIBERATELY!!!! My husband echoed the same after he saw where the car left the road.

Sue said she saw the car - a mustang - run over the top of Tobey, smash into Rowdy, who went across the top of the car and also hit Catalina, who reared and fell backward.

I've just spoken to Sue again and the vet just left. Rowdy and Catalina are pretty much ok. The story with Tobey is the vet thinks he either has a shattered knee or his leg is fractured below the knee. The vet has to develop the x-rays and call Sue with the results. If it's shattered there is no treatment and if it's fractured it would require surgery at UT to repair it. Tobey is currently in a pressure cast and on Bantamine. Other than his leg, Tobey seems to be somewhat ok.

This whole incident is so hard to believe. One can't even begin to figure out what was on this idiot's mind. It still could have been a whole lot worse and know all the prayers have helped tremendously. I will post more once Sue calls me with the x-ray results.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

 

[Marty]

TAM Call me for directions to my vet's hospital if you need one. It's state of the art and they are FABULOUS! It's about a one hour drive there from you. They do have mini equipement.

There's also the 24 hour clinic you can call in Chattanooga on Amnicola Hwy but I don't know if they are set up or versed on horses.

What about Pat Tyree?

 

[Marty]

Tam, I also know of this vet. He comes very highly recommeded and he's in your neck of the woods over there.

Sachs Matthew DVM

30520 Rhea County Highway, Spring City, TN 37381

(423) 365-7372

Oh sorry we must have posted at the same time.

I feel awful about this. Those poor animals and your friends have my deepest sympathy. Your husband was so amazing to get over there to help like that. What a guy.

Tam you got to get on your friends there to stop at nothing to get this guy prosecuted and sued and raked over the coals, or you know as well as I do that no one will hold these minis in great regard and he'll get off with a slap on the wrist unless they raise he77 over it and be persistant. They need the DA to get on board with this big time and I believe the DA is in Spring City if I'm not mistaken. I'm so sick of hearing that "it's ONLY an animal"..........

Please tell your friends that I'm pulling for them over this side of the mountain.

Please keep us updated.

 

[SWA]

Well now I'm even angrier. You asked what was going through his mind? That's so unfathomable for me. Alcoholics have no presence of mind when drinking...well to a degree, but altered by the alcohol in such a distorted way that it's something of a monster all it's own. BELIEVE ME. My dad, and step dad both did things (thankfully soooo long ago), that always boggled me in how and what could they be thinking when they've done the things they have. This is in part, plus having been the victim hit by a Drunk Driver too, are why I have NO SYMPATHY and pray with all my heart that they DO SERVE what's so very due them! But, then do also pray they WAKE UP....BEFORE....

Lord have mercy!!!!!!

I'm sorry, but situations like this that involves alcohol...just makes me so angry with all the unnecessities that are brought upon INNOCENT VICTIMS like this.

May God have mercy on this person, but may JUSTICE BE SERVED upon them, in such a way that with God's hand to prayerfully REACH THROUGH the alcohol TO THEM. I'm so thankful my step dad, was able to be "reached". Though not without both devine and lawful intervention, sadly. But, so very thankful for the man he is NOW because of it.

Tam, please let your friends know, they are in my deepest of heart and prayers for her recovery, and also for each of her precious babies. God be with them all.