New Horse

[Standards Equine]

Hooray for Rusty! It infuriates me that people breed these wee things haphazardly creating common things like parrot mouth that should simply never be passed on! Why/how is it a "common" thing for a mini to have? It's like club feet or poor conformation. Those animals should not be bred.
This community is full of such good horse people, owners who really give a darn and take the care needed of their tiny animals. It warms my heart to see the level of education and maintenance here. Rusty is absolutely a lucky dude. All our wee ones are lucky. Thank you Marsha, and everyone else who is responsible for their animals. I really appreciate you and I know your littles do too.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

The vet said the parrot mouth could have been less severe if Rusty had dental care as a youngster. He said it isn't really a problem, as far as being able to eat, and he believes he can help it as we go along.
I worked at rinsing Rusty's mouth with salt water this morning--it was difficult by myself, but we did it. My husband said he will try to help me this evening.
So, the moral is: anyone who has young horses, please consider having regular dental work done! I am fortunate that this vet invested in tools for miniature horses.

 

[HersheyMint]

The vet said the parrot mouth could have been less severe if Rusty had dental care as a youngster. He said it isn't really a problem, as far as being able to eat, and he believes he can help it as we go along.
I worked at rinsing Rusty's mouth with salt water this morning--it was difficult by myself, but we did it. My husband said he will try to help me this evening.
So, the moral is: anyone who has young horses, please consider having regular dental work done! I am fortunate that this vet invested in tools for miniature horses.

So true!

 

[1roadtoad]

Funny how animals seem to land where they are supposed to be! He'll be so much more comfortable now. I'm also glad on the good news about his overall health. Side note: I've had ticks on me in the middle of February in freezing temperatures, they have come from the hay bales

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Rusty is one happy pony to land in your barn! He must already feel better and will certainly be able to process his food much more efficiently.

Good news on his overall health and age!

I only consider ticks in the summer because of our winters, but they must be a year round hazard for you?

Yes. We get ticks year round. I can never tell if it is too dry--too wet--too cold--too hot... for them. We have a lot of deer here and I accuse them of spreading ticks. I found the tick right away on Rusty but it had already embedded. Since he is so sensitive, I will doctor any future bites. The furry coat makes it a challenge.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I need to do some lunge work with Rusty--he has no idea how to trot beside me when on a walk. Not even the whip as a cue will encourage him. I've tried walking behind while my neighbor leads and coaxes. He won't trot. I put him on the golf cart yesterday and we went about a mile. He came willingly at a good trot--didn't even tighten the lead rope. Or break a sweat.
I think I can teach him to trot by lunging. That is our next goal.
He is checking out the bag of chicken feed. And Billy in the background anxiously waiting for his friend to return.

 

[LostandFound]

If you are still rinsing his mouth, I found that using warm water to rinse and putting a tiny bit of molasses on the syringe made it super easy.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

If you are still rinsing his mouth, I found that using warm water to rinse and putting a tiny bit of molasses on the syringe made it super easy.

No, I only was supposed to do that for three days. A little molasses with the saline water might have helped. I will keep that in mind.

 

[LostandFound]

I didn't mix it in the water, just smeared it on the outside of the syringe. That way they are concentrating on getting it instead of arguing about what you are doing. My baby needed it for a week or so when he lost one of his teeth, before the new one came in.

 

[Standards Equine]

Holy cow is Rusty ever looking better!!! What a lucky little dude!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I worked with a basic lunge plan yesterday, just getting him to walk around me going both ways, then ending facing me. He had no idea what was going on, but he seems like a fast learner. He walked on the teeter board boldly.
Unfortunately, he is very hard to catch. I don't think he has forgiven me for the dental work.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Yesterday I decided to put a blanket on Rusty as we are expecting a "wintery mix". I've noticed that a nice snowfall is no problem, but a cold rain can make them shiver. He doesn't like to be in a shelter. He tolerated me putting the blanket very carefully on him, though the hind straps caused some serious tail-tucking. When I got it on and attached, I led him around a little. He thought the boogie man was on his back. When I released him, he took off like a rocket bucking. He ran around bucking for a while then settled down a little. By evening he was resigned, but still did not want me adjusting it.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

We have having some severe winter weather with low temperatures and strong winds. Rusty has his hay under the shelter but he won't stay under there. He has never liked shelters. He is standing out in the "winter mix", all frosty. I made him go under the shelter this morning to have breakfast, but as soon as I left, he went back out into the weather. It was too cold for me to stand there and babysit him to eat his breakfast. I can't shut him into the shelter because the water would freeze in the bucket (the heated tank is outside). If I give him fresh water twice a day, would that be enough if I decide to enclose him in the shelter? The next three days are supposed to be sub zero wind chills.

 

[Standards Equine]

I'm so ready for this winter to be done. February just sucks. When our waters inevitably go on the fritz in the cold, we'll offer water 3 or 4 times a day. That's usually enough for each of them to have good, long drinks. Not something ideal to carry on for days and days, but when you have to do what you have to do...

 

[LostandFound]

When I've had to do it for mine, I bring them hot water 3x a day. I pour the hot water on top, it melts the ice, and the horses seem to like it. But it was pretty common practice up until maybe 60 years ago to offer stalled horses water twice a day.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I will enclose him and carry water. The heated tank is nearby. It's where I keep the water lilies and the gold fish all winter, too. We wonder if Rusty can see that big gold fish down there?

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Well, to show how much he hates being enclosed, I went out this evening to feed and he had broken the hinge off the gate in his frenzy to get out. He had found a nice sheltered spot by the mountain and came up for his supper. So he will have to tough out the 5 degrees with -40 wind chill.

 

[LostandFound]

I had a big horse mare that would do that. I spent hours overnight in the freezing rain, trying to get her to stay in. With her shivering, and then smashing through every way I found to keep her in the shelter. I ended up selling her to someone that had a real barn. She had no issues with being in a stall, but absolutely hated a run in shed.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I had a big horse mare that would do that. I spent hours overnight in the freezing rain, trying to get her to stay in. With her shivering, and then smashing through every way I found to keep her in the shelter. I ended up selling her to someone that had a real barn. She had no issues with being in a stall, but absolutely hated a run in shed.

I think Rusty would enjoy a stall. But that is not an option for him at the moment. This morning I went out and he was shivering so I put the dreaded blanket on him. Two more days of this brutal weather! We are all in the survival mode.

 

[Standards Equine]

It can't last forever... Thinking warm, sunny thoughts!