The Castle Rock MARE-TERNITY WARD

Message Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Suebe on June 15, 2016, 03:16:38 AM

Title: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 15, 2016, 03:16:38 AM
There was a little mini about a year and a half they tell me needing a caring home. She was born at this house, no one had done anything with her other then after weaning stick her in a stall with a mini Jack not gelded ugh. Hopefully she was too young to have responded to him?! She was extremely pathetic and broke my heart at first sight. She seems to have clubby feet and a pretty good twist to one of her legs. I have no experience with dwarfy mini's but wondering if she looks like she could be slightly dwarfy especially since all her hooves look a bit strange and she's pretty tiny but doesn't look super odd like some can. Any thoughts or info appreciated. Farrier is coming out Friday. Surprisingly she's not extremely long. But does need TLC for sure. So sweet after not being handled for the most part. I'm going to add photos below. Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Renée on June 15, 2016, 03:38:30 AM
I am glad she found you and will now get the love and attention that she deserves. I look forward to seeing pics of her.  :D
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 15, 2016, 03:49:47 AM
Thank you, having trouble loading my pics...The back right hoof is twisted and strangly shaped, she walks almost on the side of it. I'll get better pics tomorrow, we just got her here, it's late and I really wanted to make her comfy and give her a good meal. The front right definitely looks clubbed. Thoughts please than you!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 15, 2016, 03:54:37 AM
Here's one more of the front
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Rocklone on June 15, 2016, 04:52:28 AM
Aw she's a sweet thing.

I would attribute the twist and the shape of the hooves to either no hoof care and lack of nutrition or someone doing it themselves and making an absolute mess of it. This could take a few visits to correct maybe remedial farriery. I don't think she's dwarfy
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 15, 2016, 05:06:04 AM
she was definitely born with these hooves, a girl that helps on this particular ranch and not friends with the people just offers help to them said she was here at the time of her birth and she was definitly born with these hooves. That at birth she stood on the side of her hoif/ankle and that big indents could be seen on both the front and back right
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Renée on June 15, 2016, 05:09:39 AM
I agree, I don't see any dwarf traits and I don’t see anything that the farrier can’t try and fix over time. I had a foal born similar a few years back. She sure is a sweetheart.
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: dcwolcott on June 15, 2016, 05:16:18 AM
I would also say not a dwarf, don't see the characteristics, but if indeed, if just stuck in a stall with no care and little exercise as she was growing, I'd say the foot and leg problems are related to that, poor nutrition, and thank goodness, she's with you now!!!  The farrier should be able to help, but I'm sure it will take time!

How sad !!  Keep us posted on her.  She looks like a sweetheart!!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 15, 2016, 05:22:24 AM
thanks good to know there's a chance we can maybe reverse some of the damage. That one back leg gives you the chills when she steps, it doesn't seem like she's very uncomfortable but it bows out when she put stepping pressure on it and looks like her ankles about to pop sideways. I'll see what the farrier says on Friday
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Rocklone on June 15, 2016, 05:28:39 AM
Some come out like that but again it's usually due to poor nutrition in the womb and lack of immediate farriery. Hopefully it will correct with care and exercise. I'd try and get some calcium in her.

Also has this sweet thing got a name yet???
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 15, 2016, 07:15:31 AM
No they said they never named her, she's such a little heartbreaker, so sweet, we'll have to come up with a good name for her. You all don't think that Jack could have gotten her pregnant if she's only a year and a half do you?
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: dcwolcott on June 15, 2016, 07:35:26 AM
Yes, it's certainly "do-able".  Let's hope not for her sake.  It would be so much better for her to have you get her in better shape, and get the love and care she deserves, and we know you will give her!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Chanda on June 15, 2016, 09:26:15 AM
Bless you for taking her on.
 I don't see dwarf, either, just neglected hooves that weren't taken care of properly.  It may or may not be fixable due to her age, but a good farrier should be able to make improvements with time.
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Ryan on June 16, 2016, 12:14:44 AM
Shes lovely Sue, good on you for taking her on board to show her some loving :)

I agree with Chanda , I think you will see some improvement in time, your farrier may want to trim her a little more frequently to promote the correct hoof angles and to also promote good hoof growth.

Cant wait to hear what name you choose for her

All the best :)
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 18, 2016, 12:45:11 AM
Yes, it's certainly "do-able".  Let's hope not for her sake.  It would be so much better for her to have you get her in better shape, and get the love and care she deserves, and we know you will give her!

Oh I agree! That's way to young and she's really tiny and not in the best condition. They said she was 1 1/2 years old but that's impossible. She either just turned one or is soon, or is turning two or close to it. If she were 1 1/2 that would put her being born smack in the middle of winter and honestly I don't know about you but I've never had a mini in heat in mid winter here in Southern California. Hoping for a one year old because then I highly doubt she'd be pregnant
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Chanda on June 18, 2016, 01:57:41 AM
Yes, it's certainly "do-able".  Let's hope not for her sake.  It would be so much better for her to have you get her in better shape, and get the love and care she deserves, and we know you will give her!

Oh I agree! That's way to young and she's really tiny and not in the best condition. They said she was 1 1/2 years old but that's impossible. She either just turned one or is soon, or is turning two or close to it. If she were 1 1/2 that would put her being born smack in the middle of winter and honestly I don't know about you but I've never had a mini in heat in mid winter here in Southern California. Hoping for a one year old because then I highly doubt she'd be pregnant

I have a friend here in Montana that bought a November born mini.
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: paintponylvr on June 18, 2016, 10:55:39 AM
Sorry to burst a bubble, but we've had many Oct, Nov, Dec babies - from small Shetland size up to full size riding horse w/o being under lights or in barns/stalls - in snow country MT, in CO and here in NC (remember the filly I just had born the day after Christmas & we purposely bred an Arab mare in November 07 hoping to get a baby close to Oct 1st, 08 for our daughter's Bday.  That mare WAS preg maiden and the colt was born Oct 17 and due to circumstances, the daughter he was meant for was the first to find him when she foaled in the pasture after being turned outside for a while, but I was called to a friends' for help with one of their horses). 

Most breeding/stud farms that I'm familiar with separate weanlings by sex no later than 6 months because, yes, both can produce (impregnate and get pregnant).  I was caught by surprise last week - with everything going on this year, I hadn't paid attention to the fact that our late 2015 colt, Riddler, was 9 months old...  Till I caught him with a full erection, mounting a mare in the pasture.  The other stallion drove him off at that point and I caught & pulled him out and he's now weaned in a paddock in the boy's pasture.  Later today and tomorrow, I plan on turning him out in the boy's paddock for a few hours to play and run, but he will be in the pen at night (for now).  He will be about 14 months old when he is scheduled for castration (unless I do it before then - but the vet school likes me to bring these little guys up for their students and I LOVE having no cost castrations, even if it's a different student removing each testicle).  Now I also need to keep an eye on his 1/2 sister - Blitzen, the filly born the day after Christmas - as she's now 5 1/2 months old and I wonder...  UGH!  In the past, we've usually weaned babies between 4-6 months old and then kept the colts separate from the fillies/mares.  Next week, I will be pulling Blitzen out of the pasture and weaning her - to make sure that if she does come into season, the mature stallion running with those mares doesn't breed her.  I meant to pull that stallion out before the 1st of June, now it will be a bit later...

I really hope for your filly's sake (& your peace of mind) that she isn't in foal, but if she is you have her at a great time to get everything in order and get her in good shape with your care.  We are here for help if you need it. 

I came from a ranch background that routinely bred 2 yr old fillies.  Some of those, due to time of year actually born themselves, were much younger than a "true" 2 yrs old...  Even here in NC, there was a Paso farm (can't remember if they were Peruvians or Finos) that bred their 2 yr old fillies first and then trained them under saddle while they were pregnant.  They were then trained to ride when their foals arrived - some of those girls seemed soooo small/tiny (under 13 hh - way too small for me to ride!) when I rode along with the vet to do ultrasounds at the farm.  How they did things at that farm was fascinating!  We ultra sounded 15 fillies one time - I seem to recall several being not pregnant.  The farm also used that as a determination on who to sell and/or at what prices...  The ones not in foal were biopsied right then to see if something was wrong, then all of the open fillies were sold.

Her hooves will come around to some extent.  I know that my farrier would want to do her every two weeks for a while - so that only a little done at a time to prevent her from being too sore and to promote growth. 

I look forward to hearing what you've named her - she's a real cutie (& I don't normally like "red" horses).
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 18, 2016, 12:24:27 PM
Yes I do know about keeping them under lights to keep them in season longer. I imagine people do get those winter babes. I personally have never had a mare in heat past late September or a stallion that looks interested that late in season. I guess it's possible but probably not real common in Southern Cali. the farrier was here yesterday and wow huge difference already! She's not walking on her ankle anymore. He said all four hooves are clubbed with other deformities. I'm super impressed though I'll put a few picks up today. He didn't trim her too short at all but she was laying down more yesterday for the few hours after her trim. I think because she'd never walked at a semi normal angle maybe since birth and I imagine she was a little uncomfortable, seems fine today! Swinging her head back and forth and prancing around. Nothing like some good food and a trim to get ya going lol if I take pics of her teeth are there any aging experts out there? :D
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: dcwolcott on June 18, 2016, 06:56:23 PM
Oh, this all sounds sensational!  So glad to hear he was able to help her, and it sounds like she's doing well -- if not a bit uncomfortable learning to walk the correct way!

I'd say go ahead and post the pictures and someone on here will certainly have some input for you!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Chanda on June 18, 2016, 07:52:44 PM
Well, we may not be experts, but we are happy to take a stab at it.
Please take straight on pics, side pic and if you can table (chewing surface) pics.   Probably can do a pretty good job guesstimating age with just the straight on and side pics, since she is supposed to be young.
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 19, 2016, 02:21:16 AM
So by this afternoon she had started lifting one back leg then the other when she was standing still. Felt so bad for her, being so uncomfortable, I tried to get a little bute down her with a supplement but she's very picky probably because she's only ever been fed this really nasty brown "hay" that honestly I wouldn't let my horses touch. Was truly disgusting! She did eat a little of it. Do you all think she will get use to these "new feet" so sad! These pics of her teeth are awful I know Lol! Let me know if I need better ones.
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Chanda on June 19, 2016, 10:09:02 AM
I'll have to dig out my book, as I can't remember all the details, but she's quite young with those corner incisors not fully in contact.
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: dcwolcott on June 19, 2016, 10:25:32 AM
Started looking for mine, too.  Young for sure!  Gotta' find that book!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Chanda on June 19, 2016, 10:52:24 AM
http://iamranch.com/teethchartmini
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: dcwolcott on June 19, 2016, 12:11:14 PM
I love the Iam site.  So many good things posted there.  I'll have to contact her again, to see if we can post some of her information here.  She was very gracious to let me use some of the pictures from her site in our dystocia article.

So, I'm guessing that maybe 1-1/2 year old age looks about right, based on the pictures!  What do you think, Chanda?  I'm no teeth expert at all. 
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Chanda on June 19, 2016, 12:58:57 PM
I love the Iam site.  So many good things posted there.  I'll have to contact her again, to see if we can post some of her information here.  She was very gracious to let me use some of the pictures from her site in our dystocia article.

So, I'm guessing that maybe 1-1/2 year old age looks about right, based on the pictures!  What do you think, Chanda?  I'm no teeth expert at all.

I'm no expert either, but that's about what I was thinking.
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 20, 2016, 02:35:24 AM
Thanks for the help! So she's at least around the age they said, that's good. She fit so cute into my small mini herd, there's 5 of them and then the 2 donkeys. Turned her out in the pasture with them this afternoon and she ran and pranced around so cute. Was so awesome to watch her run like that knowing she'd never done it before.  Im so obsessed with her, she's so sweet it's unbelievable! I'm really happy her prior life didn't effect her trust for people. She wasn't lifting her legs like yesterday, getting use to those new feet. You can tell in that one pic that she's standing more normal now and yes that my baby donk who at 9 weeks is almost the size of mom lol
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: dcwolcott on June 20, 2016, 05:42:37 AM
That's great news (and pictures) and I can't believe your little donkey has grown so much!!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Ryan on June 20, 2016, 11:22:58 PM
Im so happy she is starting to feel a little better on her new feet. You may find that she will go a little sore after seeing the farrier for her next few visits, especially whilst he is corrective trimming .  Sounds like she has found the perfect home with you :)

I Cannot beleive how much your donkey has grown already , what name did you decide on ?
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 21, 2016, 10:16:08 AM
Im so happy she is starting to feel a little better on her new feet. You may find that she will go a little sore after seeing the farrier for her next few visits, especially whilst he is corrective trimming .  Sounds like she has found the perfect home with you :)

I Cannot beleive how much your donkey has grown already , what name did you decide on ?

Well hahaha! Keep in mind I have teenagers Lol! The mom (burro) came pregnant from the BLM with the name "Becky" so of course my daughter immediately started calling her "Becky G" who you might know is a "pop star" lol so of course when our little donkey Jack popped out he was named "Bucky G" on the spot hahahha! It really does fit him though and both he and his mom are literal pocket donkeys. You can't even clean their pen cause they have to stand against you at all times. I never imagined how friendly these animals are its mind blowing!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: dcwolcott on June 21, 2016, 06:00:34 PM
That sounds just awesome!!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Ryan on June 21, 2016, 07:01:19 PM
Love the name  ;D
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: paintponylvr on June 23, 2016, 08:53:58 AM
Have you named your little chestnut girl or have I missed it?

I do love the names of the BLM burros!  Those are great and they are looking good.  You have quite the menagerie going!
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 23, 2016, 11:03:37 AM
 ^-^ thank you!
Thw first two pics are her back left hoof. It obviously looks so much better because she was walking on the side of this hoof when I got her. Farrier says all her hooves are clubbed and seems to have some type of deformity. He agreed with all of you that most likely while in utero her dam had very poor nutrition and it definitely didn't get better after she was born. I also know they did not give her any hoof care. The third pic is her front left. What do you think is going on here? Last night I tried to get a little more bute down her. She was standing in the pen rotate lifting each foot off the ground for a few seconds at a time. I don't know if she did this before as the couple of times I saw her prior to them letting her go, she was standing doing nothing since birth so no real exercise. Now at my house she's walking at a better angle and is turned out into a huge pasture all day but is all this causing her to be uncomfortable and will get better with time and should be expected? She's never had grain so it's almost impossible to get the bute down her. She doesn't understand what it is and rolls it around in her mouth not really liking it. Maybe a pea size drop of Banimine instead? But to give you an idea how these idiots didn't break her spirit to still love humans , when she sees any of us she stops whatever she's doing to come say hi and get lots of love and rubs. Any suggestions you might have as to what I should be doing that I'm not please advise. We named her Quinn and she's catching on quick :)
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Suebe on June 23, 2016, 11:08:14 AM
These are four pics from last Friday morning BEFORE the farrier got to our ranch. Along wth her very first trim she really needed her very first bath, was a success and I actually don't think she hated it :)
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: Chanda on June 23, 2016, 11:09:59 AM
I've only ever had bute tablets, that I crush, mix with applesauce and syringe in like paste dewormer.  [I use 1/4-1/2 tab depending on the size of the mini.]   And, we keep injectable banamine on hand, and just use that orally (just syringe, no needle, and it tastes horrible); I believe it's 1ml/100#BW.

Her discomfort is probably a combination of the trimming and more exercise because she is more balanced so feeling better, and probably overdoing it a bit.
Title: Re: Hi Everyone, took in a mini tonight....
Post by: dcwolcott on June 23, 2016, 06:24:30 PM
I've always used Banamine injectable, but never injected it.  I draw it up in a syringe too (and Chanda's dosage is correct) and then take off the needle and squirt in the mouth.  With all the mucous membranes in the mouth, it goes to work VERY fast. But she's right, it tastes awful.  My vet preferred to use it that way, and told me about vet students when he went to school that used to take it orally themselves instead of ibuprofen or other pain relievers!  Goodness!

I'm sure everything is so new to her and she's over-doing a bit, as Chanda said.  But, as she gains strength with you, I'm praying for a great turn around for her!

Again, thank you for saving this wonderful little "gem".