The vet has been and gone - gave Posh as thorough a check over as possible - it is probably easiest just to list the problems rather than try to narrate them.

Hooves overgrown and cracked but should come good with regular farrier trimming - no current sign of infection.

Rain scald - apparently caused by a bacteria - recommends using Hibiscrub wash and heavy grooming to remove scabs - will decide on next visit, (February), if anti-biotics are needed.

Heave Line - Posh has a very prominent heave line but the vet has listened to her lungs and can not hear any breathing difficulties/problems - again will check further on next visit.

Injections - vet injected Posh for tetanus will do the normal flu jabs on next visit to synchronise with Deno.

Worming - recommended we dose both Deno and Posh immediately with an all-round wormer - dung sample taken for worm count.

Pregnancy - too early to check with stethoscope or blood test so will take blood sample on next visit - didn't want to sedate her in order to do a manual examination.

Heart - sound.No signs of physical injuries.Underweight but should come right with good food and exercise.

The vet was unable to see Posh walking and trotting as she was playing up about being separated from Deno who was in the meantime running up and down the paddock and complaining loudly about being left on his own.Next time he'd like to see them both walking/trotting together.

I think I've mentioned everything.

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A little more background history from Tracy about Deno's early life.

During Deno's abuse, he was seperated from any horses, basically dumped in a field to die, he tried to break out to get to any other horse, it was possibly that that saved his life because that is how his plight was discovered.

Sadly, this form of abuse has left him with deep mental scars, therefore he gets terrible seperation anxiety and he suffers the same with his feed bucket, because in his mind, that food might be taken away at any moment as a form of punishment, litrally he doesn't know where his next meal might come from.

This treatment is so ingrained in him, and despite him being so well looked after by first Ruth and now Frank, he still has what amounts to panic attacks...his only real demonstration of badness when being ridden was caused by a seperation panic attack, he wasn't happy at being ridden in the sand school on his own, it wasn't naughtiness or him being bad, he just panicked, bless him.

Spending time with Deno gives you a fascinating insight into how a horse's brain works. and leads to a better understanding of how we can help them.

An insight into Deno's history explains a lot about his behaviour now, and considering how abused he was, he has turned out pretty ok really, it always surprises me that he loves people so much, especially men, but he does, he is just a big loveable and loving lump.

( Frank )Thanks for that insight about Deno - makes me feel even more sure that we did the right thing in getting Posh so quickly after Cuddles' passing

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Thanks guys, (and gals) - it's magic to know you are all so much behind what we are trying to do for Deno and now Posh.

We will of course continue to try and cover the day to day costs for both these wonderful animals but to know there is a safety net there lifts an enormous weight of our minds - the thought that they won't "suffer" because personally we are unable occassionaly to pay for the best of care is lovely and very kind, especially considering the amount of pleasure we get from them on a daily basis - even when it is cold, muddy and pouring with rain !!

Anyway enough of that - they've both had their early morning karrit sandwiches and hay and their mid morning feed and yet more hay. Posh eats her feed much more quickly than Deno - so unlike poor Cuddles who used to have her remaining food stolen from her when Deno had finished, Posh has gobbled all hers and all that is left is an empty bowl.

We are off to buy wormer for the 2 and the wash for Posh to treat her rain scald in a minute so a fun afternoon beckons - where did we put those step ladders?

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Not a lot wrong with their appetites


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Farrier visit.

Deno was the perfect gentleman - no problems at all doing his feet and he didn't fall over !!

Posh likewise was the perfect lady - Freddie hasn't trimmed her feet right back as they were so overgrown - he will take more off on the next visit in February - Posh should feel a lot more comfortable though.

She had bruising on one of her feet and the hoof had grown much more on that leg than the other three - the foot was much larger as well - Freddie suspects she has been injured at some time on that leg - again it's a matter of waiting to see how much growth is made before his next visit.The good news is that he says none of the cracks are serious and should grow out with no problem.

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It was/is cold out there -
Deno and Posh are here somewhere - -

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Early Jan still and have not mentioned much over the last few days about how Deno and Posh have been getting on together.

They have been trying to stay together as a unit whether it be just grazing in the field, trying to trample me and the other members of the Creeky household when we bring them their feed or complaining loudly when they are separated for work by the farrier.

The change in Deno over the last week has been remarkable, he's very much back to his old self, interested in everything that his going on and even practising his water trick when feeling mischievous.

Considering it is only two weeks since Cuddles' sad passing we are all really pleased to see the improvement in his demeanour. We have not forgotten Cuddles, (no way ), but rather we are looking forwards not backwards here at Creekyland.

There is no way Posh will be going back now, we couldn't do that to Deno or in truth face it ourselves - you can all be assured that as far as we are concerned Posh has become a permanent resident and a member of the family.

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Deno managed to get a nail stuck in the frog of his foot last night! Got it out, all cleaned up, washed with salt water, soaked in purple spray - just off to buy poultice and boot - if I can get out of the drive - snowing again.

Deno has had his anti-tetanus jabs - have spoken to the vets, they think what we have done so far should be fine - in a way the cold weather helps with this as Deno is standing on snow and ice so the bacteria count is low. We have cleaned the foot in salty water, (great fun trying to get Deno to stand still with one foot in a bucket of warm salty water!! A poultice has been applied to his foot, kept in place by a bandage and covered with a canvas boot.Will obviously change this tomorrow and check for any infection but fingers crossed it should all be fine.

Well the poultice, bandage and boot didn't last long - tried to replace but there was no way he was having it - anyway all washed again and he's walking much better.

All fed and checked - Deno's foot not bothering him at all - no sign of infection. Both he and Posh seemed to be enjoying the snow, cantering up and down the field. Maybe we're feeding them too much and they've just running it off.

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Posh is a dream to deal with and the vet posed the question - do you think she has been loved and ridden at some point in her past?

She is so "polite" when it comes to handling her that it is almost certain that she was well cared for and trained earlier in her life. The possible clue is in the injury that the farrier thinks Posh may have suffered at one time to a rear leg - it is likely that at that stage she was sold on and her life deteriorated from there - I don't suppose we'll ever know for sure.

One thing that can be sure though is that she is the perfect companion for Deno - she won't stand any nonsense from him and he has accepted that - they are at the stage where they are both eating happily from the same pile of hay.

Posh is here to stay and she'll have a good life from here on. Cheque sent to pay for her.

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From Liz who had a lovely visit in Feb .... 2 very happy horses.Thank you all for today.

Any polos left?

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March.

The vet has been, done what vets do when they put latex gloves on that go up to the elbow - !!

He managed to get a good scan - the head was extraordinarily clear - it looked just like the foal was looking at us.

This was the moment when I said to the vet, "She's not pregnant is she"

Deno didn't look very happy when he heard the news either !!

Posh was running with a stallion for 3 or 4 months prior to her arrival at Creekyland on Christmas Eve and we have very little information about the size of the stallion, all we know is that he was an appaloosa.

So with the uncertainty over conception, the variety of gestation periods and the lack of knowledge over the father's size the best the vet can come up with for the foals birth, is between the beginning of August and the end of October with most likely period between mid August and mid September.

Deno had his teeth done, they both had their Jabs and Posh had her "rain scald" checked. Everything went smoothly although like last time Deno had to be sedated to have his teeth done - he has a very heavy head when it is resting on your shoulder.

March 2010

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