Hello Deno Defender.
Welcome to the 2008 newsletter.
We're sorry that Deno's website was offline last year as the first years ( donated ) hosting ran out. Although it was nice to have the site, it hadn’t grown and been particularly useful, so it was felt that the hosting renewal fee would be better sent directly to Ruth to use for Deno. In due course, another host was suggested - free and also, free of pop-ups, adverts etc and so now, Denorescuedhorse is back up and running. The old site has been transferred and is the same but now we are trying to catch up a little and fill in the gaps. Although there weren’t any
updates last year, Deno of course has continued to live life to the full, so here we go with a brief outline of bits & pieces to bring us up to date....
DENO'S NEWSLETTER NO:3
We could cover the update by saying food, feet, food, sarcoids, food, teeth, food, feet, food, sarcoids, food, etc, etc….you get the idea !!!
Very understandably Deno loves his food with a passion and as you can see from the new ‘photos in Gallery 2, he looks good - and almost fat !!
His hooves have continued to be a worry and a couple of flare ups of very sore feet have seen him on stable rest on deep litter, due to the appalling state and damage to them before rescue. In the dry weather they crack badly and need regular trimming as well as hoof oil although they are not as dreadful as they were. It has taken three years for the possibility of shoeing him to be able to be considered so that gives you some idea of the severity, and how many farrier visits he’s had.
On one occasion when he had his hooves trimmed, he jumped and trapped Ruths arm against the stable door, ouch !! She suffered for a few days with a swollen arm while Deno was much happier the next day with his feet.
The remedial farrier will put special shoes on when he finally gets shod which will be more expensive than normal shoes but shouldn’t be forever, but they are important as if not done future is bleak. These will make Deno pain free and with careful handling and safe surfaces to walk on, he should be ok. Also hoping in future that the remedial farrier will come out to Deno instead of the stress of Deno having to travel to him.
July 08. Shoeing has once again been delayed, as the roads around the yard need
resurfacing as they are at present slippery, so much so that a lot of the more nimble footed horses have slipped and fallen, and as there is nothing nimble about Deno, for his safety, he will be left unshod until the roads are resurfaced. Also had the dentist so teeth all ready for bridle and bit hopefully.
The other ongoing major worry are the sarcoids that Deno has, which although they have had various treatments before, have only been partially reduced for a while but haven’t been cleared completely and therefore flare up and ulcerate again unfortunately. Sarcoids are a skin cancer and could be problematic as they are very aggressive. The vet seemed very negative about Deno’s future and there is a very real risk that they could kill Deno if not controlled. Deno has just recently been sedated and had them “banded” by the vet, and was soon back to normal unlike his bank balance as it cost £118.
Deno is also back on the immune system boosting powder ( coriolus ) to try and get on top of them again as it minimise fast recurrence and is a general immune boost. It seems to be working as the sarcoids usually return within days but have settled down to scar tissue. The powder costs £100 for the first month and then £50 per month after ( and many thanks must be made to the generous Deno Defender who bought him a good supply getting him quickly on to it while further fundraising was also going on ). Thankfully Deno is oblivious to any worries, seems as happy as usual and the sarcoids don’t bother him unless it’s during warm weather when Ruth has to keep him protected from flies on them. However we always knew sarcoids and feet problems could be life threatening.
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October 07 was a hard time for Ruth as she made the painful decision to rehome Deno’s friend Boomer for various reasons, but largely because Boomer is a young and clever horse who was not getting his brain used at it needed to be and he was getting bored and naughty stuck in a field. Ruths own health has not been so good and 2 large horses are a lot of work, particularly in the winter. Loan homes were tried but not successful as he’s a
challenging horse who needs constant work or else goes hyper, but he is now a companion to a retired worker and also is getting worked and should appear in shows in due course.
Fortunately Deno has grown in confidence and was less dependant on Boomer and now copes well without him, and has a variety of friends now to keep him company in the field.
This seems the right place to put a rather apt poem as Ruth had many a tearful cuddle with Deno.
IN THE HEART OF A HORSE.
When your day seems out of balance
and so many things go wrong...
When people fight around you
and the day drags on so long.
When parents act like children,
in-laws make you think "Divorce"...
Go out into your pasture...
and wrap your arms around your horse.
His gentle breath enfolds you,
and he watches with those eyes.
He may not have a PhD,
but he is, oh so wise!
His head rests on your shoulder.
You embrace him oh so tight.
He puts your world in balance
and makes it seem all right.
Your tears they soon stop flowing.
The tension is now eased.
The garbage has been lifted,
and you're quiet and at peace.
So when you need the balance
from circumstances in your day...
The best therapy that you can seek..
is out there eating hay!!
Author Unknown.
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Deno is partly stabled dependant on the weather, and during the winter this helps to keep the weight on him and during the Spring & Autumn, he wears a rug when he’s out grazing. Deno has one good rug as he has a tendency to burn too much energy trying to keep himself warm. This results in rapid weight loss for him and being a part thoroughbred, he has fairly thin skin and doesn't get a thick coat of hair in the winter. End of last autumn as he started being stabled some nights, he was looking wonderful, glossy coated and nicely rounded, right shape to be going into winter.
Jan 08 eating like a horse !! Very contented with life in general and coming along nicely apart from needing the usual, teeth, hooves and worming etc. Deno does have a sense of humour as on one occasion when he was wormed, it ended up with Ruth swinging mid air as with one hand she hung onto his head collar as Deno lifted his head right up to full stretch. Ruth was determined not to let go this time as once before when he was wormed, he had managed to spit most of the wormer out over her. The look on his face this time was priceless as Ruth hung on and mission accomplished as almost all the wormer went in !!!
Springtime still spending much time in stables as the field is deep mud and clumsy Deno and ankle deep mud is not a good combination, far too dangerous….he gets in enough trouble without even trying, so not worth the risk of putting him out. As the mud dried he went back out and the first naked graze of the year without a rug, had Deno galloping and bucking around his paddock all day. As the weather warmed up and as his spring coat came through, his winter rug was too warm for him so he went into a rain sheet. He was on a natural high from the spring grass, barely stopping to eat carrots before going back to munch grass. Bouncing around full of the joys of spring and was prancing about like a foal and enjoyed wearing the muddy look from rolling in the field !
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Thanks to all Deno Defenders who have continued to raise funds for him, with a variety of fundraising events and auctions etc.
Those of you who have set up a regular donation to him, thank you...now, there’s an idea for anyone who hasn’t and feels they could send a pound or two each month !!!
Save your loose change and you’ll soon have a fiver to send.
Rather than fill this newsletter up with ways to donate, please go and look on the Deno donate page.
The livery yard no longer provide straw, so we have to buy his own bedding. Deno is on rubber matting and sawdust which is £1.00 for a large bag so costs about £4.00 a week when he is stabled although he enjoys being out 24/7 when the weather is good.
We know how hard it is to balance pennies and pounds but never think "it’s not very much" because it does all add up and make a real difference. To give you some idea, after the vets recent visits when he banded the sarcoids, it cost £118 but it left Ruth with that months livery and a full feed bin paid for ... and only £5.60 left in Deno’s bank account !!!! Thankfully the Spring Fayre raised a stunning £169 just in the nick of time, well done everyone for all your hard work.
As you know, Denos costs are high but the rewards are even bigger .... as you can see from the pictures of health that are in the 2nd ‘photo gallery and the page about being backed. Yes, it’s an ongoing concern to make sure there is money for Deno to keep him well and safe, but to see just how far he has come surely makes it all worthwhile.
With lots of love and thanks from Deno and Ruth.
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