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Dear Friends and Patrons:
** The Golden Carrot Mourns Trilby - Why it happened
** Web Site Changes - including the Photos of the Rescue of Cinnabar
and Angel
** Finances - Where are The Golden Carrot Supporters?
** Ashley and Emi join the Golden Carrot as Volunteers
** Jet teaches the Tractor Trick, Summer Colds for the Oldsters, and
Mitey Nice Founders
Little Goldenhaired Trilby
As those of you on my e-mail list already know, Trilby died on August 15, after an 18 hour
fight with a severe case of colic. But what I was unable to convey in the immediacy of my
grief was that Trilby didn't have to die, or even suffer long at all. Dr. Patton, would have
been able to administer oil, and I believe that would have done the trick. But Dr. Patton, as
everyone deserves to do, was out of the state on vacation until September, and the vets who were to
cover his practice were either unable or unwilling to com to Trilby's aid. Two of the other
vets were even further away from Dr. Patton's home base than Anza - in Yucaipa and in Loma Linda -
covering other emergencies. The last choice was in Fallbrook and she just would not
come. By the time I was able to reach her, I believed Trilby could not survive and simply
wanted to ease her out of this world - but the vet demanded I pay a minimum $300. It
costs $150 to dispose of the remains so I handled it myself.
It is difficult for The Golden Carrot to get help from vets due simply
to the bad reputation of this area. Many veterinarians are called out and not paid for hard
work after a long trip, sometimes because the deadbeats never intended to pay, and sometimes
because the horseowner doesn't like the result of a diagnosis. I can understand the vets
becoming wary - but this instance, they knew I was a client of Dr. Patton and that should have been
enough to have them treat me with respect, and Trilby with kindness. Frankly I consider it
part of their job to travel - it's a rare situation indeed when a horse needing the services of a
vet can be loaded into a trailer and hauled 50 or more miles.
Trilby was in her mid to late 30s, and had severe arthritis, ringbone
and a left knee which was slowly fusing together. These problems were difficult enough, but
she had a meek and timid nature, and thus was a target for all the other horses, and was lately
having a hard time getting out of harms way. She deeply missed the attention of little
children, as she had bee our very best beginning lesson horse for many years, but her knee was so
stiff, and her gait to unsteady to have children ride her anymore. Maybe it's best that she
didn't have to endure another cold winter. But I remain bitter that the one time Trilby
needed my help, I failed her.
In our efforts to keep Trilby alive, Mike and I picked her up off the
ground several times; we basted water down her throat as she would not eat or drink; we hosed her
to cool her during the hot last day of her life; we walked for hours; we did belly lifts and
massage; she received three injections of banamine over the 18 hours of her ordeal, which only
seemed to lighten, not eliminate her pain; and finally, we put her down to end the agony.
Mike can hardly admit she's gone - two days after her death, , he fed the evening buckets for me
and put a meal in her feed bin. Both PC and Ori, her big white and big black guardians, stand
with their heads hanging into her stall. She is and will always be sorely missed.
Just so you know, I called every vet I could reach and received the
same response as Dr. Patton's substitutes. In the past, I have offered to place a $100 cash
retainer in a vet's hands, for application when I had to call them in an emergency, but was
repeatedly told, sorry we don't go there. They don't want references, the don't want cash;
they want to work closer to home. And Trilby, and The Golden Carrot, are the losers for
it.
Web Site Changes
In the last newsletter, I promised pictures of my latest effort to educate people, and assist
horses, despite my inability to house more horses (due solely to my financial status - I'd do the
work and we have the space). FINALLY, with Ed Gonzalez's help, there is a rescue page on the
Website and you should give a look. Check the "events" page and click on Cinnabar's picture
to see this horrible situation. Recently, in a financial crisis, the woman agreed to accept
$1,000 for her horses - a fair price considering their condition and the one horse's complete lack
of training of any sort - but when the money was donated and ready to go, she reneged on the deal,
demanding an extra $200. There has been no food on this property for 2 weeks, and all the
food give to these horses for the past month was paid for by me - they owe me $60 at today's
writing just for the hay. These are BAD people and any suggestions on how to get these
animals away from them will be appreciated.
Winnie's Cookies donated by Carolyn Kooken helped me to overcome the
ravages of neglect in these two horses. If you're impressed remember that Winnie's Cookies
are a treat as well as a supplement - if your horse just deserves a goodie each day, or seems a
little off and needs "something" to him him sparkling again - Winnie's Cookies are just the
ticket. You can call me, and place an order, or go directly to Winnie's Cookies site and say
The Golden Carrot convinced you - and Carolyn will help The Golden Carrot further with a sales
commission.
I also have some photos of our hotwalker in use, and the donation of
the camo netting for shade keeping the horses coo., but I messed up and will have those on the site
in the next week or so. Sorry! On the "People" page under "others" you can see pictures
of our new farriers and Dr. Patton at work on Jet. And finally there is a picture of
Navigator and Joyful on their pages.... I hope to have more soon.
For you online shoppers, check out out "Please Help" page and use any
one of the links to make a purchase and The Golden Carrot will receive a percentage of the gross
sale.
Finances -
WHERE ARE OUR SUPPORTERS?
Okay, my guess is, you are all on vacation. Many of you want to wait until the end of
the year to donate, but if you can do it now, it's now that we need it. I had hoped for
another PBRC schooling show because of the terrific donation response I received at the one last
year, but Rosemary took everyone to England - if you are a boarder or student at PBRC, please
remember there is a donation box in the office and we REALLY need it. Apparently, all lawyers
go on vacation in August too - since there has been very little work for me to do. That
means, little income.
In this regard, of course when funds are low, Mr. Fooks was willing to
sell me 230 bales of hay on credit at a great price. Alex, Mary and Mike helped me move it,
and we're set for hay for the next four months, but I've got to pay for it! I owe Mr. Fooks
$800. right now - anyone feel a donation coming on? I've also paid for all but 4 shoeings and
5 trims - but those are still due and the cost of that will be 325 - is that checkbook in your
hand? Every week I spend $250 in bagged feed at Kahoots in Murietta (909/461-6993) - ready to
call Charles and set up a monthly donation of $20 or $40 via credit card? Sarah DaCosta and
Leslie Tripp are both donating that way - it's easy an painless and REALLY, REALLY helps.
Ashley and Emi Join the Golden Carrot as Volunteers
I'm happy to announce our new volunteers, Ashley and Emi Williams. The girls have just
moved into the neighborhood, just down the street, and been over 4 or 5 times already - cleaning
stalls like pros, washing and grooming horses, feeding carrots, sweeping my feed shed out, and all
in all making themselves very useful. The horses are DELIGHTED as am I. Emi had her
first real ride on Prophet and Ashely's ridden Josh. They lunged Josh and Red, and Andy and
Ori, and Cuervo and Prophet as well. We have tentatively agreed on a schedule of Tuesday and
Thursday afternoons (homework permitting) and Sundays and will hopefully be making some good
progress. The girls will be working on a serious mild-exercise program for Jet as well, who
has begun to stiffen up too much, but needs little girls to keep him from overdoing in a lunging or
riding situation. He's so busy taking care of them, that he doesn't overdo his now-limited
abilities - a perfect symbiotic relationship. I will have photos of this work and these girls
posted when I get the hotwalker photos up.
Jet Teaches the Tractor Trick, Summer Colds for the Oldsters, and Mitey Nice
Founders
On Saturday morning at 6:45 when Mike and I were waiting for Alex and Mary to form a caravan
to Thermal to get hay, we found Jet down in his stall. I think he had laid down about 2 hours
before - because I had awakened with a start at 5am thinking I'd heard Ori calling for me as he
does when Andy colicks. I didn't hear another call so I assumed I dreamed it - but looking
back, I suspect he felt the same unease he feels for Andy, for Jet. For 2 hours, then Jet
tried to get up without success. Jet's back end is weak and now with his stiff knee, getting
up is even harder. So by the time Mike and I were there to help, he was too exhausted to do
it. He was thirsty, so I basted water down his throat which seemed to help. Alex and
Mary showed up for the hay run and we tried several more times with all of us shoving and pulling,
but you could see Jet was just too tired to do his share. At this point I'm afraid he's been
down for 2+ hours, which is very bad - compressing the heart and lungs the way it does. After
much consultation, and shot of banamine to ease his discomfort, and some running around, we begged
our neighbor Bruce Yoho to bring his big tractor over, we borrowed Alex's wide web strap, devised a
sling, rolled Jet onto it, and used this huge tractor to lift him. He was quiet for most of
it, in fact, I was terrified because at first he seemed too quiet, but as soon as he was high
enough that we could position him and lower him on the ground, and his hooves felt the earth
beneath them, the strap slipped loose and back and flanked him, and the rodeo began. I'd been
afraid the strap, which we knotted together, wouldn't hold his weight, but it did and i fact the
problem became getting it off him before he bucked and hit the tractor, or fell again, or stomped
someone. It eventually slipped down his back legs, and he was able to step out of it, and he
and I trucked off to the herd. Joyful came screaming over to him, and when she was next to
us, he ducked his head and muttered 'I'm fine baby." I got him a bucket of carrots since he didn't
seem to want to drink, fed everyone and he started right in on the grass. Before we left, I
saw him take a big drink, so all's well that ends well. He was still on his feet when we got
back, and came back to his stall as usual last night. Except for a lot of little owies all
over him, he seems fine. Wow, what I wouldn't give for pictures of all that. I've
decided to start using liniment on his bad knee every night now, and to begin a loosening and
limbering program using Ashley and Emi.
I've also been watching the south line of stalls carefully -this is the
first line built and thus the home of the older, frailer and more timid horses. We've had a
'summer cold' walking that line - of course, short of keeping them hydrated and cleaning noses
frequently, there's not too much to do for a cold. The danger is of course, if it settles in
their chest - so I added garlic to the buckets (a sulfa extract from garlic is exuded through the
skin and lungs, acting as an antibiotic to help prevent upper respiratory infections), and listened
to chests on a regular basis. So far, everyone who had a cold has recovered well. But
I'm still watching....
Finally, to my dismay, Mitey Nice has foundered pretty badly.
Mike has chipped in for some shavings to provide her with softer footing in the stall; I'm keeping
her on bute for pain and inflammation; she's on a strict diet and has noticeable lost weight.
I run a cold hose on her feet at least once a day and the farrier has put shoes on her, including a
gap in the toe to relieve some pressure there. But she is clearly not feeling well, and I'm
hoping we can get a handle on this before it goes too far. Mitey, like Trilby, is an older
mare - in her mid-thirties - but worth her weight in gold. We are trying hard. When the
founder was at its initial worst, Mitey Nice developed thick swellings from her bags forward to the
girth area along the outside, lower edge of her belly. With the vet response I got for
Trilby, I didn't waste time but called directly to the coast to speak with Dr. Lisa Pierson, who
years ago was Bobby Sox's vet. Dr Pierson, so far away and so busy, did find time to call me
back (unlike so many of the vets locally) and was able to give me sound advice about Mitey's
edema. Can you believe that? A veterinarian 150 miles away could and WOULD help - but
not the local vets.
As you can see, life continues on The Golden Carrot. Like most
charities, we lost our to 9-11 last year, so please forgive my constant nagging about donations,
and remember, its all for a good cause, and the very deserving horses. I cannot do without
you -
Casey O'Connor
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