My friends and I recently rescued a Secretariat daughter, Kristin Ann. She's 23, and is in very poor condition. Her main issues are being underweight to the point that her body has absorbed muscle, and a bad case of rainrot. After two weeks, we're starting to see a little improvement, including the softest "peach fuzz" where her hair is growing back. She is Miss Personality and we are crazy about her! She'll follow you all day for treats, especially the homemade horse cookies I've made for her. It amazes me that a horse with so little attention from people for so many years, is such a sweet and affectionate animal.
I would love to hear more stories about rescued broodmares, especially the rehabilitation issues you've dealt with. These old girls are wonderful and deserve good homes!
Rescued Broodmares
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nferro9925
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summerhorse
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Thank you! Here are her pictures. they go from new to old and show her progress. It's only been 2 weeks, it seems longer!
http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/ ... tin%20Ann/
She is by Secretariat out of Mod Princess by Gunflint.
http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/ ... tin%20Ann/
She is by Secretariat out of Mod Princess by Gunflint.
Every mighty oak was once an acorn that stood its ground.
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going4stamina
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lazyfranch
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Oh, those pictures are heartbreaking! But I know Kristin Ann may look very different in nine months.
I spent Saturday at a horses how riding Cedar County Queen, a horse that was probably in close to as poor condition, though covered by a deceptive winter coat last December, made her debut. She is with a Washington rescue and is fostered at my barn. I'm just a player on her team.
We got her two months after she was surrendered to Animal Control, and she still had no muscle and rarely lifted her head above her withers. Her neck felt like steel cable, and she had rainrot and scratches still. Her feet were cracked, flared platters with low heels.
It took four months to build her back up to a reasonable weight, and then she started walk work for ten minutes under saddle, slowly building her up for six weeks before introducing the trot.
So being able to take her to the show and have everyone oohing and ahhing over the lovely mare, and being surprised she was a rescue. With the saddle off, you can see she still has a way to go in terms of back muscle and overall tone.
The biggest rehab issue was working with her feet. She just preferred that you didn't. A 16.3 mare who throws her weight around can be quite an effective deterrent. She was also inclined to use her head as a battering ram to move people, and to pin her ears and threaten when she didn't want to be bothered. So there was some fundamental retraining and groundwork, together with sheer dogged persistence from her trimmer. None of that happens any more.
There is a little video of her on this youtube page from the weekend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etw3FE4jCH0
and a few months ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgCMiNRtRiY
There's a fair amount of literature on re-feeding the starved horse that might be of interest, although it sounds like you are already underway with that. It is the first month that is the hardest and riskiest in terms of refeeding. Lots of hay in small amounts, with a gradual worming program, is the way to go, or you risk an impaction.
Cedar is only 13, but she looked like an ancient crone.
At 23, it will probably take Kristin Ann a bit longer to recover. Getting her teeth done (I'm just assuming they have been neglected too) will probably help!
I spent Saturday at a horses how riding Cedar County Queen, a horse that was probably in close to as poor condition, though covered by a deceptive winter coat last December, made her debut. She is with a Washington rescue and is fostered at my barn. I'm just a player on her team.
We got her two months after she was surrendered to Animal Control, and she still had no muscle and rarely lifted her head above her withers. Her neck felt like steel cable, and she had rainrot and scratches still. Her feet were cracked, flared platters with low heels.
It took four months to build her back up to a reasonable weight, and then she started walk work for ten minutes under saddle, slowly building her up for six weeks before introducing the trot.
So being able to take her to the show and have everyone oohing and ahhing over the lovely mare, and being surprised she was a rescue. With the saddle off, you can see she still has a way to go in terms of back muscle and overall tone.
The biggest rehab issue was working with her feet. She just preferred that you didn't. A 16.3 mare who throws her weight around can be quite an effective deterrent. She was also inclined to use her head as a battering ram to move people, and to pin her ears and threaten when she didn't want to be bothered. So there was some fundamental retraining and groundwork, together with sheer dogged persistence from her trimmer. None of that happens any more.
There is a little video of her on this youtube page from the weekend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etw3FE4jCH0
and a few months ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgCMiNRtRiY
There's a fair amount of literature on re-feeding the starved horse that might be of interest, although it sounds like you are already underway with that. It is the first month that is the hardest and riskiest in terms of refeeding. Lots of hay in small amounts, with a gradual worming program, is the way to go, or you risk an impaction.
Cedar is only 13, but she looked like an ancient crone.
At 23, it will probably take Kristin Ann a bit longer to recover. Getting her teeth done (I'm just assuming they have been neglected too) will probably help!
Truthfully, we're the ones who are blessed! She's such a fun horse to be around......and I don't think anything will ever be as rewarding as getting her back to good health.
Hi, Leslie, I'm so glad to hear from you. I really hope to keep in touch with Kristin's pasture "buddies". For those who don't know, Cute Show and Kristin are from the same farm and were rescued about the same time. There is another old mare, Salvisa, who is a daughter of Riva Ridge, that is still at that farm as far as I know......I sure hope she gets a good home too. How is Cutie doing? Does she have problems with rainrot? Gosh, that darn stuff is so frustrating! Can't wait to hear all your Cutie stories when you finally get her home.
Hi, Leslie, I'm so glad to hear from you. I really hope to keep in touch with Kristin's pasture "buddies". For those who don't know, Cute Show and Kristin are from the same farm and were rescued about the same time. There is another old mare, Salvisa, who is a daughter of Riva Ridge, that is still at that farm as far as I know......I sure hope she gets a good home too. How is Cutie doing? Does she have problems with rainrot? Gosh, that darn stuff is so frustrating! Can't wait to hear all your Cutie stories when you finally get her home.
Hi Kathy - Cutie has most of her rainrot on her face still - but that is one of those time things, and I will be able to treat her consistently when she gets to our new Kentucky home.
To all - these mares where pretty royally bred in those days, sires like Secretariat and Riva Ridge. The dreams for their breeder may have not come true, but they are all in need of a hand right now. So if you have a friend that might need a fancy lawn ornament, please let them know, and Stephanie at Sundown Farm can answer any questions.
To all - these mares where pretty royally bred in those days, sires like Secretariat and Riva Ridge. The dreams for their breeder may have not come true, but they are all in need of a hand right now. So if you have a friend that might need a fancy lawn ornament, please let them know, and Stephanie at Sundown Farm can answer any questions.
When I rescued Taffy (end of December 1990) she was literally skin and bones and there was a herd of starving horses sold that night. She was one of the 2 worst looking and my daughter insisted I not bid on the other one which was smaller. Taffy was to be her horse. I also bought the tallest mare for myself who was a little bit better looking and a stallion who had been purchased by the kill buyer. I gave $20 over her bid to save him. I had never taken care of a horse before but I had read about it and got a few pointers from the people that transported them. They all got their teeth floated and an injection of wormer and a hoof trim and the stallion got gelded. Taffy got to eat all she wanted and so did the others. She grazed constantly day and night for 2 days + I gave them 14% protein horse feed 3 times a day also starting out with a small amount and increasing it a little every day. Both mares had rain rot and I just kept brushing them every day and eventually it disappeared and new hair grew in. I never used anything to treat it with. When they depleted the grass I started feeding hay. From what I have read an impaction can usually be prevented by providing enough water and some vegetable oil. I have never had that problem. Taffy is and always was as sweet as candy. She had been ridden by children and was very well behaved. My daughter moved out many years ago and left Taffy to me. She is 33 years old now. God bless you for helping those mares.
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nferro9925
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summerhorse
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The dark stuff is her skin where all the dead crusted hair came off! Yeah she's almost bald! Esp. her hind legs and of course the back. But now some new hair is poking through so it shouldn't be that long before those spots are red again. I hope!! 
I had seen her pictures of course but you really have to see these poor boney horses to appreciate their well boneyness! Kristin is tough, she still has the will to live.
I remember reading about Cedar County Queen!
I had seen her pictures of course but you really have to see these poor boney horses to appreciate their well boneyness! Kristin is tough, she still has the will to live.
I remember reading about Cedar County Queen!
Every mighty oak was once an acorn that stood its ground.
ODG! Thank you for helping this poor mare. It is sickening that anyone could allow an animal to get in this shape.
Don't know if you've done this kind of rehab before, but if not, PM me and I can put you in touch with folks that have. She is likely to have kidney damage and other problems, so be careful not to overload her with treats (sugars) and protein.
What a balancing act it will be to keep her from developing other issues. BUT the love (talking to her in whispers) and gentle touches will help her tremendously. I've been told Aloe Vera and grapeseed extract help the immune system and keeping the system flushed of toxins.
Good luck with her. May you all (the mare and those helping her) be rewarded with many years of loving memories with her for your strength, courage and character in helping this mare.
Don't know if you've done this kind of rehab before, but if not, PM me and I can put you in touch with folks that have. She is likely to have kidney damage and other problems, so be careful not to overload her with treats (sugars) and protein.
What a balancing act it will be to keep her from developing other issues. BUT the love (talking to her in whispers) and gentle touches will help her tremendously. I've been told Aloe Vera and grapeseed extract help the immune system and keeping the system flushed of toxins.
Good luck with her. May you all (the mare and those helping her) be rewarded with many years of loving memories with her for your strength, courage and character in helping this mare.
Thanks so much for sharing your tips and stories about Cedar and Taffy. It really makes you feel good to know there are so many kind people out there.
I'll be the one that has to be careful not to give Kristin too many sugary treats.......luckily she loves carrots almost as much as apples. We had bloodwork done while she was at Stephanie's and the results were good, but at her age, anything could happen. She had not had any basic care for many years, so we've been slowly catching up on worming, shots, and having her teeth done. She's had some work on her teeth, but needs more. She tends to dribble her food around when she eats her senior feed, so we put a tablecloth on the ground with her feedtub in the middle. Works pretty well to catch the extra so she won't be eating it off the ground.
She's had some swelling in her lower back legs, made worse during Tropical Storm Fay because of standing still for so long under shelter. We've started hand-walking her along the road, and she's such an angel about it. It has helped the swelling and the neighbors have enjoyed meeting her. I keep a handful of carrots in my pocket so they have something to feed her.
Our local newspaper did a story on her in today's paper. Very nice article. I was walking her today and an elderly couple stopped their car to ask me if that was the horse from the paper. The woman jumped out of the car to come pet her. Kristin enjoyed every minute of it. It was such a sweet moment and made me wonder if this is Kristin's purpose in life. She wasn't a racer, didn't produce great babies, but maybe her job is to show people that an old horse deserves a good life and can still offer a lot of love.
I'll be the one that has to be careful not to give Kristin too many sugary treats.......luckily she loves carrots almost as much as apples. We had bloodwork done while she was at Stephanie's and the results were good, but at her age, anything could happen. She had not had any basic care for many years, so we've been slowly catching up on worming, shots, and having her teeth done. She's had some work on her teeth, but needs more. She tends to dribble her food around when she eats her senior feed, so we put a tablecloth on the ground with her feedtub in the middle. Works pretty well to catch the extra so she won't be eating it off the ground.
She's had some swelling in her lower back legs, made worse during Tropical Storm Fay because of standing still for so long under shelter. We've started hand-walking her along the road, and she's such an angel about it. It has helped the swelling and the neighbors have enjoyed meeting her. I keep a handful of carrots in my pocket so they have something to feed her.
Our local newspaper did a story on her in today's paper. Very nice article. I was walking her today and an elderly couple stopped their car to ask me if that was the horse from the paper. The woman jumped out of the car to come pet her. Kristin enjoyed every minute of it. It was such a sweet moment and made me wonder if this is Kristin's purpose in life. She wasn't a racer, didn't produce great babies, but maybe her job is to show people that an old horse deserves a good life and can still offer a lot of love.