possums journey back to health

Two weeks ago, I acquired a chestnut thoroughbred mare. She was more of a mercy save as she was in poor condition but she was, until 12 months ago, an excellent dressage horse so, I decided she would be worth the work :)

Day 1






We started her on a feed of hay, rice bran, pony pellets, garlic and molasses.

On the 5th day we also added equilibrium b1 cool mix into her feed which she has responded to quite well

Day 7






The treatment we are using to deal with her scalds is also doing a remarkable job. As of today, I have had her 14 days and much of the bald spots and infected spots are healed with hair rapidly growing back. (will get some updated pics this afternoon.)

Day 11 - there are changes every day with her. Each day she is a bit livelier and a bit fatter looking :) we have started doing about 3 minutes each side on the lunge just so she can start getting that bit of exercise in.







All in all I have been really surprised at how quickly she is healing up and putting weight on. Lots of good food and lovin is all she needed

Will update on her regularly. I like sharing happy endings with people :)

Wow!!! Well done I can already notice the difference! Please keep me updated with how she is going! Shell be a nice looking horse from the pics with some tlc!!! I have done the same for a gelding I just sold, got him for free....totally horrid the state he was in...but he came around and later found out he was 23yo!!! I was told he was about 9yo. Ill chuck some before and after pics of him up for you...hes sold to a close friend so I still see him all the time! Such a good feeling knowing you saved a horse and gave it a better chance at life after mistreatement!!! :)

hey thanks :) it is a wonderful feeling to watch a horse eat after obviously not eating for so long. Its also wonderful watching her get more energetic as she gets more weight on her.

I still can't believe people can do it to their animals. I panic if im 10 minutes late feeding lol I couldnt imagine not tending to my horses every day.

Can't wait to see the pics of your old fella :) oh, I loooove a happy ending lol

P.s. Yes, I've seen pics of her from when she was showing and she is a stunning horse when she is in good shape. Very round for a thoroughbred. As mentioned in another thread, im hoping to breed her about a year or so down the track. If the vet says she's fine by then of course :) just trying to decide on the stallion now. Not going another thoroughbred as I will be keeping the foal so im thinking arab, warmblood or quarter horse at the moment. Who knows though :)

Where abouts in oz are you?

Although no one seems to care apart from one person, I got some new pics of her today so I thought id share with the one person who cares lol those who care make the world go round :)



Only one pic turned out ok as the others were all full of dust 'orbs'.

She looks so much better.... Im so happy she found you!! Keep us posted on her progress.

Ps.. A QH/TB cross would be a great combo IMO

She looks so much better! Good for you for saving her. =]

Possom's a cute name. :P

Bugracer - yes, I do love a qh. Its just hard to decide as all the horses I have mentioned have characteristics or attributes that I like.

Mavvy - tis a cute name but not one I would have chosen lol I want to call her gypsy but my husband says I can't change her name now :( I prob could as she doesnt respond to her name only a whistle. What are peoples thoughts on changing a horses name??

Well, I was going to change my horses name. I wanted him to have a new name and a new start. In the end I didn't though, Maverick suits him.

She is really lucky to have found you! I can't believe the difference in her in just just a week! She's looking really good now!

For a name change, why not. I didn't change my mare's name cause I liked it and she does respond to it. But look at dogs you adopt or rescue. You can get any aged dog and pick any name for him, so I don't see why horses are any different. I like the name Gypsy for her, I think it really suits her well.

Good point made there about names. Soooo, gypsy it is!! :) she will prob still get possum every now and then as im used to it but I have decided to go with gypsy. Yay :) all my hubby needed was someone else to say its ok and he was fine. Don't you hate that! Lol I said it, he doesnt listen, someone else says it, its ok hehehe :)

And while she is lucky to have found me, im luckier to have found her. I normally dislike mares and wouldnt get one for myself but she is 1 in a million and didnt deserve to be wasting away in that paddock. I love her to bits (but don't tell the other horses hehehehe) and she shows me so much love and trust (unless we are jumping lol). :)