Abused pony in Vladivostok, Russia. Need help!.

I just have to say, I almost teared up seeing those photos and not a lot bothers me. You are a true angel, of the purest spirit, to do such an incredibly kind deed for this little pony. Although euthanasia is probably best, I am sure living out his days in your paddocks will still be 10x better then the life that awaited him until his eventual death probably sooner than later.

I agree with others, I would attempt to locate the best "farrier" you can, or even try it yourself. As terrible as it sounds, it doesn't seem like there's a lot you could do to make him worse if you're careful. If you've done your own hooves before, you know the basic do's and don't. It's probably better than being left, or being touched by someone who doesn't know/care.

Just a word of warning, we have a club footed Miniature and an idiot farrier who claimed she catered to all horses feet and then trimmed every one of ours like halter Quarter Horses actually made him bleed. She tried to cut into the foot the same as a normal foot, but obviously due to the natural excess length and structure it doesn't work that way. However, she went HARD on the foot and didn't even play with it, she'd obviously never dealt with club foot before.

Another reason why it may be best to do some research and try it yourself. Give yourself plenty of time and go as slow as you can!

I don't have any advice to offer, but please keep us updated, and good luck.

Haven't been here for a while...
Two horses and pony with problems are too much for one me. =)))
So today is holiday in Russia and everybody has a day off including meeee ^^
And I have time to tell you about little immortal pony from the edge of the world.

Subbing

Well... I can't completely agree with that.
Yes, maybe Russia is not the most modern and civilized country in that point of view but... We got used here that nobody (I mean like government, rich people etc.) will do something for us except.. us
So many young people (elder people are still very conservative :( ) try to make the life around them better.
I have two cats living with me, both castrated ('fixed'? Is 'fixed' in English mean castrated animals?).
All the sick, dyind and simply poor female dogs and cats (both female and male) I found at the streets were 'fixed' by me (not exactly me, by vets of course, I mean for my money). All of my friends fixed they cats and most of dogs. In our stable we don't have untouched small animals (4 dogs and 3 cats) and the most stallions in our stable are not stallions anymore...

Oh, and pony will become a gelding in about three weeks

P.S.: I hope my English doesn't eat your brain

Your English is wonderful, Kvazar.

My parents spent a year and a half in Rostov, Russia. From what they said, animals were treated relatively well and many were fixed (and yes, "fixed" in English means castrated ).

Didnt haVE TO TIME TO READ: but did you rescue him sorry bout caps - at school gtg :)

Those have got to be some of the worst limbs and feet I've ever seen. You are an absolute angel to of given him a second chance. How is he doing?

That's what I choose. Thanks, Indyhorse... a lot ^^

Thanks. It was really interesting for me to read this post...

Btw, we don't have a 'humane euthanasia' here. Only knives, saws and axes...

weefoal, brilliant post #16
I haven't seen dwarfs ever before... Why do they born like that?
Is there many dwarfs among ponies and horses?
I've seen our pony's parents, they are normal shetlands.

In July I sent e-mails to some experts and organizations. ASPCA is the only one who completely ignored me ))))))))

This pony actually does not look like a dwarf to me when I really look at him. The deformed legs make you think that he is at first, but he doesn't seem to have all of the normal characteristics of a dwarf. His head is now bulbous...it's actually probably the only normal thing about him. His spine appears to be slightly mishapen, but not to the degree that I'm used to.

A dwarf horse is a classification of deformed miniature horse or pony. Their legs are less than half of the length that they should be, which is the most prominent characteristic. They also often have mangled, deformed limbs (such as your pony's), tend to have rounded, bulbouse heads, underbites, curved spines, and in severe cases, very weak digestive systems and organs, or hindered nasal passages. Dwarf horses are the result of inbreeding and the race to breed smaller and smaller horses. Dwarfism can skip many generations at a time, and reappear in the offspring of a carrier, meaning that even if your pony's parents are fine, they may of still given him the active gene for dwarfism.

The most common dwarves are brachycephalic dwarves, who's middle third portion of the head is abnormally flat and low, and who has enlarged joints, a short neck, and extremely short limbs. These dwarves are considered less 'sever' than Achondroplasic dwarves, which causes a defect in cirtilage and bone formation, short limbs, and often internal problems. Achondroplasic dwarves rarely live normal, pain-free lives.

Here is a fairly good, accurate site on dwarfism in horses.
Dwarf Horses

We actually own a achondroplasic dwarf, named Little Feather. He's thirteen, and has undergone two different surgeries to free up his nasal passage and to partially correct his feet.

You can find pictures of him here: Little Feather -- dwarf mini