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*RANT* So angry at what happened to my horse when I was out of town *GRAPHIC IMAGES*

4K views 20 replies 14 participants last post by  DuffyDuck 
#1 ·
If some of you have been following my other threads you may realize I've been spending a lot of time complaining about my stable. Quite honestly, I hope I'm not sounding too ungrateful, but there's a difference between ungratefulness and acknowledging that my horse is in danger.

If you just want to read the immediate "what happened when I was out of town," then skip down to the line. Otherwise, to figure out more of the backstory, read the following also.

If you read this you'll probably understand much more of what I'm going through:

I don't even know how to identify how the care is. At first what happened is the fired both of the stable hands. At that point, my old trainer took his string of 9 horses and left, and then more people began to pour out. At that point my trainer was then forced to do all of the work of the entire stable from feeding to watering to cleaning the stalls. There was a whole lot of drama between him and the owner (this trainer is seriously the sweetest person ever), talk of gossip and people turning on each other, and more and more people began to leave. I feel like most of the people up there have left, and the amount of boarders has really shrunken. I heard some things of the care being negative. The problem is that I haven't had any personally horrible experiences with the BO being rude or anything, but I hear things of her being a liar, unstable, blaming people for random things, being unprofessional (I have experienced some of this), leaving a halter and chain on in a stall or something like that for some time, having the hay nets too low, etc. I have seen her ride my horse and I know she is trying hard but her riding did not have the experience to deal with my horse who is a challenging horse to ride and didn't compare to my old trainer. It's kind of a bummer to hear myself say these things such as that she isn't nice or such because I haven't experienced any issues with her personally, but I can say that I am concerned about her being unstable for my horse. My horse is field board and I always know she is getting fed and watered and all of that, but I really am just done with the drama and I want to get out. Plus it is 40 minutes away and the distance is too far for me to be feeling that negative every time. My dream stable just gave away their last stall yesterday, but they may have another opening in the next few weeks... so I'm praying and being patient... I wish I could move somewhere in the meantime but I don't have a place so...
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So today I went to the stable after not seeing my horse since Monday and I assumed she would be fine, just a little stiff to ride. So I brought her in from the field (keeping in mind she is on full care field board) and put her in the cross ties. She had poop which may or may not have been diarrhea streamed and dried down the back of her legs, and then when I lifted up her tail she had the worst crusted poop and diaper rash. Not only that, but her back hind right is/was quite swollen (even hot) and she was visibly off at the walk. Not only did no one take care of the situation, but no one even texted me to tell me that there was a problem! before my trainer was kicked out, he would bring her in and put a sweat on her for me without even having to ask, and he would text me, bute her, and inform me of the situation. I had someone knowledgeable at the stable help me with the bute, the furisone, and cleaning out her rash, and I also called my own trainer, but then I texted the BO and told her to please continue buting her for me and she got nervous saying, "you didn't bute her on an empty stomach right????" She hadn't eaten dinner yet but she had been eating hay and grass throughout the day, I let her graze for a bit before, and gave her an apple. The reason I gave her bute gel and not powder was because I wanted to make sure she got the full dose in case another horse pushed her away from her feed in the field! I'm just so frustrated because at first I was thinking the care wasn't an issue for me but now I'm sick and tired of this and it's a lot for my horse. I'm trying to wait it out until the spot at the new stable opens up, but in the meantime I just hope nothing else happens.

I attached the pictures because I wasn't quite sure how to add them. Feel free to take a look and offer your opinions. I'm infuriated.
 

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#3 ·
First thing is first - find out the cause of the diarrhea.

IMO I would be moving the horse immediately to somewhere with more attentive care, as I mentioned in my previous post, regardless of if there is an arena or suitable riding area. Your horse's health comes first.

I would be keeping her bum quite clean, with warm water and Hibitaine and then apply a good thick layer of zinc oxide cream to protect her bum. Any antibiotic soap from the drug store will work and Zinc Oxide or diaper rash cream is also readily available.
Keep an eye on her temp. The moment it gets high, call a vet.

I would hold off on the bute until you know what is causing her stomach to be upset. To diagnose the issue, a vet will likely be required.

Good luck!
 
#4 ·
If she's having diarrhea, do you have any idea what the cause might have been? Did her feed get changed? Maybe some probiotics would be good to give her with the bute. Bute is a little hard on the digestive system, and sounds like she already has an upset tummy. My farm supply has the probios treats and powder, so maybe you could find something like that to give her.

Also, I think you should probably move her from what you've described. Surely there are more than two barns in the area? My area is small, and we have four English barns within 20 miles of the town.
 
#7 ·
To be honest most places around here wouldn't notice that sort of thing. My horse is on full pasture board and the BO has phoned me once when she has seen she was very lame, but at times when her leg was a little swollen or cuts I haven't gotten a phone call. I don't expect them to go over her with a fine tooth comb on a daily basis, that's my job as an owner.
If you want a higher level of service though it's your right to move.
 
#8 ·
Your poor girl- that has got to be sore. Definitely figure out WHY she has diarrhea, that is not normal for an adult horse!

That said, I wouldn't expect something like that to be noticed on most pasture boarded horses anywhere I've been. Obvious lameness, blood, not coming up for food, yes, but something that you can't see unless you go over and lift/move their tail or look closely? Not so much. I can't say that I would have noticed that on any of the five horses my guy gets turned out with. And what is 'obviously off' to one person in unfortunately not so obvious to everyone. Some people really just don't have an eye for natural stride, gait, and lameness.

With this, in addition to everything else, I DO think you should move though. You're not happy, I can only imagine that you don't feel like you can trust the people there to care for your horse properly, and it sounds like your horse now has some medical something that is going to require time, monitoring and at least daily treatment from you. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!
 
#9 ·
Thanks for all your advice everyone!
Although usually I'm not so grateful for my horse pooping in the wash stall, I was glad that she did because her poop is back to normal and she is going to the bathroom with a regular consistency. We already started the bute, which I don't think will be an issue and if I notice any diarrhea again or any fresh irritation, I will definitely consider having the vet out.

Something weird that happened was, I turned my horse out with a sweat which she has had before, and my BO contacted me and told me that she was really unhappy that I turned my horse out with a sweat on and that I should have informed her first. Weird, because my horse is MY responsibility, not hers...

I just hate it up there. I can't wait to move. What a horrible situation to be in.
 
#10 ·
MY question though is:
Is it better to wait until the spot at the new stable opens up? It could potentially be a week or another month.
I have a stable that is twice the price of where I'm at now but about 5 minutes away with a ring that is slightly too deep but I could see her every day whereas now I can't. Like I said, my top choice doesn't have any openings at the moment, so should I move to this other place in the meantime and then move to my top choice when it opens up, or just stay where I'm at now with the iffy care and annoying situations until the place opens up? It's a gamble to take because the stall could open up this week as I said or later... it depends on 1) if they decide to keep a schooling horse (which they would know by the end of the month) or 2) whenever one person sells their horse... which could be anytime....AH
 
#12 ·
agreed, pr have someone (a horseperson) go out for you and check on her and make sure everything is up to your standards. Ask the BO to only feed her specific things (IE not whatever caused the runs) and take every preventive measure you can for her health in the mean time.
 
#14 ·
It depends on the horse, my guys don't get stressed from moving because they are used to shows. Them I would move ASAP to a different place with better care. Even so I have boarded 40 mins away and driven out twice a day while in school. You just have to wake up earlier and get red bull on wholesale :P
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#18 ·
I was thinking that too, looks like a scald from the acid in the urine. All of a sudden diarrhea, then nothing? And the slight lameness? Prolly kicking while squealing and contacted with something hard.
 
#20 ·
She had crust down her legs too, although it was brown and hard it could have been that she was in heat which would make me feel a bit better. I honestly thought that someone switched her feed (she's on a special diet) without telling me. But we are moving stables tomorrow so I'm really excited!

Turns out the other place's ring isn't as deep as I thought it was, so I think it'll be fine. Plus fields and trails!
 
#21 ·
I am glad to hear you are moving!

My old old yard was superb, then they started getting relaxed about things. Charging more, doing less sort of thing. We decided to move, but gave the required 4 weeks notice.

Then it became horrific. My father's mare was turned out when she was lame, despite instruction to keep her in. She was turned out with a young, new horse who harassed her in the fields and she came in hopping.

We spoke to the new yard, and moved early the next morning. It worked out for the best.

Financially it crippled me, I paid out two months stable fees in one month. But it was so, so worth it!
 
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