Callie
CALLIE
Appx. 20+ yr. old Black TB mare with star. First
seen at an auction eating her own excrement because she was
so starved! Ringbone and rear stifle problem. Past founder.
Callie is doing great! She is shedding her yucky, unhealthy
coat and is sleek and shiney black! We let her out in the
pasture the other day and she felt so good she wanted to run
and play. Unfortunately, due to her condition, she cannot
move well. Must be very frustrating for her. We are hoping
to get a chiropractor out to help her with some of her problems
and perhaps get some relief/mobility. Rescued 3/20/99
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New pictures
6/17/99 |
Callie
is still with us. Due to an overwhelming amount of e-mail (thank
you all for your support!!) and some information from people who
have had experience with horses that are in the same or worse
shape than Callie, we have opted to try some alternative methods
of treatment. Callie will have some things added to her
diet (garlic, red cell, devils claw, buteless, chondroitin, etc.
etc.). Also, if anyone knows of a chiropractor or kinesiologist
in the Southern California area that treats horses, please let
us know. Or ask them if they would be willing to help this mare!
We are low on funds and I have wanted to get a chiropractor out
here since Callie got here. We are also calling in a farrier that
studied under Bergie to do Callie's feet. We had her x-rayed yesterday
so that the farrier can see just where that rotated coffin bone
is. To see what we are working on (Guided by Kricket of Witchtrot
Farms) with Callie, please go to the address below. Remember,
Callie needs your help and your prayers. She is moving better
and is bright eyed. She is the regal lady of the land!
UPDATE:
12/21/99:
I thought you might enjoy viewing the latest and greatest pictures
of that magnificent mare known as Callie, so here they are!
As
you know, some months back we thought we would have to put Callie
down. Vets, farriers, etc. were saying we should put her down
as she was in pain.... At the last minute (literally) Kricket,
of Witchtrot Farms, e-mailed me with with a plan designed to help
Callie with her "chronic" founder. I called the vet
and told him I was going to try Kricket's plan. You see, I looked
into Callie's eyes. She was in pain, yes. But, she was not done!
We
changed Callies diet drastically! No more alfalfa, A&M or
Senior. She is now on Timothy hay ($19.95 a bale and Callie
is worth every penny!!), and a Timothy pellet/Bermuda pellet mix.
This has helped her drop some weight (she was in good weight,
but her poor feet/legs were suffering because of it).
She
is on Pawier vitamins (see our links page), Garlic, Glucosamine/chondrotine
(spelling?), Devils Claw, A Gateway Product called Iron Rich Blood
Builder (fancy red cell type thing-vitamins & cherry flavored!
mmmmmmm!).
Now...look
at the pictures! Note that she is now standing on all fours with
her weight distributed evenly! Note the look in her eye. NOTE
that she is standing at the fence in the pasture that she could
not walk to a couple of months ago!
Pretty
impressive......Yup...That's Callie...pretty impressive!
Thank
you to all who helped Callie to come to TIER from the feedlots.
To those who helped me, taught me and were there for both me and
Callie. Special thanks to Kricket for giving us a plan that worked.
And...Thanks
to Callie. For being my teacher, my friend, my hope.
Gail
Update
3/22/00 -
Callie is eating and drinking well, but she is laying down alot.
Recently,
our Natural Horseshoer came out and trimmed her poor feet. When
he was finished,
he was surprised to see her walk so well! We are keeping a
close eye
on Callie. With the recent rains and subsequent deep mud, she
would get
very tired trying to walk through the mud. We are putting
shavings in
her pen to make it softer for her. She is a dear mare that we
hope to have
with us for a long time.
Update
3/29/00 - My heart is just filled with admiration for this
awesome lady! As most of you
may know. Callie is a 23 yr. old TB mare (can't read her tattoo!)
that came
to us starved and horribly foundered. She was seen at an auction
eating her
own excrement due to her starvation. After Callie was brought
to TIER
due to the generosity of several lovely folks, she foundered again.
The vet deemed
her a chronic founderer and did not hold much hope for this
poor lady's
continued recuperation. Due to the long term founder and having
to shift her
weight to her back legs due to the pain in her front feet, she
was crippled
in her rear end also. We brought out a Natural Horseshoer who
had diligently
worked on Callie's feet and also changed her diet to Timothy
hay, pellets
(timothy, bermuda, brohme). No alfalfa or senior for this
girl! We also
started using glucosamine/chondroitin supplements and devils
claw for the
inflammation/pain (Thanks to Kricket of Witchtrot Farms).
It's been
a long process. I had been told by several people to put Callie
down, including
a vet. We almost did at one time, but then I looked into
her eyes and
realized she was not finished. Today,
Callie was turned out in the pasture with Grace and Amber! We
had turned
Callie out before, by herself. I was hesitant to put her in with
other horses
as she would not be able to move out of their way once the herd
dynamics started
playing out. I did not want her hurt. Recently, when we
would go out
to feed in the evenings and in the mornings on weekends, I
would open
the gate to Callie's pen. If she wanted to come out and move
around...fine.
This last week she has ventured all over the property grazing.
Previously, she would only graze in front of her pen and the one
next to it
where Chance is. Today, when we started walking her toward the
pasture where
Amber and Grace were, she practically trotted! She was
anxious to
be in with girls! She moved out a brisk pace towards the end of
the pasture
where the girls were grazing. She dropped her head to graze and
would move
towards the girls as she grazed. Eventually, all three were
grazing together
and Callie was so happy! There were no fights, no figuring
out who was
boss. It seems Grace and Amber knew that Callie was not a
threat of
any kind. When it was time to bring the girls in, Blair went to
the gate with
halters in hand. Grace and Amber came running up and, bringing
up the rear, at a trot (this is amazing) was Callie! It was
obvious that
Callie was ready to try this. We are so thankful that it went
well. I had
visions of Amber or Grace kicking her because she could not
move out of
their way. Perhaps, one day soon, Grace and Amber will be
trying to
keep up with Callie!
I am so
glad we didn't have Callie put down some months ago. Remember...when
the heart speaks, the heart listens!
Update
6/28/01 - Whew! Did I have rough morning/early afternoon!
I had finished my breakfast and cruised up to the side of my abode
where I could visit with that little chunky girl Honey. We usually
gossip about the silly youngsters, the handsome boys, which treats
we like best, those goofy dogs that run lickety split to the back
of our property thinking they can find a squirrel or something,
and...of course Blair & Gail.
Anywhoo......after
our usual morning discussion, I decided I would just lay down
in the sun and soak up some warmth. I'm a tad old you see and
the sun feels really good. So..I laid myself down and took a good
snooze. When I woke up, I tried to get up and couldn't! You see,
the divider between my house and Honey's is welded wire. I had
moved myself into a position where my rear feet were up against
the divider and my front feet were pretty close too. I couldn't
stretch my front feet out far enough to brace myself so that I
could raise my head/shoulders and then get my feet under me. What
a mess! I tried though!! By the time Gail sauntered towards me
to open my gate to let me out for my daily inspection of all the
other kids, I had worked up quite a sweat and was so frustrated
I was frothing at the mouth and exhausted.
Gail was walking
toward me and realized I was not just doing my early afternoon
snooze. She started running and calling my name. Like I could
really hold a conversation with her at this point...right? Silly
woman! I thought she was gonna split her jeans trying to crawl
through the bars of my pen to get to me! HA!
I tried real
hard to get up for her, but just couldn't. I was really pooped.
Honey started nickering at me and then Baxter joined in. I nickered
back to let them know I was okay....just wondering when this woman
was going to help me get out of this predicament! Chance, the
class clown, was looking on from his side of my pen with eyes
stretched way big! Of course, Chance is a joker anyway and looks
at everything like it is the very first time he has ever seen
anything so dramatic in his life! Drama King. But, I could tell
he was concerned.
Gail tried
to move my rear end away from the welded wire panel. What....she
thinks she's Hercules? I am a thoroughbred! A big thoroughbred!
I may be old and crippled, but I am still a gorgeous hunk of horse!
She then tried to maneuver my head and shoulders away from the
divider. Huh? Like my front end is lighter??? Oh pulllllllleeeze!
She ran over
and got two of those long cotton lunge ropes they use and an old
fly mask. She wrapped the flymask around my underneath hind leg
and stuck a rope through it. Then she put the other rope around
my underneath front leg. She grabbed both ends of the ropes and
started pulling. Kinda rocked me a little but didn't budge me
at all. I was becoming concerned because I knew this woman was
not going to be able to move me an inch! And talk.....whew...that
woman kept talking to me like I was on the phone with her or something!
She then tried
to only move my rear end with the ropes. She got a little more
leverage there, but I am a good sized horse and it was of no use.
She then told me not to worry, everything was going to be okay
and took off running towards the house. Don't worry? Everything
will be okay? And she ran off and left me? Very considerate don't
you think? Hmmph!
She tried
calling Blair who was not near his cell phone and neither were
her friends June & Jerry. Nobody was answering their phones
so she runs out to her truck, picks up some sheepskin (fake stuff
for the bottom of the dog crates) and towels, then drives her
truck back toward my pen. I'm thinkin....Great! Now she wants
to go for a spin around the arena and I'm stuck here, sweatin
to beat the band, can't move and she wants me to go for a joyride?
I don't think so!
She backs
that truck up to my pen at a weird angle and comes flying through
the fence with her little sheepskin thingy and towels. She takes
the flymask that has been around my back leg and moves it down
further toward my hock. Then, she puts that sheepskin thingy on
my butt where the rope is so I won't get rope burns or something
and then puts the towel under the hip that is on the ground. What???
Is she trying to improve her diapering skills or what??? I'm stuck
here ya know.
She then gets
the rope that was looped around my front leg and ties it to the
rope that is attached to the flymask on my back leg. She hooks
the end of this to the back of her truck. Okay...so she is going
to take full advantage of my dilema and use me as a drag? Or,
does she think I am a yo-yo? Can't she tell I'm really tired,
upset and not in the mood for her silly games?
THEN....she
gets in the truck and starts driving off! She's just gonna leave
me there??? How dare she! But, she is going real, real slow. She
can't see what the heck she is doing so she jumps out and lets
the tailgate down. (She shoulda thought of that first!!!) Gets
back in the truck and starts going real slow again. Once she has
all the slack out of the rope I see her put her head down to pray.
I know what she is thinking.....don't let me hurt her, don't let
me break her hip or leg. Let her be alright. And then she starts
goosing the truck forward...kinda makes me start rocking.
Eventually,
she gets my rear end over, my front end follows and........the
flymask breaks! Whew! Just in time or else I might have ended
up being all tangled up in ropes, flymasks, sheepskin thingys
and towels when I jumped to my feet!
I was huffin
and puffin and shaking. My rear legs were wobbly and then here
she comes again, running her mouth and asking me if I'm okay.
Am I okay? Shoot! I've been flat on my side in the hot sun, sweatin
like a frosty glass of rootbear in the Florida Sunshine, frothing
at the mouth and breathing hard, a little wobbly and she wants
to know if I'm okay??? Yes, I'm fine. Now, get out of my way because
I'm late for inspection and I need to nibble a little grass.
She picks
up all her stuff, puts it away and, as she is throwing that ripped
up flymask away she says....."Fly masks.....the all purpose
tool. Thank goodness for the inventor of fly masks and thank goodness
I don't throw these things away right off." She then gets
the shedding blade and sweatscraper out and heads my way. Sigh...
I guess you
can use flymasks for lots of things! She even uses the old ones
to skim the hay off of the waterers when we throw it in there.
Uses it like a strainer. She is kinda weird. You could probably
say flymasks are an all purpose tool. But then again, one of the
other favorite all purpose, handy dandy items to have on hand
(besides duct tape) is baling twine! But, I will show her about
that stuff another time. I'm just too tired right now and I have
an inspection to do.
Update
8/7/01 - Callie is sporting a silver slipper on her "good
foot". Poor baby had an abcess that we assumed had drained
completely and dried up. Apparently, everything didn't drain out,
although she wasn't indicating that she was more sore or anything.
Loaded up her hoof with Pine Tar and wool, covered it with a plastic
bag, put a pad on and wrapped it and then put the special silver
shoe stuff on.......Duct Tape! She cruises around everyday and
has started joining Pearl in the backyard. But, Callie really
isn't interested in Pies. (Thank goodness!)
Update
6/15/03 - On June 9, 2003 Callie was assisted across the Rainbow
Bridge. She had a tummy full of alfalfa (something that she wasn't
allowed to have due to her tendency for founder), apples, carrots
and even part of one of Pearl's Pies!!
Callie had
developed 2 abcesses in her left front foot. Although she had
had abcesses before, this time they lasted longer and took more
time to drain. Even though the abcesses were draining and she
was strolling around trying to steal alfalfa, we knew that it
was only a matter of time before she would develop more abcesses
and have to go through the pain again and again. Yes, Callie would
have continued fighting, but we felt that she should not have
to endure a continuing painful existence. Therefore, on Monday
afternoon, she was laid to rest.
According
to the first letter of her tattoo (an 'H') she was 25 yrs. old.
Many of those years were hard years and they took their toll.
Yet, this magnificent Thoroughbred mare continued to give. To
teach, to love. She was one of the horses kids were drawn to.
Especially children that were somewhat intimidated by horses.
She would lower her great head to these little ones, a light of
mischief would appear in her eyes and she would blow that warm
loving breath of hers into their faces, making them laugh! She
was the Queen of TIER and demanded to be treated accordingly when
being groomed or when placing her royal robes (blanket) upon her.
And, if you happened to be standing in her way when she wanted
to go in a certain direction, she did not hesitate to bow that
wonderful head and then shove you aside should you not move quickly
enough to suit her!! I remember being airborn on one such occassion!
HA!
Callie taught
us about founder. She taught us about developing a diet that would
give her the nutrition she needed, yet not put too much weight
on her as her front legs could not carry the weight. She continually
surprised vets and farriers alike due to the fact that her x-rays
showed that her coffin bones had significantly degenerated, yet
she continued to cruise the grounds in search of alfalfa and,
sometimes, even companionship. Amazingly, she and Pearl got along
together after their first year of arguing about who was running
the show! HA!
Callie taught
us about having a great heart, willingness and trust. She would
nicker a greeting each morning, rub that regal head against your
shoulder, and push you out of her way as she headed toward her
feed bins. She loved to be massaged, but she did not like being
fussed over and would get impatient to be on her way to more important
things.
Moses was
her next door neighbor and eventually they became good friends.
If Callie would wander out of Moses' sight, he would search for
her, not relaxing his vigil until she came into sight again. On
the day that Callie was to leave us, I spent some time with Moses
explaining that Callie would be crossing the rainbow bridge. He
was very docile that day and we were concerned that he might experience
some depression at Callie's passing. Apparently, Moses understood
that Callie would be much more comfortable on the other side of
the bridge as he has not demonstrated any signs of depression.
He did spend most of the day standing near her before she left
us and I think they must have said their goodbyes during that
time.
I miss her
face, her nicker, her bright eyes. Thank you Callie. Thank you
for teaching me, allowing me to love you, to learn from you. What
a gift you were to us and to those who came to know you. Thank
you for the hope, the joy, the smiles, the trust, the laying of
your great head in my arms. Thank you for the gift of you.
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