Gem Dandy
#299
Smutty/Dark Buckskin QH Gelding. Ex-roping horse. Appx.
15-17 yrs. Appx. 15.2 - 15.3 hands. This gelding is very personable
and quiet. In his earlier days he was a roping horse. He was
also used as a lesson horse for beginners and some children.
His feet are very long. He has sustained a recent left hind
leg injury to a tendon or ligament. Apparently, he was being
roped off of while his feet were so terribly long!! He would
most likely require a 6 month layup for his leg to heal AFTER
his feet were trimmed properly. The angle his feet are at now
is putting a strain on the injured leg.
Update
1/25/03 - My new name is Gem Dandy! I'm going home! Updates
coming soon!
Update
1/26/03 - first little update on Gem. He survived his first
day at his new home. He got very sweaty last night and seemed
to have a mild gas colic, so I brought him in the barn. This
morning he was a bit stiff. His poor feet are terribly long,
and he still has nails in his bad foot. One of them seems really
high, so that could hurt as well. And he keeps tripping over
his toes.
Today he got a bath, it was nice and warm, and we used the bucket
with warm water. He already looks like a different horse. We
even found a hart shaped brand on his shoulder. He had about
an inch of mud caked on his hoof, we could barely get it off.
He's now all nice clean and soft. He is just such a good boy
he loves to get pampered. We crawled all around him, and he
just stood there, and didn't care a bit. Granted, he got spoiled
with carrots, kisses and hugs.......
Anyways, I took some before and after pictures, just gotta download
them, and then I'll send them to you.
Tonight he is sleeping in his new stall all nice made up with
stall mats and shavings, he thought that was pretty cool. He
seems to be very happy, he keeps looking around, and loves the
cows next door, he gets all excited when he sees them!!!!
Thanks again for letting me give this boy a home.
Update
2/18/03 - well, it's been 3 weeks since we brought Gem home.
1 hoof trim and a vet visit later, we know a bit more about
this wonderful guy. The shoer took about 1-2 inches off his
toes, the vet wants more of the toe gone. He said he was still
a bit to much on his heel.
He was very happy with Gem, and just couldn't beleive that somebody
wanted to through him away. He actually thinks that the injury
to his hind leg is older. But since I've been massaging it,
and putting liniment on it, it feels like the area is getting
softer. Gem also has arthritis, so now he is on Four-Flex, and
Devil's Claw. He also gets his PJ's on every night, and his
legs wrapped to keep him warm.
We fenced off a small pasture area for him, so he can graze,
and get some exercise. When I got home from work today, I couldn't
find him in there, he was all the way out in the back of the
big pasture, when I went back to check on him, he gave me that
"I didn't do it..." look. I have no clue how he got
out of his area. Guess we got a Houdini on our hands.
It is wonderful to start seeing that sparkle in his eyes, and
his personality trying to come out. He still seems to be a bit
unsure about this whole thing. He wants to beleive that this
is a good thing, but just not quite sure about it yet.
He gets brushed and cleaned every night, and after he gets blanketed,
and tucked away, I give him a good night kiss, and tell him
he's loved. Even though he is more interested in his goodies
and carrots, I hope (know) it still sinks in.
Update
6/11/03
- Well, it's about time to give you another update on Gem. He
is quite a character. Can you say he is soooo SPOILED......?
He gets to go out in pasture every other day, and spends the
other days in the arena. The vet, said to keep him separated
from anybody that chases him around, which is why he and Dusty
take turns.
So I guess yesterday I wasn't fast enough getting him out of
the arena, and when I opened the gate, he just gave me that
"you're late, and I'm hungry" look and took off in
a full gallop back to the barn, and turned right into his stall.
What a difference from the horse that stood out in the pasture,
and just had no clue what to do.
He is walking so much better, and is definitely looking so much
better. I had another vet come out from the same clinic to get
a second opinion. She too thought that the injury on his leg
is an old injury, that just never had time to heal, that's why
he is not supposed to run with the other horses. She said he
feels so much better, but his body is not quite ready to take
off running, and bucking, and playing.
I had the pictures off your website printed to show her (the
ones from the feedlot). She just couldn't beleive that this
is the same horse. He surely looks alot different. He is so
easy going, and nothing seems to bother him. My Vet absolutely
loves him, and so does everybody else for that matter.
Thanks again for giving me the chance to help this great guy.
He is just awesome. Even hubby goes out to see the horses more
now, and Gem always gets an extra pet.... which he truly apreciates.
Here
are also a couple of new pictures, he's all sleeked out, that
took some elbow grease, I think if I would have collected all
the fur I brushed out of him, I could have made a mattress!
Update
11/17/03
Update
6/2/04
- Herer are the pictures of my gorgeous boy at the show. I just
decided to take him, and didn't even work him hard to prepare
for this, and he placed in every class he took. Although he
thought it would be fun to race the other horses in his first
class...... Ha!
He looked like he had a great time, just soaking everything
in. It was funny cuz everybody called him "the fuzzy one"....
We didn't shave the ears, he went all "au natural"
Update
11/4/05
- I took Gem to another local show the week before Halloween,
and he got 3rd in Equitation, and 2nd in Pleasure. The judge
thought he was awesome, which we've all known for a long time......,
but nonetheless, he beat out some very nice Quarterhorses, and
even a Selle Francais...... We only got beaten by a Mule, granted
she was very cute, and very well behaved......
Anyways, just wanted to let you know he is still doing awesome,
and loving life, and I love having him. He is been my rock the
last 2 years, and get's plenty of kisses and hugs for it.