I never knew that when I quit my job that I'd be working harder than ever on the ranch. The BarnGod has been helping others fix their fences for years, but neglected our own. Finally we are totally re-doing our own. I have been helping, using two tractors: one to pull posts and the other to dig post holes. Then we have to string wire. We're still at it. Unfortunately, we've had a string of issues with horses requiring calling the vet out. Our big Belgian, having been recently shod, started favoring a foreleg. Poor boy can hardly walk. One of our spotted drafts (older) has not gained weight recently and some of his hide is getting very hard and wrinkled. Our quarter Palamino almost tore off her nose on a gate when working at the sale barn. The vet at the sale barn spent 2 hours stitching her nostril inside and out. We then had to irrigate her nasal passage and give her penicillin as well as a shot of bute to reduce the swelling. Penicillin for three more days. Our regular vet came out today to check out the Belgian and Spotted Draft. We think it may be a stone bruise under the hoof as he tested him and found sensativity. Again, Penicilin and bute tablets. If no improvement he'll drill a hole in the frog area of the hoof and drain any infection if there. The most interest and intriguing was the hide of the paint draft. It seems as if some horses livers can quit processing chorophyll in feed, causing endorphins not to react to photosynthisis. In other words severe sunburn on the white parts of the hide. It is literally peeling off as a severe sunburn would. Poor baby is literally losing his hide. It feels very hard on his white parts and normal on the black parts. Nothing we can do. He will slough off the skin and new skin is definitely under and has white hair. The vet says it will grow back and he'll be just fine. In the meantime, we need to spray scaret oil on the tender raw skin, then soften with udder balm. Also we are going to use tea tree oil. I found it helpful on our Palamino mare that foaled. She had some spots that needed help. With wire cuts, castrations and now this, we are helping to support our vets. The BarnGod is having to mix and match 3 teams of horses as he starts in earnest driving for our attraction here: Old Town to the historic Kit Carson County Carousel each weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
http://www.burlingtoncolo.com/oldtown.htm
http://www.kitcarsoncountycarousel.com/
oh those poor babies--- what a hurtful bunch you have on your hands-