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| Flint, December 1, 2010 |
Though cold weather had just started, horses were
already suffering in fields from lack of food. The grass was gone and some caretakers were not providing adequate hay.
Because horses are herd animals, they live in a hierarchy. The horses at the top of the social order eat first, drink
first, and move all the other horses. If an owner puts out "just enough" hay, the horses at the top
will get it all and those at the bottom will go without. If there are six horses in a field, the rule of thumb
is to spread out at least seven piles of hay so each will be able to get food. Each horse can guard only one pile at
a time.
Even during cold weather, there are still some people looking for horses and this story is about one family
that drove three and a half hours to Lee County to view some horses advertised online. Upon arrival, the family
was speechless a tthe body condition of the two horses they had driven so far to meet, a tall gray Arabian type
and a stocky blaze-faced Quarter Horse.
The owner tried to convice the family that the emaciated horses were fine
and that the only problem was that the other horses were chasing them out of their hay. He went so far as to swing up
on the gray's back, and the horse almost collapsed. The family suggested the owner give the horses to a rescue but
he was unwilling to consider it, however, he would give the horses to the family. After some consideration and a call
to HPS, they loaded the two geldings into their trailer and began their journey to the sanctuary.
When the
horses arrived late that night, each horse had it's own stall, pelleted feed, soaked alfalfa cubes, fresh
water, and a whole round bale of hay waiting for them.
The gray has been named Flint and appears to be an Arabian or Arabian
cross. Flint is over 15 hands, tall for an Arabian but many Arabians of European descent will be taller and heavier
than those bred elsewhere. The Polish Arabian is often taller and heavier than the typical Arab. There are also
many Arabian crosses that have been imported and bred in the U.S. One is the Anglo-Arab, a cross with the Thoroughbred,
and another is The National Show Horse, a cross between an Arab and an American Saddlebred. Once Flint has recovered
he is going to be very showy with his long legs and snowy mane and tail.
Flint has large areas of sarcoids
on his neck and face. HPS has had success in curing sarcoirds in the past and hopes we will be able to help Flint.
He has also recovered enough to join the rest of the gelding herd and is being treated for heaves.
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