Ivy & Elf - December 2010
IVY & ELF
Taken in Tuesday 14th December 2010
We received a call from one of our long term supporters to say that there was a mare and foal on Rumney Common needing our help. The mare was extremely thin and she could not put her off hind foot to the floor. We managed to get them both into our trailer to bring them back to Coxstone. The conditions on Rumney were still very bad with ice and patches of snow making it trecherous for horses and humans. We were very keen to get the mare and foal before the bad weather was due to set in at the end of the week.
On Rumney Common
Picture taken 15.12.10 - The poor mare was seen by the vet today and x-rays have been taken of her fetlock, we will find out the results later today, and we have everything crossed that it is not bad news. She had a very bad reaction to the painkiller drug given to her this morning which resulted in her having a fit, this doesn't often happen, but she is in such a bad condition and so weak that the body can react in this way. Her foal at foot, which we think might be about 8 months old, is fortunately in good condition, his mum has given him everything.
16.12.10. Sadly, Ivy was put to sleep yesterday afternoon, following the results of the x-ray. It showed that she had broken the fetlock joint a while ago and that there was infection in the joint and very bad arthritis which would never get better, and that she was in a lot of pain. The kindest and most responsible action was to have her put to sleep. This is the worst part of our job, but at least we know that she is no longer suffering and that she has not been left out on the common in pain to die, especially with the bad winter months ahead.
Her little colt, Elf, has been put with another of our youngsters called Benny and they are getting along really well. He is a strong little colt and we are sure he will be absolutely fine, Ivy had taken great care of him and done a wonderful job of rearing him.