A Change of Luck
At the end of November 2003 Boris, a pony foal aged about eight weeks suffered a bit of bad luck which could easily have ended his life. Somehow he fell about 40 feet into Trefil Quarry, breaking his pelvis, and there he lay, soaked by the incessant rain and bitterly cold, unable to move, and abandoned by his dam.
Some time later his luck changed. A man from Langynidr was walking his dog and spotted Boris lying inert on the rocks at the bottom of the quarry. Returning to Llangattock as quickly as possible he telephoned someone in the village who he knew had horses. The next bit of luck was that the person whom he telephoned was an SWHP supporter, Penny Hughes, who telephoned us immediately.
The next bit of luck was that Alasdair had just gone into the house and so was able to answer the telephone. Boris’ luck held because Jenny was at that moment about five miles from Trefil with Nicolas de Bauwere, one fo the vets from Redwings Horse Sanctuary. While Penny rushed from Llangynidr to the quarry with her son Derwyn, Nick Parry and Charlotte Vator with blankets and a hot water bottle, a quick call on the mobile had Jenny and Nicolas speeding to the scene.
With great difficulty Boris was carried from the quarry to our horse ambulance trailer. Another bit of luck; Jenny had her picnic basket with her, so Nicolas made a mix of warm water, sugar and milk and tubed it into Boris. By six o-clock in the evening all were back at Coxstone and Boris was supported in slings in our intensive care stables so that there would be minimum movement of his pelvis.
He stayed in the slings for three days and nights but for the next ten days had to be helped to his feet when he wanted to stand.
He was fed on mare’s milk replacer every three hours, day and night, for the next six weeks, by which time frequency of feeding could be reduced. His hind legs gradually started to move more normally and he was well on the way to a complete recovery. Whether he knows it or not Boris is a very lucky chap.
Boris (on the left) out for a walk February 2006 and looking very happy
