He even let me pet him! He seemed agitated but this is close to the time the kid comes home from school so told him I would be back later.
Later in the evening I went to check up on him but noticed he had not been fed or watered and the mother's car was not in the driveway...by now he was really agitated. It was 8:20 p.m. when I saw they got home but no one came to see or feed him.
What the hell...I went and got his horse pellets and fed him. I also gave him four gallons of water.
Hello MsBelinda,
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say that I know next to nothing about the care of horses, but a few years ago while visiting a horse ranch the caretaker said something about limiting the amount of oats the horse could have because too much would cause problems with the hooves.
I just googled "can horse feed affect hooves" and there are many articles and references about how their diet affects their hooves.
The only reason I'm commenting is to make sure you are aware of this, especially since you have commented about Walter's apparent problem with his foot/feet.
If a healthy horse diet is not something you are family with, perhaps you could get some advice from a veterinarian to make sure your efforts to feed Walter will not contribute to any problems.
Thank you for your comment Anonymous. Did the google searches you recommended and also read up on Horse Hoof Care.
DeleteUnfortunately not being Walter's owner there is absolutely nothing I can do. All the things that they suggest require follow up visits with veterinarians and horse nutritionist. They also require daily care of his feet something that is not going to happen.
Walter must also have a balance diet and have clean fresh water at his disposal. I do not know if you have ever read my main blog (Terlingua Dreams) but it is there were I have been documenting the neglect and abuse this poor horse has been subjected to.
I decided to start a new blog with the hopes that one day it could serve as evidence against his owners. Walter in my opinion has never been to a veterinarian in his life.
At first I only gave him water when I noticed they would not even provide him with this vital liquid. When the price of hay went through the roof, they cut way back on his portions and he started eating his own feces. Unable to bear seeing him do that I went out and bought him horse feed.
His corral is full of poop and they never clean it...I take that back last year they took it out to dry and then put it back as a dirt floor.
I have gone to the authorities on several occasions but they have done little or nothing. His owner knows how to skirt the law, that is why you see all that hay in front of his corral...a hay stack that hardly goes down because it is just for show.
The owner works out of town and leaves the care to his 13 or 14 year old son who does good to remember to feed him and many many times has not but I have been able to pick up the slack when I happen to be in town.
I happen to think that he has a mesquite thorn on his hoof but I do not know that for a fact. He can also have arthritis or other aliments but I do not think his owners will ever seek veterinarian assistance for him.
I don't understand why a vet won't turn these people in for abuse.
ReplyDeleteTrouble, I don't think Walter has ever been to a veterinarian in his life. If anything he might take him to someone who works at a ranch and knows a little about horses.
DeleteIf you had never read about his saga it would be hard to tell just from looking at him that he has been subjected to so much neglect.
Whew! I'm sure glad I have to read this blog backwards - the scare you had when he disappeared was already resolved when I got here.
ReplyDeleteI'm no expert on horses, but I kinda doubt that the persistent discomfort he's been having with his leg is related to diet as the first commenter suggested.
Do they ever trim his hooves?
Hi Leilani! You bet he gave me a scare but luckily that is over and done with :)
ReplyDeleteI seriously doubt they trim his hooves.
Yeah, if there as lackadaisical about feeding him and keeping his pen in good hygienic order, it' not likely they're particularly meticulous with his pedicures.
ReplyDeleteSadly that is exactly the way it is Leilani.
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