26/08/2019
You know that feeling that, you wished you never would have done it?..., I moved to Taranaki in February this year and found that all my horses were badly damaged in the process. Poor Lochy had a really hard time - hes a bit lame but the woman who picked them up was extremely unhelpful and unwilling to give any advice - something that would have been very much appreciated. He must have lost a good 100 kg and more in the months to come with abcessed coming back, and going from one foot to another... With no StemEquine around it was a matter of pulling out all the stops that I had available, including vets which definitely added up to the finances that went out at great speed for some time.
Phoenix arrived with a huge bruise on her hind and a blooded v***a.
Cessiopeia was so rough handled and in shock, bruised from poll to ribs, all swollen next day, was groaning with every step she took - vet had to come out and check her over and said that she was very lucky. Stood in the paddock for days looking dazed. I too was in shock, not seen anything like this and was glad I wasn't her.
Methods used were twisting ear, whip, and forcing a training bit in her mouth when she was clearly already way out of her comfort zone after a disastrous encounter earlier in the day when she had gashed her front leg. A far cry from the methods that I used.
I was baffled that the truckers totally ignored me when I said I didn't want them to carry on, until I saw coming back from my car, that she was upside down, wedged in between the loading ramp and the wire fence - and then I had to repeat again and again that I DID NOT WANT THEM TO CARRY ON!
Result: one horse that didn't get trucked and was so traumatised that she did not want to be approached by anybody. One that nearly died, lost heaps of weight, and one with a dislocated pelvis and a funny gait.
From the horse's perspective It's been a very painful and traumatising experience, from the trucking company's perspective I gather that horses like mine are just another day's job of creatures that, when in Cessiopeia's case was not co-operative, use methods that no human being would like to have to endure.
No reply to my questions as to what might have happened during transportation o my other two.
And as for me.. no words can describe how I felt and how I feel to this very day. No amount of money can undo what happened and the suffering that was inflicted.
Lesson that I learned is to be VERY VERY careful and cautious as to whom I let near my horses. To this very day I am still dealing with the aftermath. I have met a few other people with similar experiences with the same trucking company and wondered if there are more people out there who's horses arrived as damaged goods?
On a positive note I have found a lot of information on all kinds of topics relate to the problems I have experienced over the last months. I will be posting more i the coming time now on things that I found that may be helpful for other horse-owners. Gradually I have a bit more time now that the situation is slowly looking up and I am no longer living on what felt like edge of a razorblade.
In my quest and desperation to find something to help my horses (it ain't fun when you see your horse wilting away but he still indicates he's not ready to die, so you do what you can!) I remembered April Love's Holistic Horseworks and the amazing transformational results she achieves with the work she has developed with cranial work and more on horses and dogs.I had contacted her a few years ago but at the time New Zealand was not on the cards for her.
Lady Luck or angels that watch over Lochy and Phoenix especially must have looked upon us! I found that April happened to be in New Zealand in November to teach, and I jumped on the occasion to ask if I could organise a course in Taranaki. So happy to hear that she was able to fit it in her busy schedule!
This will be a 3-day course that will be absolutely mind-blowing - what I picked up from watching her free material and applied on my horses has already made a difference and keen to learn more.
There are only 6 places available for students and 15 auditors, so please let me know by PM-ing me,if you would like to receive more information on either attending the course or have a horse that you would like to be participating to be worked on during the course. It will be an investment well spent, one that will serve you and your horses for the rest of your and their lives!
