[ellied]

Last Thursday I found one of my ponies, a rising 4yo homebred filly, in a right state in the field, and I've been intensive nursing her ever since with possible diagnoses along the way including Grass Sickness, toxic poisoning of various kinds, head/jaw injury, allergic response to something eaten or drunk, infection (viral or bacterial).. so not easy to treat or work out a prognosis for

Thursday to Monday morning the only fluid she could take was what I could syringe into the back of her mouth using a 50ml syringe so that was what I had to do as frequently as she would take and swallow it.  Carrots were eventually discovered to be the only thing reliably edible for her, though she had a buffet of 6-8 feed options at any one time.  Slight symptomatic improvements and variable results from tests got us eventually to a shortlist but yesterday teatime she started to lose the improvements and sink back towards square one first thing today.  Vet visit 4 (plus multiple phone calls) was a sad one and my beautiful girl had to be set free  but she had deteriorated between the call at 720 and the vet coming at 9 so it was time..

Douglasbrae came for her at lunchtime and as usual my yard entrance proved a problem for their massive lorry so a neighbour had to be called to load her with a forklift onto the road and I had to help push her about to get her on it..

An hour later I had a visit from the person who had taken one of my ponies away last week to ride and get ready for either sale or to buy herself, depending on how she got on with him.  I knew he had done fine but you can never tell, but she arrived with payment in full and left with the paperwork and ownership..

So tonight I own 2 less ponies than this morning, but the sale of one will pay the bills I have accrued for the other and leave me a bit to spare for the next ones

Is this a good day, a bad day, or just a day..

Dazed and confused about my feelings, tonight is an early night and at least I won't have to worry about what I might have to deal with in the morning I suppose   Not to say I won't have to deal with anything, but not what the last week has involved

PS the most likely culprit in the end was leylandii toxicity from fallen branches off my neighbours trees that fell in the field during the gales (one each time) while he was away and I wasn't able to get them down/out.  7 ponies were in the field, of which 3 didn't show any interest, 4 were seen nibbling but I didn't realise the level of toxicity possible as they've had an occasional twig previously over 10 years in that field.  Looks like this one was either stuffing on it or ate the nut like cones which are more toxic   Symptoms very like grass sickness but then neurological symptoms from liver damage and sadly fatal

[Miss Piggy]

So, so, so sorry to hear your sad news. What can I say but my thoughts are with you. You must feel both physically and emotionally drained. Thinking of you and sending a big hug.

[manian]

so sad... 
big hugs
and a few glasses (no picture for that)
Mx

[Sylvia]

What a huge loss, both financially and emotionally and there was I today howling over a dead piglet. Things are put into perspective

[lachlanandmarcus]

Oh EllieD Im so sorry, how bloody awful for you, especially after all that intensive nursing care. Just so unlucky to lose her that way. The only consolation is she is at peace now and you dont have the dread in stomach.

Having had big old horse very poorly with what they though was GS soon after we arrived up here, thankfully it turned out not to be and he pulled through after a lot of treatment and TLC, I really do feel for you, those type of symptoms and vets mention of GS just made me feel sick to the pit of my stomach.

Well done big time with helping to get her on the wagon tho, that must have taken a lot of inner strength.

thoughts are with you.

[doganjo]

Oh Ellie, I am so sorry, which one was it?  I feel I know them all.  I'll try and get over to see you next week, up to my eyes this week - hugs

[HappyHippy]

Ellie, I'm so sorry to hear about your girl, hugs & love heading your way 

Sylvia - doesn't matter whether it's a great big horse or a teeny little Kune Kune, it always hurts when you lose one of your own. Hugs all round tonight me thinks ! (and I could probably do with some too  )

[ellied]

Annie it was Run (Run Alainn of Kirkcarrion)
(photo from last winter)

August 2011

[doganjo]

So sorry, I remember her because you mentioned her name to me once and it is a similar name to Allez (he is Fosscott Alaine) 

[little blue]

so sorry, a lovely looking boy

[Rosemary]

So sorry to hear about your pony 

[SallyintNorth]

Oh, ellied, what a beautiful girl.  So so sorry to hear your sad story about her    Well done for having the strength to do the right thing - and having to help to load her, too.  {{{hugs}}}

And thank you for sharing the story.  I don't have leylandii anywhere nearby, but I didn't know it as one of the species to be very careful of, so it's helpful to all to be told it could have been the cause.

Congratulations on the sale.  xx

[Lesley Silvester]

Ellied so so sad for you.  ((((hugs)))) 

[jaykay]

Oh Ellied, I'm so sorry 

[Fowgill Farm]

I'm so sorry to hear your news, must have been dreadful. A timely reminder about Leylanndi hedges to all animal keepers. We have two foals & two youngsters staying at the moment and the paddock they are in backs onto a Leylandii hedge, i caught one of them nibbling it the other day and shoed them away, its now been double horse taped with posts a good metre off it to keep them away, i've kept an eye on them since and all sems well.
Ellied it sounds like you did all you could and you were very brave to make that hard descision, i always find a good cry works wonders and you'll always have your memories of better times.Thinking of you.
best Mandy