Kindness, the Language of Love

Nicky is another senior Thoroughbred mare we recently rescued, from the same farm where Aries and Raz formerly resided. Nicky hadn’t been doing well but the owner would not release her – she would not eat the hay that had recently been brought to the farm and she refused to walk to the waterer, so food and water had to be taken to her in her paddock. This went on for several days and she still showed no signs of improvement. On Sunday, we finally received the call – Nicky was no better and was being released. She needed a place to go where she could get the help she so desperately needed, so Nicky is now a member of our beloved little Sanctuary herd.

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The day Nicky arrived, we looked forward to reuniting her with her friends, Aries and Raz. We brought her to their paddock but she showed no interest. She was weak and unstable and her back legs were swollen, especially the left. I opted to put her in a paddock by herself, next to them, for a few days, so she could settle in, get a bit more stable, and get to know her new surroundings.

Once in that paddock, we led her to the waterer and she drank a good amount. Then we let her go. Ears forward, she didn’t walk off, but rather, put her head down and nibbled on a little grass and then unsteadily walked in a circle and stopped. She stood there, ears forward. After awhile, I walked her out into the paddock and told her that she would be okay as I gently removed her halter.

Ears forward, she walked in a circle a couple of times, still unsteady on her legs. She then stopped and stood. I brushed her and told her she was very much loved and would never be hungry again. Then I let her be.

I checked on her often and she was still standing there, ears forward. Twice, I saw her weakly walk in a circle and then stop and stand, ears forward. After awhile, I took her some water and a mash. She drank and slurped up about one half of the mash. I was relieved that she did drink. I was worried about colic which can be an issue with a starved horse that has a lot of sand in their gut and is fed coastal hay (before she came to us). A horse that Nicky had lived with prior to her arrival, suffered an impaction colic the day before. Dr. Rullian tubed and oiled the mare, fluids were run, but sadly, she didn’t make it.

The rest of the day, the volunteers and I checked on Nicky often and took her more water, forage, and mash. She still had no interest in hay. She continued to stand there all day, ears forward.

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When I tucked her in that night, I walked her to the waterer and left her with a tub of forage and a bag of hay. She refused the hay but did nibble on a little forage. The next morning, I discovered her ten feet away from where I’d left her the night before. The tub of forage had been knocked over. I put a halter on her and walked her around the perimeter of her paddock, in and out of the shelter, and then to the middle of the paddock.

I took her halter off and she stood there, ears forward, and then I knew – she couldn’t see. I thought to myself how humble and trusting this precious mare is. I realized then, why, out of so many horses, this particular mare came to us – it’s because she is very special and needs a little extra special care!

I thought about how scary it must be to be a blind horse in an unfamiliar place, separated from a herd that you had lived with your entire life, surrounded by new humans. I told her how brave and beautiful she is and then walked her around the perimeter of the paddock again and in and out of the shelter.

We took her water every couple of hours. She still refused hay but would slurp up a little mash. That night, I put a halter on her and walked her into the shelter. She put her nose down and found the tub of forage, a bag of hay, a bucket of water, and a salt block. She planted herself at the salt block. When I left her, I said a little prayer that she’d be okay there and as I walked away, she was still licking that salt block, ears forward.

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The next morning, she was still there, under the shelter, ears forward, looking content. She didn’t put her head up or respond when I approached her. She had eaten some of the forage. The water tub was only half full, so at least she was drinking.

I talked to her and when I reached out and touched her neck, her eyes opened wider, but then she relaxed. I clapped my hands next to her ears and that’s when I realized that she couldn’t hear. What a very special mare she really is!

Nicky was examined by Dr. Julia Simonson yesterday. I’ll continue Nicky’s story later today after we get her lab results back. I’ll also post an update about Aries and Raz.

Please keep Nicky, Aries and Raz in your prayers. They all have some challenges to overcome, especially Nicky, but I believe they will!

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Thank you to all who have donated toward the three mares thus far. Your donation is so very much appreciated. If you have not yet done so, you may simply click the button below. Please note that your donation is for “Year-End Campaign or ‘YEC.'”

Thank you all, and God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa