Well November has been a whorl wind of a month. Silly Season here we come!
Two of our adopted donkeys stallions, Quagga and Trompie were gelded. Thank heavens!! As they were becoming very problematic. They will stay a little while longer until hormones have settled completely. They were sent back to us as they were becoming too boisterous. Also causing havoc at Unit so chop chop sooner than later.. We have a lot of stallions at the moment so if anyone wants to sponsor a gelding please do it costs us around R2500 per geld!
Moses s two donkeys booked themselves into the Unit for some RnR.
Stan and Tom assisted a donkey owner with his stolen donkey. All good and back with owner..
Seven more horses done for AHS – Please note there should be more vaccines available soon and best to do any animals that haven’t been done straight away!
We were requested to assist with euthanasia of an old mare. Sorted but very heart sore.. obviously the right thing to do though..
Five ponies and four donkey hooves done.
Lame complaint sorted by Stan.
Assisted two donkey owners with tick treatment.
THEN FINALLY-
The little, stray mare at Fairview township was caught and brought into the unit. After months of bad timing, Francois, from Gavin Smith’s yard managed to organise to keep her in for us. All relieved to have her safe and sound as she had an owner who has since relocated back to the former Transkei. She is a very cute young filly who is not even two! Still has some little milk teeth.. So if anyone is interested in bringing this little one on ,please contact us.
WE have decided to call her LOLLY,
and she is fitting in nicely after all her shenanigans..
A Complaint of laminitic horses received, which has seemed to sort itself out thankfully..
An ongoing complaint, eventually led to a surrender of two Thoroughbreds. They were heavily neglected, with a number of issues.. Thankfully the owner finally decided to do the right thing when it was realized how much time and money it actually takes to care for thoroughbreds properly.
Another iffy case where one of our ponies and a donkey were left behind on a property. After a lot of investigating it was found that the animals were being attended to until they could be relocated. Bit of a lengthy issue but eventually we collected and moved to new premises. Miscommunication and uneducated individuals can cause a very big, unnecessary fuss. Please don’t believe everything you read on Facebook!
The Rabies Drive that was booked for 12th November but unfortunately had to be cancelled due unforeseen circumstance. Another date will be set we hope.. Please still take precautions as this dreaded disease is still very prevalent in our area..
We then got a call to please go and collect a donkey that had been stabbed in two places. Stan and Tom collected. Luckily the wounds were not too deep and in muscle. So a few days washed with Epsom salts and treated with relevant meds and good as new in no time! Not returned yet, enjoying a bit of spoiling..
Then the story of the abandoned horses, which were left at Livery without payment for way too long.. They were legally handed over to us which was also reported to closest Police station. Owner has seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth.. We fetched in two trips as one stallion and one mare. Soon will be available for adoption..
Two early morning complaints: First two donkeys out on Welcome Avenue, owners contacted and donkeys back home safe and sound.
Followed by another two ponies out, again owners notified and ponies back home safe ..
A Recheck on a possible legal case was pleasantly surprising. Good improvement in horses let’s hope it stays that way..
A worried owner called to say all four of his donkeys had gone! Missing! Only to hear an hour later that they were about 8 km down the road on a big grassy farm, Clever donkeys.. So all the staff went to go fetch and take back home. We found where they had gotten out and was dually attended too..
Our Humble Addict after being returned for the second time was adopted out again by a very capable young lady. Tom the donkey got to go with as a companion and all very happy. Third time lucky boy ;)
Five more horses hooves done.
Dewormed one pony and two donkeys out on foster.
Our 2020 Audit completed!
Our Little, Mangy Buks, the one who was terribly neglected.. got adopted out and is flourishing in his new loving home! So happy for you little one.
Complaints received of donkeys having no water - sorted by Stan and owner.
Assistance was requested with regard to a stallion that had been left on building/contracting business site. The lady was concerned for the well-being of the horse as it was alone and clearly not the right place to keep a horse. After chatting with the owner, it was established that the horse had not been halter trained let alone backed so he was struggling to get it done in order to move the horse, as we all know it is no easy task and cannot be done in a rush. I am however glad to report that he organized with the right people and the horse has a halter on and being worked with daily in order to get him to new livery. So almost out of the woods with that one..
Then what originally started out as a prop check for a donkey companion, ended up in a surrender rather as the property was definitely y not suitable for donkeys. Owners agreed after a little persuasion that he would be better off in a new home with proper grazing and care. Admitted to unit and they agreed to pay half of his gelding so he would be easier to home. Difficult to catch and load as never haltered before but our little team worked as smoothly as a machine. Love it when things go that way. I did however lose a jacket in the process lol.
Yet another reminder to make sure any loaning, leasing, selling or dealings of your animals should ALWAYS have a black and white contract in place, signed by both parties and witnesses. This is the best way to keep things from getting nasty....
A complaint of three stray donkeys stuck between fencing out on the N2 near Coega. Just so people are aware this area has a herd of VERY wild donkeys that have been living there in the veld for years. We have tried on more than one occasion to catch these animals but they are super clever and super quick so we have decided to leave them in peace as they are in very good condition. However They do drift onto the highway every now and then, so we are asking drivers to always be vigilant on that stretch between Coega and Sundays’River. This time they had lost their way back through the fencing so we just needed to point them in the right direction. In no time they were safe behind the fences again..
A lady was desperate to find livery for her five very sweet little Miniatures, we assisted on our page and livery found. Thank you everyone who called and offered.
Stanley is invited every year to the Berlin Race near East London. This year was no different. He went and assisted where he could. State vets and SPCA were also present. He noted that the worst issues he saw this year were saddle sores. Good to know all your effort and hard work has paid off Stan. Well done!
So we arrived to work one peaceful Saturday morning, only to find mob of stallions that had broken out of their area causing havoc at our mare and gelding camp. This is SOOO frustrating, I don’t know how many of you have tried to remove a stallion donkey from potential mate, but it is F@#%ing difficult!! My blood pressure shoots through the roof. Trying to rape my girls.. jeese man.. If anyone has a contact for good fencing companies PLEASE forward the numbers as we need to get proper strong fencing to keep these randy bastards contained!!
Our Ison was going to be returned due to life’s unexpected curveballs but luckily found a great home in the process and is going straight to her new grassy home in December.
Lastly, another urgent situation whereby three of our adopted donkeys had to be removed from the premises asap. Thanks to some quick thinking and kind offers of an individual we managed to move all to a safe secure property until the owner can make another plan where he is. Happy little family of three so glad they did not have to come back to the unit..
Well that’s it for now a Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all! Be safe and take care of your loved ones. Especially the four-legged kind ;)
Till next year
Carla
GENEROUS DONATIONS RECEIVED DURING SEPTEMBER FOR WHICH WE ARE MOST THANKFUL!
Donation Gate – Colleen Muller
Donation – Bridles and tack SPCA Uitenhage
Donation – Hildergardt Soap, Wetwipes, Tissues , T.Paper
Bay Feed n Seed big DONATION - bags of teff and leavings
DONATION – Allison Harris Gave bags off teff
DONATION – Two bales lucerne from Lorraine Primary school
DONATION – Tanya Barnyard - Big bags of Teff and a lot of them!!
Neville – R50 donation for manure
Donation – Roll of hexagon wire and shadecloth
Please note we also have donators who put money into our account every month, even though we don’t mention your names and amounts, please know how grateful we are to you for it!
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers Brett and Eugene
Banking Details: Eastern Cape Horse Care Unit: Standard Bank Current Account 080733875, Code 051001. Reference: Your name. Facebook: EAST CAPE HORSE CARE UNIT Contact numbers Office cellphone 072 357 2505 NO LANDLINE email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.