All right so the longest month of the year is finally over! Our year started off with a beautiful baby boy from our Model Mom who finally gave birth. Welcome sweet boy. When foals are born at the unit we give them 2 mls Penicillin and spray their umbilical region with wound spray to prevent any infection from setting in. They are also moved to a safe camp, away from horse’s hooves and potential dog attacks. This time alone also allows them to strengthen their bond in peace.
We then had disturbing news that a donkey in Theescombe had tested positive for Rabies. In all my years I have never heard of a case in our area, let alone South Africa but this is here to stay and will become a standard practice to vaccinate all your animals (Mammals) on an annual basis from now on.
We had to do the right thing and euthanase a surrendered tb with severe complications in his fetlock. Rest in Peace beautiful boy.
A complaint received of a potential rodeo in our vicinity. Phoned the relevant parties to clear up and advise that we definitely DO NOT support this and advise strongly against it! Please if anyone has any information re Rodeos in our area, to please to report it to us.
Sometimes owners who have sent us their animals for medical treatment want their animals back before they are ready and properly rested. Thanks Stan for putting it straight to them that they don’t go back until we feel they are ready...
Stan tendered to Hooves of 7 donkeys.
Three more rabies vaccines administered on request of the owners.
Jackson brought his donks in after working on a hot day. Better that way..
Then Little Al, who came in after being alone for years, and gelded immediately found his forever home! Delivered to his friend Tom who had recently lost his companion. Happy gelded Chappies. Go well boys enjoy the spoils!
Both of our stabbed Patients that came in separately, were delivered back to their grateful owners after complete recovery and a good rest.
So it we have no more AHS available and have heard some worrying things about Onderstepoort re the future. But let’s hope and pray enough vaccines will be available this year.
A family of donkeys that we moved to place of safety while owners were relocating were collected and vaccinated against rabies before moving to their newly prepped premises. Family waiting with open arms. All round happiness!
Toledo Nights AKA Dora, who had been recently abandoned, has embarked on a new adventure. A lovely lady, (Eva) has offered once again to take her on as a project. She will teach her the basics and allow for a better chance of being adopted. We delivered her to her new home for 6 months so let’s see where this goes, the last horse/project that was taken on by Eva and Co, landed with her bum in the butter! So we are hoping this goes just as well. This type of initiative really helps the horse and us, so if anyone else can assist in this manner please feel free to pop in and visit us.
Another 3 Donkeys hooves done. Dewormer and Rabies vacs done too.
Complaint received about horses having no water in Storms River, obviously this is a bit far for us to go and check, but a phone call to the owner cleared things up..PLEASE with the hot weather at the moment, always ensure more than enough water is available to all your animals.
Fencing quotes in three different stages as obviously financial restraints. Waiting to hear back...
We then received two complaints re sarcoids. One complaint about a pony having one on her neck on the neighbor’s property and flies bugging if. Then another more serious sarcoid wich was much worse..This complaint being more complicated and will be closely monitored until a decision is reached soon. Ok so Sarcoids are a difficult one.. Firstly there are many different types of sarcoids it also depends on the position and size of the sarcoid. Whether it is irritating the animals or not. If the sarcoid is not interfering with anything then best left alone. But if it is growing out of control, they can be removed by a vet and treated accordingly. We have had sarcoids removed off legs by vets and then bandaged with Miracle foam every day for almost six weeks and this worked for us! There are also lots of home remedies which many swear do work. Tumeric, toothpast, Vaseline and coppersulphate .. and the list goes on.. All I can say is try whatever you can before getting the vet out so that you know that is your last option.
The family member of the owner of our little gray stray from Fairview wanted to buy her back over two months later. Sorry but too late and NO we DO NOT sell horses.. If your animal is stray and loose on the roads you have seven days for it to be claimed and if not the animal legally becomes the property of the pound/organisation that has collected it. Finished and Klaar!
Property check done for mom and baby donk, all good.
Seven more donkey hooves done and two horses.
Then Mommy Donk developed a bit of mastitis whereby an infection occurs in the udder and it becomes too painful to let baby drink. We managed to milk that teet to try clear the infected cells and then administered penicillin on vet s instruction to rid systemically.
Moses’s two donks booked themselves for a bit of R n R.
Dewormed and administered two rabies vaccines to two more donkeys.
Alfred and Tom finally managed to fix lunging ring after poles were stolen with tyre ribbing kindly donated to us from Tammy. Hopefully they won’t steal this lot! The lunging ring is now open for use!
Wilbur and Junior had their pic in the paper ,officially handing over the money raised from the Wilbur Walk at GRASSROOF on 16 Dec 2021. Please remember this will be an annual event and hope to see you all there this year on 16 December!
An Enquiry of when to geld donkey foal colts. Our vets like to geld youngsters at about 1 year or older. Most important is to check that both testicles have dropped before a gelding can be done. So if u can’t be sure yourself ask us or someone to assist..
We then had some more unrest at Arlington Tip. Roads were closed but all ok just too much rubbish in our camps because of their dumping and the PE wind being at her best... Please always be vigilant when coming to the unit. Victoria Drive can be a dangerous place but as long as you are consciously aware of your surroundings you can avoid any possible unwanted confrontations.
After doing a recheck on one of our ponies and donkeys that had been adopted out, we discovered the adopter had just picked up and left in the middle of the night! The landlord was going to get hold of me. Both are doing well however and new contracts will be signed to landlord, who says they are great and welcome to stay. Reminding me to always listen to that little voice in your head that suggest that you check on this or that...
Then to all our adopters: Please remember to notify us when you are moving the horses or donkeys you have adopted/fostered from us. We will need to check property is still suitable and we panic if we don’t know where they are! TIA.
A complaint received about trail rides allowing overweight riders to ride the horses on two hour long rides. PLEASE NOTE: The general weight limit for Trail Rides is 75kg depending on the horse. We have more guidelines available and will share on Facebook at a later stage so everyone knows what to look out for.
Camps needed to be fixed yet again after entire stallion boys raised havoc again!
We then received another complaint about over weight riders on underweight ponies. This time the ponies were for sale. It is important for people to realize that when someone complains that an individual is too heavy for a particular horse it is NOT an insult to the person but a concern for the horse rather. It should NOT be taken lightly and is totally valid. Young horses, thin horses and certain breeds are not capable of carrying heavy weight as their counterparts and it is imperative that this is understood. Severe chronic conditions can be caused by this ignorance. So please keep this mind if you are deciding to take up riding as a new hobby. The owner in this case was contacted and warned that this is not acceptable and excepted our explanation.
Then a dreaded discovery. Our new baby boy, not even a month old showing signs of tetanus. Stiffening of the ears and mouth. Once you have seen these symptoms in person it never leaves you. The sooner you can identify the symptoms and start treatment, the better chance the animal has of making it through. Although the likelihood of them making it is still less than not making it. We immediately started treatment of penicillin instructed by our state Vet who had managed to pull through a foal before. It has been two weeks with treatment and this little boy is fighting. Some days are better than others but still managing to eat and drink, which is imperative. He is not out of the woods yet, but hope and pray he will make it. Straight away we ordered tetanus vaccines for those at the unit that had not been vaccinated. Prevention is way better than cure, especially in this case.. Unfortunately the bacterium lives in the soil and can stay dormant for up to 40 years. Please vaccinate all your equine annually to prevent this dreaded disease.
Our strong little boy managing to drink. Please hold him in your prayers.
Then our little Enoch AKA Jamal was adopted and delivered to his new home after 3 long months of waiting after his gelding. Lucky boy!
Two more donkeys vaccinated against tetanus at owners request.
We received another complaint of donkeys in the township not having water, which Stan attended to.
A complaint of a thin pony, after investigation discovered it was a 27 year old who had been euthanased a few days earlier.
We returned two previously rambunctious boys to their owners, after being gelded three months ago. What a difference, so well behaved! Walked on the box without a care in the world. Can’t actually believe how much calmer and chilled they are. I think all boys should be castrated, Its a fantastic idea and will solve a lot of the world’s problems.. Sorry guys but Im sure those of you that read to the end of these newsletters would only agree.. ;)
As it goes, after delivering two boys back home we then had to collect another two very well behaved boys and bring them in to the unit due to unforeseen circumstances. Lovely, friendly boys who we will try to home them together as they have been together for so long.
We will end on that note. Please Remember to keep your animals and yourselves properly hydrated on these scorchers of days.
Take care till next month.
Carla
GENEROUS DONATIONS RECEIVED DURING JANUARY FOR WHICH WE ARE MOST THANKFUL!
DONATION - Stacy – Bag of cubes and bags of teff.
DONATION -Deb Botes – R200 for her Bday
Donation – Thrush paint Christine Lee
DONATION – Anon – Rope Halter, farrier Apron and two saddle racks
DONATION – Tammy rubber webbing for fencing at top for Lunging ring
Donation Anon – Rabbit food and shavings
DONATION - Angie Carrots
DONATION – Ralston 100 bags carrots
DONATION – Teff bales x5 – Thank you Lucy
DONATION – Tanya Barnyard horse box and Bakki load of teff and grassmix, nice donation!
DONATION – Dawn SISSAN paid R2000 off vet Bill at 9th Ave, What a welcome Surprise!!
DONATION – Anon - 4 bales of Lucerne g/mix and Fly sheet for Auction. Collected from Feed n Seed.
DONATION – Anon 2 bales Fodder
DONATION – Dawn, Sports equipment and hifi surrounds.
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 – Angie and Jess
VOLUNTEERS - Brett and Eugene
VOLUNTEER – Philippa and help sort out for Lotto.
VOLUNTEERS – Jozlyn and Michaela
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.