Our beautiful Dewdrop started our month off with a positive note. She was adopted to a lovely new home with caring parents who are perceptive to her sensitive nature. Go well sweetheart we are so glad you got the home you deserve.
Three horse’s hooves tendered to, as well as one very lame donkey.
Our donkey cart owner, Jackson, begged us for help with his young cow, who had a very bad infection on her hind leg. Thankfully it was all sorted after he diligently brought her in until her treatment was complete. Well done Jackson! One for asking for help and then following through until the end.
Three more donkeys vaccinated against rabies.
We received another complaint from Humansdorp, re stray horses near the tip. These community horses are generally quite wild and we cannot always assist or collect them unless they are properly contained or injured. Thank you Freek for assisting to locate owners.
Two more entire donkeys returned to the unit. We need to get some boy donkeys out! Dewormed and admitted to the ‘boyzside’. Good luck boys ;)
A complaint of neighbour’s ponies grazing on their property. It is difficult for us to solve this problem. 1. The ponies are in acceptable welfare condition 2. They have owners (Everyone knows who the owners are..) 3. We do not have space at the unit to collect 12 /13 ponies at the moment as we are quite full. So we advised the complainant to 1. Build a proper boundary wall or fencing to keep them out of their property or 2. Go to the police station to open a case of destruction of property if that is indeed what is happening.
Six Donkeys and one pony dewormed.
Little Don, who was born to M J seven months prior, was ready for gelding . Collected, admitted and gelded. Tiny ‘Kitten Balls’ apparently ;) Poor child.. Very happy to be back with his mom and aunties . All the best Don, glad you have a home to go back to.
Our little Hank and Magic were delivered to their new home up the coast. Wat a wonderful menagerie of a home, with lots of different friends and lots of grazing! Lovely people willing to share their space with those that need it! Thank you Marnell! Happy Days..
On our way back from Tsitsikama we collected our gorgeous Pumpkin(AKA Zani) as unfortunately she had to be returned after a change in circumstances. A quirky mare, who took a little time to remember us but as soon as she did, she loaded happily ready to come home. Welcome back darling we have missed you X Pumpkin is a good doer Xbreed who prefers not to be ridden because of an old knee injury.
Another returned boy, Silver, who was misbehaving, so returned as not safe for moderate riding anymore. Poor boy did not look good either. After Alicia and Christiaan from Equine-Librium (Physiotherapists) kindly came to do a free treatment on him, it was discovered he had arthritis in his front pasterns. Amongst other minor issues which made it clear the cause of his ‘bad behaviour’.
Please remember to check your horses medically, ie Chiro, Physio , Vet , Dentist if they are ‘Misbehaving’ There is always a reason, you just have to find it.. We are hoping to send Silver to a happy retirement home as soon as his teeth are done.
Ok, then the report of a ‘young, very lame donkey’ on the side of the road between Uitenhage and dispatch. As soon as the team admitted Silver back to the Unit, they rushed off to the next mission. And when I say Mission, I mean Mission. The poor team, arrived to find a HUGE adult donkey that was wild as the hills. Yes they got him in the end, but not so young no and actually bigger than any of our donkeys at the unit and yes slightly lame because he has one box hoof in the fore. The team, (Stanley, Carli and Xolani) decided to get the donkey no matter, they were there now. It entailed a long, risky chase in a very dangerous area to be honest. A few very dodgy scenarios they encountered, so I was very happy to have them all back safe and sound, Including the donkey of course ;) Well done Team! The staff ‘s safety has to come first and although we were all very impressed with the team for catching this ‘Mr Muscle’ of a stallion, please understand if we do ever make the decision to put our safety first.
Stanley was contacted by one of the traditional racers, near Butterworth, to please come and collect his TB, Global Ash. His fetlocks have taken strain over the years and can no longer race. We are very appreciative that he surrendered him to us instead of letting him go to some uneducated person. He has settled in at the unit now, a big boy 17hh, who would be perfect as a light hack for an older quieter rider. If you are interested please contact us.
The beautiful Grey, Chilli, has gone off to a foster mom for backing and Schooling and is doing superbly! Soon to be available for adoption, very exciting, lots of potential. Watch this space.
A complaint of a donkey on the side off the road between Hankey and Patensie. Very dangerous stretch of road that but thankfully when our complainant went to try and catch the donkey it ran off into the veld , safe from any oncoming traffic. Thank you Thomas!
The two ‘Oupas’ at the unit, ex Working donkeys, had their hooves trimmed and are ready for a retirement home. Unfortunately they have not been gelded so if they could go to an all-boys home that would be perfect.
Then the case of the four ‘Abandoned’ Horses. Please guys, if you do not own your own property or do not have the financial means to pay monthly livery at a proper yard, preferably with a black and white contract in place, then rather don’t have horses. It is unfair to them and to the people you end up relying on to care for ‘your’ animals. It is your duty to be responsible for them. Bobby, Hannah, Pandora and Phantom were collected from the farm owners after liaising with us for weeks. Dewormed and vaccinated, a lovely little herd who have not deserved their lack of care and consistency by so called ‘owners’. If no necessary action by the owners are taken, the horses will be available for adoption soon. As we cannot afford to be a free livery either.
Thirteen donkeys and two more horse’s hooves trimmed.
A complaint received about a recent advert advertising the painting of ponies for a fee. Please understand, even though painting your pony for a fancy dress every now and then with organic NON-TOXIC colouring growing up is acceptable. If you advertise as a service/income, you are essentially exploiting the animal and letting others know it is ok to do so. Please also remember that any form of animal entertainment/service is only permitted if you have a PAPA(Performing Animals Protections Act of 24 of 1935) permit. You can apply for this permit on line from DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Forrestry and Fisheries.) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A call from Cathcart from an elderly gentleman who is finding it too difficult to carry on caring for his 6 donkeys so is trying to rehome them. With all these animals needing rehoming it becomes difficult to NOT Put To Sleep to be honest L We have advised that if he can get them to us we will gladly accept . Anyone with trucks/trailers coming down to PE from thay way ?
Another older TB coming to the end of his adopted home .. Assessment will be made on which way to go forward.
Exciting fundraising opportunities ahead in cahoots with another NPO.
Another four Rabies vaccinations on four Xbreeds.
Nine donkeys hooves’ trimmed and four Deworming .
A pony and a donkey, both with ‘bad abscesss being treated by Stan.
A complaint received from Craddock. However waiting for relevant information ie. Location, owner photos.. A long way to go without correct facts..
That’s it for April , till next time.
Carla
GENEROUS DONATIONS RECEIVED DURING April FOR WHICH WE ARE MOST THANKFUL!
DONATION – Kelly 40 bales eragrostis grass – Stan and grooms collected
DONATION - 3 blankets , anonymous
DONATION – Michelle M old tack
DONATION – Michelle Pay 10 bales Oat ahay
DONATION – Feed n Seed 2 bags cubes
DONATION – 5 bales Grassmix (Lovely Bales ) ANON
DONATION - Tarryn , Emerald Valley SA – 3 x bags of cubes for Abandoed horses.
DONATION – Anton and Lizz – 1 half bags of cubes and ten bales of Lucerne! Yay! Thank you!
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!
VOLUNTEER – Brett
VOLUNTEER – Nicole
VOLUNTEER – Philippa
VOLUNTEER – Susan
VOLUNTEER – Alex
VOLUNTEERS – Sonja and Kierra
VOLUNTEERS – Alicia Equine - Librium with student Christiaan
VOLUNTEERS – Bella, Evantia and Lara
VOLUNTEER – Jess
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.