Information on the new surgery for roarers. (You may have to register to read it) http://www.thehorse.com/PrintArticle.aspx?ID=10372
Glad to have offered another possibility. 
Yeah Anna! 
Glad to hear you rode for the first time, you looked great doing it!
And, it is very exciting that Puika will be getting a new friend soon. Shella seems such a nice mare. :yes:
Love the updates!!
FHC, thank you for the link, but I’m already registered there and reading like mad - there are about 20 more articles to read for me tonight! It seems to be really good source of information!
More I read, more hope i have, especially because owner said that she never had mucus or pus… And if she would have heaves, it must be there, isn’t it?
Usually heaves presents just as a cough. If you are hearing her breathe when worked, it may be more likely roaring. The worst heavey horse I have known was only fed a low alergic type feed and soaked beet pulp, (absolutely no hay) windows always open, or turnout, and conditioned to build endurance. He then evented Preliminary, (around 1 meter) and completed a 50 mile ride (no meds).
Many of those articles are good for reference, but not gospel, so check other sources.
Puika has (as many farm horses here) a mild case of heaves - the reason all in all is stable conditions during the winter - Country people here believes that horses like cows must be kept very warm during the winter. So he had spent his life in small barn without ventilation, along with one or two cows in such warm stable where my glasses go completely misty each time when I enter.
You can hear a bit of cough at the end of winter, mostly in mornings. Fresh air is all what Puika needs, and I had not heard any caugh until we took over him as he is out all day and we keep all day stable doors open, so at night when he goes in, it is nice air there. He does not need soaked hay or so. It is why we want move him down to the other barn as soon as possible as there is plenty of indoor space and fresh air.
What made me think that it might be different with Shella, is the discharge. At the beginning when we took Puika out just for a walk, he had white foam around his mouth and dripping nose at the end of walk, but not noises when he was breathing.
Shella is breathing very heavy, I can hear noises easy from even a distance, but no discharge at all. She is fighting for breath like somebody would be strangling her, and caugh.
Puika has nothing of it, only had light cough on winter mornings inside, and that dissapeared when he started to go outside again.
Another question
Last night Puika was a bit naughty - opened his box and went to next door box… To visit the cow. They had nice night, cow’s hay box was completely empty and they both were a bit tired but seemed happy (both) :D.
I’m now thinking seriously - would it be safe to put lovebirds (Puika and Shella) at the next door boxes at night? (Shella would go in the box which is occupied by cow at present).
I will definitely sleep at the barn then, to be sure that they are ok, but would it be good idea? There are no metal bars between boxes, only wooden boards, with small gaps between them. So they would be able to sniff each other, but no direct contact. And for additional safety, we should be able to put Puika on chain as we do when farrier comes. So no ways for him to attack mare. Mare probably will say nothing anyway as she is used to other horses in the next door boxes.
Proper matchmaking is such a serious job!
And on top of everything I just bashed my finger badly (small nails, heavy hammer… ) My fault, but it will heal now for a while… And in next few coming days I needed both hands strong. Silly me!
A lot depends on what kind of mare Shella is, if she is alpha (dominant) she will not appreciate Puika getting into her space. He seems like a big friendly dog. It seems he hasn’t been around other horses much and might not understand horse behaviour in a group. If you watch a new horse being introduced to a herd, the herd will reject the new horse for a while and the dominant horse will chase him away if he tries to get too close to the herd. The new horse must stay away until dominant horse decides he is OK. The smart ones keep their distance until the dominant horse accepts him, the not so smart ones keep trying to get close to the herd too soon and end up getting nipped and chased away. Acceptance of the new horse can take hours, days,weeks or even months, depending on the personalities. I have never kept a horse by himself, so I am not sure if this herd behaviour will be the same in your situation. I am fairly sure that Shella will teach Puika some manners if he tries to get too playful with her.
Stalls next to each other have always worked for us when we bring a new horse home. That way, no one feels lonely but with boards between them they cannot really endanger themselves. I cant wait to see photos!
Could the vet prescribe some kind of cough remedy for Shella?
And check again to make sure Puika is NOT a stallion???:winkgrin:
Moonriverfarm, that’s my worries - OK, he has a proper vet certificate on gelding surgery, but nobody can guarantee that he still has not a SPIRIT of STALLION!
As far as about Shella - I had been told that she is not a dominant one, gets well with other horses, and as far as I had seen by myself at their stable, it must be right. But I was also told that i do not need to worry as she will not let anybody to bully her - she is able to pay back for full programm.
She is used to other horses, she is in the barn where are said amount of permanent horses, for riding school, and then there is changing number of horses who rent a space there, so they are changing. The barn girl who takes care of her at present told me that she is really good girl with all of them. So I do not worry much about her, it is Puika about whom I worry.
Puika has not seen other horses for past 5 years, and last one who he had seen, was a very old black stallion who was sneaking to him and was bullying him quite nasty, biting and kicking.
So Puika’s last experience was quite bad, and he might be concerned. But from other side - he LOVES his cows, so maybe he will be nice to a bit different cow.
At least today, with even damaged finger, I finished all 4 window frames with pig wire in for new boxes. So current windows with glass will be replaced with wired frames for summer - fresh air at night, but no cats sneaking in to create havoc. When they will settle down, the wired frames will be taken out and then they will be able to hang their heads out even at night.
As far as about Puika, Peter tried a bit of stick on him tonight. Light wooden stick, not on bum, just gentle pat just on on right shoulder to wake him a bit up. At the beginning he was really annoyed about that, tried to turn around all the time, one moment they were trotting sideways down the road, but about after half a hour Puika understand that it is much more fun to do what is asked - and then they were trotting up and down, without stick anymore, light command by heels, and he was ready to fly at the right way and into the right direction, and without me in front for a company.
He is still trying out limitations, but when he accepts something, then there are no problems anymore on that said subject. He is learning so quickly!
Anna, when is the big day of Shella’s arrival???
Shella will arrive today! I’m overexcited and too worried. Had slept about 3 hours last night, wake up this morning at 5 am (usually it is 2 hours later) and now fighting with tummy ache
I promise a lot of pictures later in the day. Weather is suppsed to be scattered showers, warm and nice, so let’s see how it will be going…
I will need a good prayer from you all today for easy going and no hickups… Her owner last night called and offered to trim her nails before her arrival so she will be all dolled up.
I already picked up my boots (light, if I need run a lot) and dress for the day (with plenty of pockets for treats as it will be hard day for her - I’m planning to introduce her to the property and all people here gradually during the day, so short gazing periods will be mixed with moving around, a lot of talking and a lot of treats).
Maybe I need my hair to be done as well?
About 6 hours to wait now!
If somebody is here now, next six hours any advices will be very welcomed. later… Later I will just pray and hope for the best!
Shella arrived!!!
Short report : so far all OK! Walking around and checking everything!
She took a nica splash in the pond and is having great fun with all the attention and love.
And here is the link to arrival pictures :
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/arrival%203-05-08/
Keep fingers crossed for us!
I have been following your story for a while now, and I just love how much you have done with Puika! He is such a sweet boy, and you seem to know instinctively how to train him. Your story is very inspirational!
I just looked at the pictures of Shella’s arrival - what a lovely girl! She reminds me SO MUCH of my horse, so I bet you will love her to pieces! Please keep us posted on how she settles in, and how she and Puika get along!
What a lovely story - I have tears in my eyes every time there’s an update. Cheers to you and your new horse(s)!
:sadsmile:
I just had a bit of fun with Shella! She responds to bite very well, so I need very very light hands, even lighter than with Puika. She is very very good.
We just did a bit of walking, nothing exciting as she has not been worked since last autumn, and now the excercise level must go up very slowly. But she was not bad at all after our short ride, so tomorrow we maybe increase it a bit. Peter is not at home, so just with my mum around… I’m not brave enough to try something risky just now.
And after studying her pedigree, I can say now that she is half Latvian, and half Hannoverian.
We shall put our supposed to be lovebirds in the next boxes and then we shall see, what will go on.
What i’m doing at present - go to play with Shella, then stright back to Puika so I carry fresh smell of hers to him and then back again… Pockets full of treats!
WELL DONE Anna!
I love your story, it reads like a novel. You are a goldstar to these horses!
I think this is also a ‘meant to be’. They both were destined to come to you.
Sometimes animals come into our lives for a reason and vice versa we come into the live of a specific animal for a reason.
I am convinced your story is another example of the above.
Shella looks lovely and seems to settle quickly & quietly.
I’m hoping with you that Puika & Shella will become big love birds.
You are a great person in following your heart & intuition around these 2 lovely horses!
Best of luck with them both & I very much enjoy your updates!
Wonderful pictures! Shella looks great and wow you’re already riding her!
Love the pond pictures. I have one on my property too and my horses love to go splash in it when it gets hot and I’m always surprised when they actually lay down and roll in the water!
Can’t wait to hear how Shella and Puika’s first meeting goes!
Shella looks like she’s having a blast in the pond! Can’t wait to hear about the lovebirds meeting
Well, Shella is IN and now I need all jingles that the meeting will end up without any big issues.
Puika already spotted fer and now is dancing in his side, she went in a bit frightened, but few more treats, and a nip convinced her that it will be not so bad. So now please, fingers crossed. I’m going to take Puika into his box, with her already in the next.
Lovebirds are happy
Well… Puika is in and happy…
And Shella too…
And I’m happy as a matchmaker!
OK, just few pictures so you can “read” their feelings
For me it seemed that there was nothing except Puika was in ecstasy like a teen who would found his dreambabe in his bedroom!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/first%20night/PICT3085.jpg
He just put his head across the boards and just gazed and sniffed like he can not believe his feelings, like Shella is just a mirage!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/first%20night/PICT3091.jpg
Shella, in turn, said something ōh, another boy, not a big deal and in a bit cheeky manner showed him tongue
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/first%20night/PICT3092.jpg
But seriously - that was like a miracle, and I believe that next morning they will be singing “Strangers in the night” together! There were not only any agression, but also no even showing off - Puika was just in LOVE from the first sight! (And by the way, he is a bit in a stallion mood, some parts of his body was expanded instantly alond with his growing love… Hmmm, hope it is just forst impression and will not lead to anything else…
We did it!!! They met pacefully and happy! So chains are off now, a lot of ray bread for night treat alond with nips, and GOOD night to you all!
Thank you for all your support!
Just knowing that you are there, helped me to do this! Peter is not back from city yet so my mum at her 75 was a great help swapping camera and leads… She loves them both and had promised that if they will hit me too hard, she would have enough strenght to drag me out of box!
