after watching at the pictures I laughed so hard… :lol:
Anna whats is she looking at cause she dropped her jaw and looks like wooow!
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-08-08/PICT5574.jpg
did she see Puika and Shella first time or does she realise that shes come in to horse heaven 
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-08-08/PICT5691.jpg
A bit more… just added more pictures to the link. We took her out for a walk around to introduce her to the new surroundings. Due to the wither rub we can not leave her outside (flies) so after the walk she needed to go back. She is good at that - in and out of the box in new place.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-08-08/PICT5717.jpg
As far as we can judge, she is a sweetheart, but no manners like Shella - not bad manners, not at all, just lack of manners. So a lot of ground work must be done but that’s ok - at least she is sweet and cuddly, and really likes humans.
But she lets you touch her ears, mouth, all legs, tits, just everything (except withers, but we can understand that).
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-08-08/PICT5704.jpg
Walked her on the road and along the road - not spooky at all, just watches cars with interest and that’s all.
Showed her Puika and Shella but from distance only so far. Puika seems extatic, and she responded to his neingh nicely so seems that there will be no problems. Shella just looked at her and went back gazing, so again - not much problems so far.
Uff… Back to stable again 
Anna,
I just read this thread and I am amazed! You have done so well to be so new to horses! I really look forward to following your story!:yes:
She has a lovely eye! and I can’t get over how big she is- W
OW!!
Anna & Peter, you guys are doing fabulous work.
I’m so happy for Giva, she has found you guys. I have no doubts she’ll heal under your care and be a much happier horse.
It does indeed look like a very nasty saddle rub. How sad that they continued riding her.
Let us know how the nose-to-nose introductions with Puika & Shella go.
Puika probably thinks he’s in heaven, from being all by himself to being given two lovely mares.
I love reading your updates. You guys are the best!!!
What a beauty! She will be stunning soon under your care! You are getting some very nice horses, which in my area, would be very expensive! Here, warmbloods are still rather exotic and I can’t imagine that one would be let get in the condition of Giva, poor girl.
Here we have an ointment called “Swat” which is used to both aid healing of wound and also repel flies. I don’t know if it would be available over there. Very nasty rub and unbelievable that she was ridden with that kind of wound. Can’t wait to see her transformation!
Puika looks fantastic!
Our vet was here last night, we washed it all out with special liquid (do not ask me the name of that) then the oitment on and out for the night in pastures.
She is such a good girl! You can see that she is in pain when hand moves closer to the wound, but she tried to stand still and yes, her back leg went up few times, but no kicking, she was just shaking that leg. And at the same time she was licking our hands and rubbed her head against us, so…
Imagine - she is in new place, with new surroundings, new horses around, new humans - so much stress and she still tries to be such a good girl!
We did not get her for free - she was going for about slaughter price here - $400, and with all the trailer costs it was 800$ together. To put her back in shape will be not cheap as well, but one her kiss is worth all that, and we do hope that with love and care and a bit of training next spring she will be great horse.
Our vet knows both her parents and she says that she has father’s body and gaits, and mother’s head, and she might be a good jumper.
Here we are sweet
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/12-08-08/PICT5780.jpg
And here with fly protection
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/12-08-08/PICT5774.jpg
Her mother is known as producer of good quality foals, so let’s see how it will go - maybe she will enjoy a bit of hobby jumping next year. Peter is keen to try if she will like it. (It is still a loong way - at present her wound must heal and then when she will be settled and not in pain, we must make x-rays of the injured back leg - seller told us that she had injured just skin 3 y ago, and was jumping after that without any problems, but you never know - usually when selling horse for slaughter price there are no reasons to tell lies, but I would not be surprised that there are place for some in this case… 
)
Vet will be here tomorrow again to see how it goes and put a piece of peace in our heads… Peter yesterday was spinning around like mad (it is bad enough with Shella being pregnant now, he acts like very nervous father-to -be already), and seeing somebody mistreating horse like that just made him crazy.
After all the yesterday’s treatment the wound looks better today already, so keep fingers crossed for speedy recovery - 3 mo or so it is what our vet’s forecast is.
Farrier will be here later today (he is from stable where her stallion comes from) because I have suspicions that there is some rot in hoofs (and as I’m just beginner it is better to call in somebody who can do it and do it right).
Washed wound again this morning, Peter was talking with her, I washed, and she seems understanding that we are trying to help. Medicatuions she takes without a fuss, even if they have really bitter taste, and tries to stand still - I’m still a bit worried around Puika, and this girl is bigger, is in pain, but I have no fear around her - she is such a sweetie (like Shella is) and it is all that I want from my horses - to be sweet and cuddly; and healthy and happy, of course.
All 3 had not been introduced face to face, but last night we put them out in pastures in triangle just 15 metres apart, so they can see, they can talk, and get used to each others. Shella is acting quite calm and not excited in any way (positive or negative, like, yeah, another one, why not) but Puika already is extatic that he has new girlfriend and is neighing after her just like after Shella when you seperate them. So seems that all will be ok. Pack dynamic is not established, but Shella is not a dominant one, and I was told that Giva also is not dominant. I must read a lot about pack dynamic and how to keep it under control, but so far no agression was shown in any way. I’m sure, she will be OK. Not so soon, but she will be.
Anna…I’m back! And I am so so thrilled for this mare that she has come to Horse Heaven with you and your crew! It is unbelieveable that her previous owners would let that wound got so bad - or attempt to ride her like that.:mad: Now she has a chance to heal and make pretty babies for you and Peter! Congratulations!
Good news from tonight. When I went last time to do her wound before she goes out for the night gazing, it was nearly dry. So weeping has reduced really to none. So happy - vet worried that this attempt may fail due to the fact that wound had none treatment for over a week and we shall need to take more serious steps, especially because she is all bones, but it works! I’m sooo positive! Will try to take pictures tomorrow morning and you will be able to compare, but I really have hope that I’m not just looking too much into it and fooling myself.
And this is just me, enjoying a bit of evening between jobs… A bit of riding (ish)
http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/12-08-08/?action=view¤t=PICT5790.jpg
It is the wound on Sunday
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-08-08/PICT5564.jpg
And here it is today
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/13-08-08/PICT5820.jpg
It is reduced already, isn’t it? There will be hair loss, and loong recovery, but medications work and she is on the mend
Vet was here tonight again and you would like to see that broad smile! Giva is on antibiotics, powder that I just need to mix with her pellets, and she just loves the mix.
I would say that even 3 days here have had made some changes
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/13-08-08/PICT5824.jpg
Puika and Shell are doing great, and they all 3 are talking a lot.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/13-08-08/PICT5812.jpg
Retired Horse Lady
Hi Anna and Peter…
This is my first post but I have been following yours from the beginning. I have so enjoyed being part of your every day routine with your all your wonderful animals and getting to know your family.
But in our part of the world we are getting distressing news reports of unrest and maybe even war close to your area. Because I feel like I really know you, I am concerned. When I see pictures of your wonderful farm and the green fields and pastures, your animals, and the peaceful atmosphere, it’s hard to imagine anything that would disturb it.
Please keep posting and telling us your day to day events…your photos are great too.
Marty
Oh Anna, Congratulations Giva’s coming along beautifully!!!
Love the photo of you and Shella -you look great, too!!
So far all goes better than we should expect. Giva’s wound is healing very well - it will take a long recovery until she will be ridable again, but she will be sound again. She is off antibiotics (just had her last dosage), off painkillers, her wound must be washed 2X day and steroid oitment on top. The wound looks sooo much better and is only ithchy now - no more pain.
Our vet was so shocked about nasty saddle rub so she investigated the whole story of this mare and the storry is terrible, at least for us.
We saw her on Tuesday, with open inflamed wound. Owner told us that bump opened on Monday, but on Sunday she was JUMPING at the local show! Can you imagine how stupid that rider must be to take horse in such condition to the show and make her jump?
I’m shivering just trying to imagine how terrible pain she had! No wonders that she also messed up her legs being forced to jump! My vet is furious.
And the worse part - the jumper was not a young girl without any horse savvy but experienced hobby rider, mother of 3!
Giva is so forgiving! I’m not. And our vet already had filled the report about the owner. Because she found out that no vet care was provided (we were told that vet had seen mare and started treatment, but it were lies - owner just wanted to get rid of her ASAP as she was worried that vet expenses for recovery will be too much)
The only thing that I like about this terrible story is that now we know for sure that Giva is properly trained riding horse, not only broadmare with some training. It is a relief as we shall know where to start from when she will recover.
She likes to be here with us. We also gradually started to introduce horses to each other, and both girls had bonded already.
Giva needs some excercises so Peter is walking her with Shella - Peter rides Shella and keeps Giva on lead. And they walk around our horse field, mostly in rain (in sunny days we keep Giva inside where are less nasty flies, but on rain we take off the covers so rain can gently wash her in natural way).
At the beginning Giva was a bit worried that we shall put saddle on her too, but since she realised that we are not planning to hurt her, she is such a sweetie! Now we can go to pastures, call her, she comes to us for a cuddle, then we just lift my silly selfmade fly cover, put medications on and she is not even moving an inch - she really understands that we try to help.
When Peter takes away Shella for a ride, Giva neighs for her so now we take them both. If they like to be together and it helps Giva to adjust here - great, Shella is loving and polite with her.
Our vet is coming to see Giva every second day, and is really happy about how she is recovering. Of course, she needs much more meat on the bones, muscle development and all that, but it will take more that few days.
Few nights Peter had slept with Giva in her box in hay, thus trying quicker to establish our relationship, and seems that it had worked as well.
Al what she needs on top of medical care is a lot of love and attention, and she enjoys it all We are so happy about our new adition. Puika already thinks that he is in horse heaved since second girl arrived, and Shella is happy as well. So we are quite happy family here
All three together
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/18-08-08/PICT6010.jpg
Walking together
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/16-08-08/PICT5940.jpg
These I took when it was heavy raining, with thunders and lightenings, so quality is poor, but you can see some
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/16-08-08/PICT5946.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/16-08-08/PICT5957.jpg
Here with my niece and her little pony
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/16-08-08/PICT5933.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/16-08-08/PICT5916.jpg
And here a bit of Shella - I can see that her belly has changed - she already looks pregnant, does she?
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/16-08-08/PICT5908.jpg
Yay, another sweet Annacrew post! AFter a very difficult day at work I love being able to read your detailed reports and be transported to your peaceful world of happy, healing horses. You have done wonders for all three of the horses, Giva will blossom into a beautiful horse, you will see, and I have a suspicion that when she is fully healed Peter will be setting up a jump or two. Your homemade fly sheet is so innovative and perfect to keep her comfortable. They are all such lucky horses!
Giva is gorgeous! I love reading your updates. They are absolute fun - one never knows what you will do next! Somehow I’m not surprised that Peter slept in the barn.
I must say I adore Shella, both her looks (I’m a sucker for a bay mare - we have had three!) and her personality. I think having been a school horse makes her a great companion for new horses, as nothing seems to bother her (except her little problem with boredom from living in the country - hopefully motherhood will change that!).
And Puika - to me- even though I think I read that he is 16- he still has the aspect of a teenage boy! He just looks so young and awkward. It is very endearing.
Thank you! See, the problem with us is that we too never know what will be the next 
As we do not have any purpose of having horses (maybe only saving on lawn mowing), we threat them as our family members and listen them and then do what we think they want us to do. But so far it had worked.
It was like we decided that we shall not add the third horse this year but you can imagine that rejecting Giva and leaving her without any medical care in the pastures where she was… She needed help ASAP so we changed our minds and plans instantly. And we do not regret it.
I admit that we are crazy… But that’s ok, I do not mind being crazy (never wanted to be just normal)
I’m so glad this thread is here! I’ve been reading it every night all week. I missed it at the beginning because I was planning my wedding. Loooovve reading about your family, Anna.
Too much rain here for exciting news, but in general - our new darling’s back is healing very well, at least it looks like that for me. And she has gained some weight and muscles already and looks better now (I’m sure about it)
This weekend we are planning to let all 3 go into the electric fence - it is a bit too early, as Giva’s back is not 100%, but she does not seem grumpy about the wound, so we shall try - weather is the reason. Too much rain, no chain pegs can stay in soft clay, so peter had not had proper sleep for past 2 nights - especially Giva is getting chain peg out without even trying.
Here she is today
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/28-08-08/giva219.jpg
(and do not get idea that Peter is a short man, he is nearly 6 ft)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/28-08-08/giva209.jpg
Her wound looks like that now - all dry, no wheeping, slowly reducing in size, and the fur that was lost around, has already grown back.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/28-08-08/giva227.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/28-08-08/giva206.jpg
Topline - you can see how much the bump has reduced
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/28-08-08/giva200.jpg
We are trying to keep her happy
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/26-08-08/PICT6099.jpg
and on best quality grass in our pastures
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/26-08-08/PICT6086.jpg
so she can store all needed natural vitamins before winter starts.
Oh Anna - Giva is healing beautifully!!!
I WARNED YOU!!! that Pig barn is way to big for just 2 horses! :lol:
How are the plans on that coming along?
Nice horse, if the man is 6f…is she that HUGE?!
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