I let Bodhi out of his pasture to mow our lawns and entertain himself every other day…
Bodhi has a very nice pasture, but I think he needs the time to exercise his mind and change his view. And, he uses it well. He eats, he visits and if I leave him out too long, he will get into trouble.
I know this.
Usually, he flips over all the Rubbermaid trash bins. Or, he’ll topple the wood pile. Nothing serious – just messy stuff and work for me.
So, he gets 4-5 hours, tops.
Well, last night, I was really tired and feeling like I was getting the flu – and I forgot about him. He was out from 4pm until this morning when I fed.
Although I was surprised to see him out this morning… I wasn’t worried. Aladdin had 24/7 free roam for years.
I thought nothing of it.
I haltered him and we walked back to his pasture.
As I unhooked his halter, so he could munch his breakfast in peace, I walked around his far side to close the gate.
That’s when I saw it.
OMG.
It wasn’t a puncture and none of his organs were showing, but it was a mean slice…
I ran inside, called the vet and counted my blessings. I knew it was going to be a big bill, but at least it was survivable for the both of us.
Ugh. It looked to me like a wire fence cut – but the only wire we have is right here, between Bodhi and the ponies. And it was fine. No poking wires, no hair, no blood. Since he was out of his pasture all night, it had to be something else.
I have no idea how he did this. I cannot find the offending thing.
VET
My regular vet sent out the new vet in his practice.
I was a bit peeved since the old vet is really, really good at suturing up wounds – he did a great job with Wrigley both times.
But, OK…
And she did fine.
The wound had some scabbing so she thought he had done in early in the evening last night. The wound was a clean cut. Nothing else was in there. Note the secondary cut on top. That makes me think it was a wire fence – but we have very little wire here and I couldn’t find any broken pieces.
Her headlamp was very bright.
She put in a drain so that the wound wouldn’t swell and break his internal or external stitches.
Sewing the middle layer.
Prepped to put in the final row of outer stitches.
Done!
A lucky, sleepy boy. Tess will have a roomie tonight.
OFFENDING THING?
Although Bodhi was out last night, the only wire is in his pasture. Hubby and I have scoured Bodhi’s fenceline and we have no idea where he did this.
There was no foreign anything in the wound. So, I’m thinking it was a clean, sharp thing.
But, nothing around here has hair or any signs of a blood tussle.
It makes me a little crazy…
But, as they say, no matter how careful you may be, it can still happen.
I remembered this photo from a Phoblog – it seemed perfect for how I feel right now.
CAVEAT
Previously, I wrote about Wrigley and his open wound mishaps (2 puncture wounds- several months apart) that happened in his large pasture.
When I wrote about Wrigley, I had hoped readers might learn something from what I went through and maybe relate.
And, most of you did…
However, I did get several emails telling me that my place wasn’t safe and that I am a lousy horsekeeper.
All I can say is that I have 12 horses here, and other than Tess, most of my horses have never had any meet-n-greets with the vet other than routine work or dentals. In fact, my local vets hardly know anything about me because so much time passes between visits.
Anyone is welcomed to my place at anytime – within reason… ;).
I do my best to take excellent care of them all. However, sometimes, stuff happens…
…even when you do your best.
Let’s help her.
