LTSHI_mud_halfA4_15_0 08/01/2015 16:04 Page 1 Blue Cross Rafiki finds his perfect home
Rafiki, a young cob rescued from a miserable life of fly grazing and neglect, has landed on his feet in his new home, thanks to Blue Cross. His new owner Margaret suffers with severe arthritis and following radical surgery earlier this year is now unable to walk and needs a power wheelchair. Rafiki has turned her life around. “He gives me a reason to get up in the morning,” she says. The pretty little strawberry roan cob, who was named after the baboon in the Lion King because of his indomitable spirit, was found fly-grazing in Buckinghamshire with several others. Three ponies had already been found dead at the site and a further two had to be euthanased as a result of a condition caused by excessive burdens of encysted small redworm. Rafiki, at just 18-months-old, had a massive worm burden of 5300 eggs per gram and needed urgent veterinary attention, including specific treatment for encysted small redworm. He was nursed back to health by experienced staff at Blue Cross and within weeks was looking much healthier and was ready to be routinely castrated. Understandably wary of people, he was gently introduced to basic handling until he was happy to be groomed and to have his feet trimmed. He was then put in a short-term Blue Cross foster home for some invaluable one-to-one attention to prepare him for rehoming on the charity’s loan scheme. Rafiki is now living like a king in his new home with Margaret. Unrecognisable as the shabby waif he once was, he is her pride and joy. Margaret is an experienced horse handler who has, amongst other things, worked with semi feral young New Forest ponies. She was determined not to let her wheelchair curtail her lifestyle. “Once I had got used to the wheelchair I was bored, getting fat, and really missed fresh air and equine company,” she said. “I looked at the Blue Cross website and there he was. It was instant. We went to see him and he was perfect. He was not the slightest bit bothered by the wheelchair and quite happily sniffed me all over.” “From day one he has been an absolute joy. He is kind, gentle and so patient. He seems to understand that wheelchairs are not as versatile as legs, and waits until I have sorted my muddles out. All the credit of this goes to Blue Cross. They have done the most amazing job in making him
the way he is now, and I thank them enormously. He has made such a huge difference to my life and given it some purpose. He is doing me much more good than anything I can do for him.” Margaret handles Rafiki every day. In time she plans to introduce him to as much as she can, including a saddle, bridle, rugs and a trailer. With the help of her daughter she hopes to be able to take him for walks round the village and the farm where he will become familiar with traffic and tractors. Vicki Alford, Horse Manager at Blue Cross in Burford, continued: “We couldn’t have asked for a better home for Rafiki. We are currently inundated with lovely young cobs like him and are desperate to find them good homes before winter sets in and our resources become tighter. If you are an experienced horse owner with the knowledge, time and facilities to give a calibre youngster a home, please get in touch.” The tragic death of some of Rafiki’s companions has prompted Blue Cross to remind horse owners to treat their horses for encysted small redworm during the late autumn/early winter. Small redworm are the most common worms found in UK horses and, in their encysted stage, they are potentially fatal. As they don’t show up in faecal worm egg counts and may not cause any obvious symptoms, owners often don’t know their horse has got them. Blue Cross advises horse owners to speak to their vet or SQP for worming guidance. To find out more about how you can give a cob a home or make a donation to Blue Cross please visit
www.bluecross.org.uk. The Blue Cross supported loan scheme offers borrowers financial help with vaccinations and worming costs until the horse is four years old.
Nominations open for Meritoire Award
The annual SEIB Meritoire award is presented to the person who, in the opinion of the Awards Committee has made an outstanding lifetime contribution to the performance sport horse and pony breeding industry.
Previous winners have included the Louella Stud, Johanna Vardon, founder of the National Foaling
Bank, Archie Smith Maxwell, breeder of event sire Jumbo, Professor Graham Suggett for a lifetime’s contribution to breeding. In 2015 the Award was made posthumously to Richard Meade OBE (pictured), for his considerable competition success, his chairmanship of the British Horse Foundation for over 20 years and his unflinching support of British breeding. If there is someone you believe has made, or is making a valuable contribution to this sector of the British breeding industry and would be a worthy recipient of this esteemed award, click on the link to download a nomination form. Nominations close on 4 December 2015. Link:
http://www.bef.co.uk/Detail. aspx?page=Breeders-Awards- Dinner
www.theequinesite.co.uk
Repeat the whole process daily and live happily muddy after!
“Love the SKIN he’s in Mud Gard is my must have supplement. Just try it and see the difference - I wouldn’t be without it!” Kay Brown
“Since using Love the SKIN he's in Wash, my horse's skin has improved beyond recognition – from the dullest coat on the yard he now has the shiniest!”
Paul Scott
www.naf-equine.eu/uk For more details please call
our Nutritional Advice Line: 0800 373 106 or email
info@naf-uk.com
the Mud Love
equine news
Avoid getting into a feverish panic over this year’s Mud! Follow this simple Love the SKIN he’s In regime and combat the trials of mud this season.
1 - Rinse off the mud then wash the legs with Love the SKIN he’s in Skin Wash to thoroughly and effectively cleanse the area. Dry off the legs carefully.
2 - Massage a thick layer of Love the SKIN he’s in Mud Gard Barrier Cream over the area to create a protective barrier between the skin and the mud.
3 - Feed Love the SKIN he’s in Mud Gard Supplement to support strong healthy skin from the inside.
Equine Page 5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56