FIRECRACKER
March 6 2022
Fire Cracker will soon be one step closer to freedom. Our transport guy, Ed, is experienced. He has transported alot of weak, debilitated and scared horses. He knows what he is doing. There are only a few people that I know that I would trust with this precious cargo and Ed is one of them. He may not be high class and fancy but he does his job well. Ed traveled from Maine to western NY, leaving yesterday around noon. Got a room and will head to load Fire Cracker this morning. Once in his thickly bedded stall, Ed will head North East. It is a 12ish hour drive but they will be stopping to check on Fire Cracker, offer water and give him short rests on the way so it wont be until late when they arrive. I will try to keep everyone updated. If anyone can get Fire Cracker home, its Eddie. |
March 7 2022
someone had a good rest in their shavings last night. ate everything. drank everything
someone had a good rest in their shavings last night. ate everything. drank everything
March 9 2022
Just a bit of an update:
Fire Cracker is doing exactly what he needs to do, eating lots of hay, soaked cubes 3 times a day with some electrolytes added and a bit of outlast (helps coat his tummy from ulcer pain). He is still loving his loose minerals, something that he will consume as long as he needs it (his body will know when he has had enough). We have done very little with him - but by just standing with him and not trying to touch him he is starting to warm up a bit - if you reach for him, he thinks he is going to have to go to work - you can see in his eye when we approach "I knew they were going to come for me to work" - he seems more relaxed when you scootch down like a small person - He will pin his ears and threaten when you walk toward his hay but he just turns away - not mean - just trying to survive - the only things we have done so far is to tape him (measure height 15.2 - he seems way bigger when you stand beside him) he weighs about 990lbs - most of that may be a bloated belly from worms - we did worm him yesterday with a very gentle wormer - if we attack the worms to fast they could all die and create a blockage so we do it slowly - each day will bring him closer and closer to a healthy world - he wont get any grain for a while still - just forage, minerals, salt and water - as much as he wants. We will keep you all updated - It seems this bay beauty has won all of our hearts and we want to share his recovery with everyone that wants to support and follow along.
Just a bit of an update:
Fire Cracker is doing exactly what he needs to do, eating lots of hay, soaked cubes 3 times a day with some electrolytes added and a bit of outlast (helps coat his tummy from ulcer pain). He is still loving his loose minerals, something that he will consume as long as he needs it (his body will know when he has had enough). We have done very little with him - but by just standing with him and not trying to touch him he is starting to warm up a bit - if you reach for him, he thinks he is going to have to go to work - you can see in his eye when we approach "I knew they were going to come for me to work" - he seems more relaxed when you scootch down like a small person - He will pin his ears and threaten when you walk toward his hay but he just turns away - not mean - just trying to survive - the only things we have done so far is to tape him (measure height 15.2 - he seems way bigger when you stand beside him) he weighs about 990lbs - most of that may be a bloated belly from worms - we did worm him yesterday with a very gentle wormer - if we attack the worms to fast they could all die and create a blockage so we do it slowly - each day will bring him closer and closer to a healthy world - he wont get any grain for a while still - just forage, minerals, salt and water - as much as he wants. We will keep you all updated - It seems this bay beauty has won all of our hearts and we want to share his recovery with everyone that wants to support and follow along.
March 15 2022
Fire Cracker is doing well He continues to eat hay, we keep it in front of him at all times. He is such a good boy about not pooping in it, probably learned to not waste anything he was given. He gets his soaked alfalfa cubes twice a day and we have added just a handful of senior grain which gets devoured immediately. Dennis was able to give him a quick checkup last Friday. He checked his teeth and looked him over – his legs continue to be a bit swollen but not as bad as when he first came. Suspensatory ligaments seem ok which is a big concern for ex – Amish horses because of the miles of pounding on the tar they are forced to do. Luckily, Fire Cracker seems to have been strong enough to have not had his ligaments fail him. He is still a little snotty but no swollen glands, no fever. His sheath has been very swollen and before we start antibiotics, we thought a good cleaning might help. I have never seen a bean that big (geldings can develop a smegma bean at the tip of their penis which can cause a lot of problems – yup super gross). I got a lot of it removed but he was obviously not enjoying it and probably was pretty painful so we will watch and see if the swelling goes down and do another round of cleaning in a couple of days if needed. He has been here just a week and we could not be happier with his progress. Being a 2 on the Henneke scoring system. The only horse we have had that has been worse is Pete who remembers sweet Pete
Fire Cracker is doing well He continues to eat hay, we keep it in front of him at all times. He is such a good boy about not pooping in it, probably learned to not waste anything he was given. He gets his soaked alfalfa cubes twice a day and we have added just a handful of senior grain which gets devoured immediately. Dennis was able to give him a quick checkup last Friday. He checked his teeth and looked him over – his legs continue to be a bit swollen but not as bad as when he first came. Suspensatory ligaments seem ok which is a big concern for ex – Amish horses because of the miles of pounding on the tar they are forced to do. Luckily, Fire Cracker seems to have been strong enough to have not had his ligaments fail him. He is still a little snotty but no swollen glands, no fever. His sheath has been very swollen and before we start antibiotics, we thought a good cleaning might help. I have never seen a bean that big (geldings can develop a smegma bean at the tip of their penis which can cause a lot of problems – yup super gross). I got a lot of it removed but he was obviously not enjoying it and probably was pretty painful so we will watch and see if the swelling goes down and do another round of cleaning in a couple of days if needed. He has been here just a week and we could not be happier with his progress. Being a 2 on the Henneke scoring system. The only horse we have had that has been worse is Pete who remembers sweet Pete
May 18 2022
Fire Crackers transformation has been incredible! He has gone from underweight, frightened, confused, exhausted, filthy, anxious.... I could go on but there isnt enough space. Today he is gaining weight daily, gaining muscle, confidence, friends and shine - he looks for us for attention and enjoys the herd life like he has been here forever. Fire Cracker is ready for his next chapter - He is looking for someone to work with him on a regular basis - he still needs time and patience, he still cringes when touched but every day he gains and with the right person he is going to bloom. He wants to please, he wants to trust and he wants to engage. We are looking for someone that is experienced in working with traumatized horses - preferably with Standardbred experience but his person needs patience and can not be looking to speed through his rehabilitation. He needs muscle, he needs balance, he needs trust and if someone is willing to put that time in over the summer, Fire Cracker is going to make someone an incredible horse.
Fire Crackers transformation has been incredible! He has gone from underweight, frightened, confused, exhausted, filthy, anxious.... I could go on but there isnt enough space. Today he is gaining weight daily, gaining muscle, confidence, friends and shine - he looks for us for attention and enjoys the herd life like he has been here forever. Fire Cracker is ready for his next chapter - He is looking for someone to work with him on a regular basis - he still needs time and patience, he still cringes when touched but every day he gains and with the right person he is going to bloom. He wants to please, he wants to trust and he wants to engage. We are looking for someone that is experienced in working with traumatized horses - preferably with Standardbred experience but his person needs patience and can not be looking to speed through his rehabilitation. He needs muscle, he needs balance, he needs trust and if someone is willing to put that time in over the summer, Fire Cracker is going to make someone an incredible horse.
August 6 2020
Who remembers Fire Cracker? Bet you would never guess this was the same horse as the sad soul that arrived this spring.
Fire Cracker, this Standardbred, has come full circle in his short 10 years. Cracker Man was born in Bangor and found his new owner, Dr. Dennis Ruksznis when he was just a baby. Proving to not be the fastest cookie on the track, Fire Cracker was passed on to another man who eventually sold him and he ended up as a 3 year old pounding the pavement for an Amish family in Pennsylvania. This is what he would do for the next 7 years until he found himself at New Holland. A group of people who try hard to save Standardbeds saw his tattoo on his neck and traced it back to Dr. Dennis. This is when he came into our lives, Dennis asked if we had room to take him in. Fortunately we did and this bag of bones that looked more like a cow then a horse stepped off the trailer late one night. The 7 years in PA had worn this guy out and he was close to breaking but the long ago memory Im sure he had in his mind of kind hands and food kept him alive.
Fire Cracker spent the next few weeks living with the donkeys and gaining weight. It was such an experience watching him go through the emotions of rehab. Fear that we would harness him up each time we came near was replaced with anticipation of food (but that brough fear of the food being taken away). He did not like to be touched, it had been a long time since a hand had meant anything but work. As his ribs disappeared, so did the memory of his Amish life and it was replaced with soft brushes and lots of never ending food. Cracker Man joined the herd and there he has been thriving for months. He no longer is the bottom of the herd, with Rory he has learned (unfortunately) that he can push him around but he still tucks his butt and scoots away when Tommy or Marley look at him sideways. Cracker Man is always ready to be approached in the pasture, never moving away from people - He loves to please and tries so hard with everything we ask of him. He loves to go for walks, he tolerates his bug spray, great for the farrier and Im pretty sure he remembered Dennis when he visited. Fire Cracker is open hearted and ready to find that person that will give him the life he has always deserved. He has worked more in his 10 years then most horses work in a lifetime and he doesnt need to work ever again. His legs are puffy and swollen, although he appears sound, we know that may be short lived. We have put a saddle on him and he accepted it without a fuss but our goal for him is not to be ridden, We havent hooked him up to a cart - he may love it, it may bring back bad memories but if he could learn to slowly pull a cart, that could be a fun hobby for him. If you are looking for a ridable horse, its not Fire Cracker but if you are looking for a friend that tries with all his heart to please his person, well come meet this boy because he will win you over before you leave the pasture.
August 6 2020
Who remembers Fire Cracker? Bet you would never guess this was the same horse as the sad soul that arrived this spring.
Fire Cracker, this Standardbred, has come full circle in his short 10 years. Cracker Man was born in Bangor and found his new owner, Dr. Dennis Ruksznis when he was just a baby. Proving to not be the fastest cookie on the track, Fire Cracker was passed on to another man who eventually sold him and he ended up as a 3 year old pounding the pavement for an Amish family in Pennsylvania. This is what he would do for the next 7 years until he found himself at New Holland. A group of people who try hard to save Standardbeds saw his tattoo on his neck and traced it back to Dr. Dennis. This is when he came into our lives, Dennis asked if we had room to take him in. Fortunately we did and this bag of bones that looked more like a cow then a horse stepped off the trailer late one night. The 7 years in PA had worn this guy out and he was close to breaking but the long ago memory Im sure he had in his mind of kind hands and food kept him alive.
Fire Cracker spent the next few weeks living with the donkeys and gaining weight. It was such an experience watching him go through the emotions of rehab. Fear that we would harness him up each time we came near was replaced with anticipation of food (but that brough fear of the food being taken away). He did not like to be touched, it had been a long time since a hand had meant anything but work. As his ribs disappeared, so did the memory of his Amish life and it was replaced with soft brushes and lots of never ending food. Cracker Man joined the herd and there he has been thriving for months. He no longer is the bottom of the herd, with Rory he has learned (unfortunately) that he can push him around but he still tucks his butt and scoots away when Tommy or Marley look at him sideways. Cracker Man is always ready to be approached in the pasture, never moving away from people - He loves to please and tries so hard with everything we ask of him. He loves to go for walks, he tolerates his bug spray, great for the farrier and Im pretty sure he remembered Dennis when he visited. Fire Cracker is open hearted and ready to find that person that will give him the life he has always deserved. He has worked more in his 10 years then most horses work in a lifetime and he doesnt need to work ever again. His legs are puffy and swollen, although he appears sound, we know that may be short lived. We have put a saddle on him and he accepted it without a fuss but our goal for him is not to be ridden, We havent hooked him up to a cart - he may love it, it may bring back bad memories but if he could learn to slowly pull a cart, that could be a fun hobby for him. If you are looking for a ridable horse, its not Fire Cracker but if you are looking for a friend that tries with all his heart to please his person, well come meet this boy because he will win you over before you leave the pasture.