Jake
August 18 2021
Headed home
Headed home
September 1 2021
One of the hardest things when we get a new herd member is to help them find their place - a place where they feel safe, can move around and can eat with out getting bullied. Part of living in a herd is the hierarchy, every horse has a purpose and every horse has a different personality and agenda. Not just top and bottom of the ladder, there are so many layers to herd life and watching our herd evolve has taught me a lot. Jake is a tough one. The herd we have right not is very mare dominant and Tommy is the unchallenged lead gelding (Chester is really no threat So when a new gelding gets introduced, Tommy's usual protective personality gets a bit overshadowed by his threat of loosing the girls. Now Jake is no threat and they all know it - i think they smell fear on him and a very normal, though tough reaction in nature is to push the weakest out to the edge so the cougar will get them first. Dont stand beside the weakest link our you may be dessert. For a very long time Chester was this weakest link but he has learned and evolved into the herd life. Jake, with his physical disabilities, can neither get out of the way of teeth charging at him or navigate the hill that seems to take his world out from under him.
Jakes transition up the hill has not been easy for him or us. It started a few days ago, i though i would move Marley down with him to keep him company for a while so he could gain strength but Chester and Tommy decided Marley should not leave the herd - Chester got out and Tommy simply panicked and ran about until i got him back and showed Tommy that i had not taken Marley too far and she was not being put in a hole - he has watched many horses walk down that hill and never return. So, after the boys were returned to their pasture, Ellen and i walked Jake and Marley together up the hill and put them in the smaller ring beside everyone. They all met and Marley by that time was ready to be away from the new guy, she was getting kinda mean so we put Tommy in with him. Nope, he got a new pink stripe on his butt and Tommy went back to the herd. Ok, so now what? They meandered back down the hill and left Jake alone where he stayed until dinner time and then he was happy in his stall (although we had to add boards because its right beside Tommy ) ! Next day after lunch i thought Jake looked miserable and maybe there was enough room in the pasture that he could just avoid the meanies. But what did Jake do? ran straight down the hill (which was not an easy task for him ) and right to the morgan mares ! way to challenge Tommy right from the start! Not sure what happened on the other side of the oak grove but everyone but Jake came up - he stood down here and watched the house, waiting for me to come help him ugh ok, he wasnt ready for the herd so back to the tiny ring - it was hot and buggy (and he is allergic to bug spray) I had to do something he looked so sad. Well, we found his spot, at least for now. Hopefully he will regain some strength and stability and feel a bit safer but until then, Jake found his spot
One of the hardest things when we get a new herd member is to help them find their place - a place where they feel safe, can move around and can eat with out getting bullied. Part of living in a herd is the hierarchy, every horse has a purpose and every horse has a different personality and agenda. Not just top and bottom of the ladder, there are so many layers to herd life and watching our herd evolve has taught me a lot. Jake is a tough one. The herd we have right not is very mare dominant and Tommy is the unchallenged lead gelding (Chester is really no threat So when a new gelding gets introduced, Tommy's usual protective personality gets a bit overshadowed by his threat of loosing the girls. Now Jake is no threat and they all know it - i think they smell fear on him and a very normal, though tough reaction in nature is to push the weakest out to the edge so the cougar will get them first. Dont stand beside the weakest link our you may be dessert. For a very long time Chester was this weakest link but he has learned and evolved into the herd life. Jake, with his physical disabilities, can neither get out of the way of teeth charging at him or navigate the hill that seems to take his world out from under him.
Jakes transition up the hill has not been easy for him or us. It started a few days ago, i though i would move Marley down with him to keep him company for a while so he could gain strength but Chester and Tommy decided Marley should not leave the herd - Chester got out and Tommy simply panicked and ran about until i got him back and showed Tommy that i had not taken Marley too far and she was not being put in a hole - he has watched many horses walk down that hill and never return. So, after the boys were returned to their pasture, Ellen and i walked Jake and Marley together up the hill and put them in the smaller ring beside everyone. They all met and Marley by that time was ready to be away from the new guy, she was getting kinda mean so we put Tommy in with him. Nope, he got a new pink stripe on his butt and Tommy went back to the herd. Ok, so now what? They meandered back down the hill and left Jake alone where he stayed until dinner time and then he was happy in his stall (although we had to add boards because its right beside Tommy ) ! Next day after lunch i thought Jake looked miserable and maybe there was enough room in the pasture that he could just avoid the meanies. But what did Jake do? ran straight down the hill (which was not an easy task for him ) and right to the morgan mares ! way to challenge Tommy right from the start! Not sure what happened on the other side of the oak grove but everyone but Jake came up - he stood down here and watched the house, waiting for me to come help him ugh ok, he wasnt ready for the herd so back to the tiny ring - it was hot and buggy (and he is allergic to bug spray) I had to do something he looked so sad. Well, we found his spot, at least for now. Hopefully he will regain some strength and stability and feel a bit safer but until then, Jake found his spot
September 8 2021
Once the top performer, the number one at his boarding stable, Jake was the once coveted gelding that everyone wanted. Now, after being forgotten, thrown away and passed over, Jake has neurological deficits that he will never recover from because the people who said they would take care of him didnt. Despite all that he has been through, Jake is ready. His body is what it is going to be.... he will never be neurologically sound but there is hope that with time, good food, exercise, a feeling of safety and his vitamin E supplement, Jake will do fine, maybe even improve overall with his ability to move. Jake needs a home that wants nothing more then to love on him and let him love on you. A perfect gentleman, Jake would make a great companion, however, it would have to be with a horse that would not bully him. He is low man and the other horses seem to know this and push him away - If he has a flat area that he could move around, this may be fine but the hill the herd lives on makes it even more difficult for Mr Jake. Jake loves people, he stands waiting for someone, anyone, to simply stand with him. We have horses on waiting lists to come into the rescue but Jake is our highest priority right now - we wont push him out unless we find that person who is meant to share their lives with him that person who deserves him , because he is one of the sweetest geldings ever and our mission is to see him thrive and be happy and safe.
Once the top performer, the number one at his boarding stable, Jake was the once coveted gelding that everyone wanted. Now, after being forgotten, thrown away and passed over, Jake has neurological deficits that he will never recover from because the people who said they would take care of him didnt. Despite all that he has been through, Jake is ready. His body is what it is going to be.... he will never be neurologically sound but there is hope that with time, good food, exercise, a feeling of safety and his vitamin E supplement, Jake will do fine, maybe even improve overall with his ability to move. Jake needs a home that wants nothing more then to love on him and let him love on you. A perfect gentleman, Jake would make a great companion, however, it would have to be with a horse that would not bully him. He is low man and the other horses seem to know this and push him away - If he has a flat area that he could move around, this may be fine but the hill the herd lives on makes it even more difficult for Mr Jake. Jake loves people, he stands waiting for someone, anyone, to simply stand with him. We have horses on waiting lists to come into the rescue but Jake is our highest priority right now - we wont push him out unless we find that person who is meant to share their lives with him that person who deserves him , because he is one of the sweetest geldings ever and our mission is to see him thrive and be happy and safe.
September 14 2021
Update on Jake: One of the reasons we dont immediately rehome our horses is we want to know all the goods and bads, all the personality issues that may need to be addressed and all the physical problems so any potential new home will be prepared and fewer surprises will arise. Well, with Jake these questions are big. With the vets visit a few weeks ago we discovered Jake has neurological issues that will most likely never get better, a condition known as equine motor neuron disease and most likely a result of genetic predisposition and vitamin E deficiency. As the days and weeks pass, we have more questions then answers. There are days that Jake seems confused, not just his body but maybe his brain affected as well? then there are days that he seems better and eager to connect. There is a disease that is called EPM (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis) that is passed by opossum poop and although we do not have these little buggers in Maine, we have had alot of hay brought in from up state New York and they most definately have opossum so there is, theoretically, the possibility of Jake having this condition (which can sometimes be treated). He will be visited by the vet again this week to discuss possible tests since the treatment is very different for each of these conditions. Our mission at the rescue is to give every horse the best day possible so even though Jake may have an incurable debilitating condition, we are trying to make his life the very best possible while he is with us (with the hope maybe he will get a bit better with time with treatment) so one of the tools in our pocket is Becca White from Integrated Veterinary Solutions. Her ability to see a horse as a whole, using her chiropractic techniques and her knowledge as a veterinarian, make her a great person to lay another set of eyes on our horses and discuss different ideas. Although we knew Jake probably had uclers, we were going to wait and treat them if we thought he might be able to be treated and live a longer life (i know it sounds aweful but treatment costs about 1000 and if Jakes condition progresses quickly, we will most likely end his suffering so we were going to wail. When Becca showed me the extent of his discomfort due to ulcers, there was no way i am going to wait. Even if we can make his last few days more comfortable, we will try. So last night Jake started his ulcer medication and will continue for as long as needed. We will hopefully have more answers after the veterinarians visit later this week and i will keep you all updated. Until then, Jake will spend his days with Blossom and Tilly, with short spurts out on the lawn for a green grass munch, he will sport his fly mask and leggings that Nicole Hammett got for him and he will get his ulcer medication each evening
Update on Jake: One of the reasons we dont immediately rehome our horses is we want to know all the goods and bads, all the personality issues that may need to be addressed and all the physical problems so any potential new home will be prepared and fewer surprises will arise. Well, with Jake these questions are big. With the vets visit a few weeks ago we discovered Jake has neurological issues that will most likely never get better, a condition known as equine motor neuron disease and most likely a result of genetic predisposition and vitamin E deficiency. As the days and weeks pass, we have more questions then answers. There are days that Jake seems confused, not just his body but maybe his brain affected as well? then there are days that he seems better and eager to connect. There is a disease that is called EPM (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis) that is passed by opossum poop and although we do not have these little buggers in Maine, we have had alot of hay brought in from up state New York and they most definately have opossum so there is, theoretically, the possibility of Jake having this condition (which can sometimes be treated). He will be visited by the vet again this week to discuss possible tests since the treatment is very different for each of these conditions. Our mission at the rescue is to give every horse the best day possible so even though Jake may have an incurable debilitating condition, we are trying to make his life the very best possible while he is with us (with the hope maybe he will get a bit better with time with treatment) so one of the tools in our pocket is Becca White from Integrated Veterinary Solutions. Her ability to see a horse as a whole, using her chiropractic techniques and her knowledge as a veterinarian, make her a great person to lay another set of eyes on our horses and discuss different ideas. Although we knew Jake probably had uclers, we were going to wait and treat them if we thought he might be able to be treated and live a longer life (i know it sounds aweful but treatment costs about 1000 and if Jakes condition progresses quickly, we will most likely end his suffering so we were going to wail. When Becca showed me the extent of his discomfort due to ulcers, there was no way i am going to wait. Even if we can make his last few days more comfortable, we will try. So last night Jake started his ulcer medication and will continue for as long as needed. We will hopefully have more answers after the veterinarians visit later this week and i will keep you all updated. Until then, Jake will spend his days with Blossom and Tilly, with short spurts out on the lawn for a green grass munch, he will sport his fly mask and leggings that Nicole Hammett got for him and he will get his ulcer medication each evening
October 3 2021
Update on Jake - If you have been following Jake you know we had the vet out to do some bloodwork and check for EPM - even though it is a devesting condition caused by a parasite, it is at least treatable in some cases but the results came back negative. Jake is anemic but other then that all blood work looks normal. So, plan is to continue his vitamin E, we started him on red cell (for the anemia) and will cross our fingers he doesnt deteriorate - If it looks like he is in pain, we will change our plan but for now, Jake seems ok. We are also treating him for his ulcers and i think i see a difference in his personality (not as much teeth grinding ). Jake spent his life carrying kids around, he did his job well and now he deserves the best we can give him. Our facility is not the best because we are on a hill (Jake does best on flat ground) and we have Chester (who makes any new horse move and run and Jake can not do that safely) So..... we are really needing someone to step up and give this boy the life he deserves - flat ground (grass is a plus), a quiet friend who wont bully him and alot of tlc - Might that person be you? I sure do hope so |
October 26 2021
The days have been getting long for Jake, he spent much of his day laying down. There were times when he would give a little squeal and jump around but then it seemed as if he would almost fall over after. He stood with his head hung, not really wanting to be touched. His teeth grinding and angry painful face were sad reminders that something was hurting and we couldnt find where it was. We did every blood test, treated for ulcers for a full 5 weeks, vitamin E and red cell hoping he was turn the corner, we wrapped his legs for the flies and gave him special bedding in his stall. In the end his body was too far gone. The vet came today and I led Jake down to the same field he was in when he came. He gave a little jump and twirled around one last time - i can picture him now, finally rid of that body, running and jumping with old friends - he was a good boy who gave his all to the kids that rode him. In the end, ignorance and neglect won and his body wasnt strong enough to fight any more. I am glad you found your way here Jake, so you didnt have to suffer any more. |
August 18, 2022
A year ago today, August 18 2021, we brought Jake home. We received a call from a person who knew Jake was failing and he needed someone to give him a soft landing, assess what his needs were and do what would be best for Jake. He was surrendered to our rescue and when he stepped off the trailer on that hot August day, Jake had some obvious issues with his hind legs. Hoping it was because he had been stalled for most of the summer, no access to movement or grass, we were hopefull that some time in the lower pasture with a run in and ungrazed field, he would make improvements. After several months of good food, vitamin E supplements, vet visits and testing, chiropractor, a months worth of ulcer medication(to this day I still have an alarm that goes off at 4pm every day to remind me to give Jake his medication – he is remembered and thought of every single day), farrier and dental work, hand walking and all the love and attention we could give him, Jake never improved. He had spent his life teaching kids how to ride, being the best boy he could possibly be, doing everything he was asked and in the end, because he had spent a significant period of time with owners that did not realize what his physical needs were, Jakes body was beyond repair. He had been well taken care of at a boarding facility where they realized he needed extra vitamin E, something that was a chronic condition. When his family sold him, the new owners either did not know or did not realize how important it was or simply did not care, but for whatever reason they had, he was not given the supplements he needed to keep him healthy and permanent damage was done to his nervous system. In most cases, this is very avoidable and it is so sad that because of someones not knowing what they did not know, Jakes body was forever debilitated. On October 26, just a little over 2 months from the day we brought Jake home, we gave him the last gift of kindness we could offer. Always wanting someone near, always looking for his person – Until the very last minute, Jake was wanted to please his people. You are running happy and healthy through green fields, with kids all around you and friends to keep you company. I am sorry we could not help you Jake.
If anything can come out of Jakes life being ended early, we hope people realize that when you sell a horse or give them away, sometimes new owners that have never had a horse before, although loving and with the best intentions, can deprive a horse of what they need and create suffering and pain. Having a horse is not easy, – it can be very complicated and demanding and if a person is not aware of what they don’t know and seek help and guidance, the horse is the one that suffers, sometimes without anyone knowing. Please educate yourself before getting that first horse, ask questions, prepare, do what is best for the horse, they are not a hobby, they are not a part time commitment, they need you to survive and if you do not know how to keep them alive, healthy and happy, either dont get a horse or get some help.
Its almost 4 - i will remember you you every day Jake
A year ago today, August 18 2021, we brought Jake home. We received a call from a person who knew Jake was failing and he needed someone to give him a soft landing, assess what his needs were and do what would be best for Jake. He was surrendered to our rescue and when he stepped off the trailer on that hot August day, Jake had some obvious issues with his hind legs. Hoping it was because he had been stalled for most of the summer, no access to movement or grass, we were hopefull that some time in the lower pasture with a run in and ungrazed field, he would make improvements. After several months of good food, vitamin E supplements, vet visits and testing, chiropractor, a months worth of ulcer medication(to this day I still have an alarm that goes off at 4pm every day to remind me to give Jake his medication – he is remembered and thought of every single day), farrier and dental work, hand walking and all the love and attention we could give him, Jake never improved. He had spent his life teaching kids how to ride, being the best boy he could possibly be, doing everything he was asked and in the end, because he had spent a significant period of time with owners that did not realize what his physical needs were, Jakes body was beyond repair. He had been well taken care of at a boarding facility where they realized he needed extra vitamin E, something that was a chronic condition. When his family sold him, the new owners either did not know or did not realize how important it was or simply did not care, but for whatever reason they had, he was not given the supplements he needed to keep him healthy and permanent damage was done to his nervous system. In most cases, this is very avoidable and it is so sad that because of someones not knowing what they did not know, Jakes body was forever debilitated. On October 26, just a little over 2 months from the day we brought Jake home, we gave him the last gift of kindness we could offer. Always wanting someone near, always looking for his person – Until the very last minute, Jake was wanted to please his people. You are running happy and healthy through green fields, with kids all around you and friends to keep you company. I am sorry we could not help you Jake.
If anything can come out of Jakes life being ended early, we hope people realize that when you sell a horse or give them away, sometimes new owners that have never had a horse before, although loving and with the best intentions, can deprive a horse of what they need and create suffering and pain. Having a horse is not easy, – it can be very complicated and demanding and if a person is not aware of what they don’t know and seek help and guidance, the horse is the one that suffers, sometimes without anyone knowing. Please educate yourself before getting that first horse, ask questions, prepare, do what is best for the horse, they are not a hobby, they are not a part time commitment, they need you to survive and if you do not know how to keep them alive, healthy and happy, either dont get a horse or get some help.
Its almost 4 - i will remember you you every day Jake