Taking Care of Chloe

chloe

Chloe’s doing fine now, but a few hours ago it was a different story.

I was in my studio when I heard the banging.  It was windy out so I though maybe a big branch was falling off the tree behind my studio.  But when I went out to look there were no branches down, then the banging started again.

The noise was coming from inside the barn.  I got as far as the gate to the that leads from the barn to the pole barn when I saw Chloe on her side trashing around.  Her back legs were caught in the wooden fence.  I didn’t even bother to open the gate, but went over it instead.  I got her  hooves out of the fence, but couldn’t get her up.

That’s when I ran to the house to get Jon.  He was already on his way. He knew something was wrong when Fate went to the window and started barking.  By the time he came out of the house Chloe was up and walking around.

But she wasn’t right.  She was having a hard time standing and she was shaking her head.  And she kept rolling and having a hard time getting up.    Jon called the Vet and he told us to keep her walking till her got there.  He thought it might be Colic.

It took about a half hour for the Vet come and by then Chloe was already looking better.  She had stopped shaking her head and wasn’t having a hard time standing and walking.

Her temperature was normal, her heart rate perfect and she was hydrated.   She had a little gas in her stomach, but the Vet waited around for a while to make sure she didn’t start rolling again.  He gave her a shot of Banamine for pain relief.

What seems to have happened is Chloe ate something in the pasture that upset her stomach.   She was rolling, which is what horses will do when this happens and got her hind legs caught in the fence.  I think she was more stressed by not being able to get up than by whatever is going on in her stomach.

I just went out to the barn to check on Chloe again.   She whinnied when she heard me and came to the gate, with the donkeys (who didn’t leave her side throughout the whole thing) looking for a treat.

I can’t help but think about what would have happened if we weren’t home.  Maybe she would have gotten herself up and we never would have known anything was wrong.  Or maybe not.  I moved the wooden fence (it’s a movable panel) out of the pole barn and decided not to think about what could have happened and just be thankful for what did happen.  That I heard the banging and Chloe is just fine.

 

12 thoughts on “Taking Care of Chloe

  1. That’s great Chloe’s okay! Unbelievable how fast acting we can be in crisis with no fear of doing what needs to be done. Reanna has gotten herself stuck at least twice, one in her stall and once in the corner of an area. Mares! Adrenaline rush!

  2. Maria, often these big swings in temperature can cause colic. I Have had to pay close attention with our horses as we have gone from 50 degrees to 15 degrees and even lower with the wind. So glad that Chole is ok.

  3. I know your fear. My horse colicked some years ago and it scared me so much. I had a friend who was also a vet staying upstairs in the barn My gelding was in his stall downstairs. she knocked on my door around midnight and said my horse needed me. when asked how she knew he was in trouble she said “His breathing changed”. From there we walked him for several hours and she drove off to get some Banamine. If she hadn’t been there that night I might have lost him. Coincidence or divine intervention? My horse goddess was hard at work that night!!!

  4. I am thankful Chloe is ok. Between you and Jon, I keep tabs on all goings-on at the farm. You are so brave to be so calm in such circumstances, and I always admire you both for sharing your lives with all of us.

  5. How scary Maria, thank god she’s okay! Sounds like you’ve turned into a real horsewoman – good on you! 🙂

  6. Maria, I feel for what you went thru; happy to hear bout the good outcome – until recently I had horses and there is nothing scarier.

    I’m writing this because some years ago I found there are acupressure points on the horse’s hind legs that relieve colic and colic pain by relaxing the abdominal muscles. I learned to use them while waiting for the vet (and once when no vet could come) and it helped. I’ve even used acupressure on my neighbor’s goats (the points are different). I found the info and exact diagrams on the internet. Figured you guys, maybe others, would be interested. Again, so glad all’s well.

  7. Oh, Maria! This was scary!! I love what Jon wrote about the trust between you and Chloe, and how much that trust kept her calm.Annie

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