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Valentine Secret
Update
2/27/01 - They're all (Dakota Mahogany, Valentine, & Excellent
Luck) in a good place where they're getting lots of love and attention---the
gelding and wobbler have bonded with Barbara of Pegasus, and the
yearling is developing a bond with her husband (the one who always
stands guard over his feed so the others can't get to it.) All
we ask of them is that they relax, enjoy life, eat well and heal.
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John is beginning to bond with the yearling, who apparently has
a fear of humans after going through the trauma of two surgeries.
John stands by and guards the yearling while he's eating so the
gelding can't come and try to eat his food. The wobbler and yearling
also have learned that carrots are delicious, so the gelding is
no longer getting triple rations. In short, all good news; we
can rest assured that these three are getting excellent and
loving care.
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Valentine Secret is really frightened. We put them together by
themselves in a semi large enclosure in quarantine. It has worked
out well as the two older ones protect Valentine Secret and make
him feel more comfortable and safe. Also, the two older ones have
bonded. I took a picture of the three of them lying down together
side by side. They love their buckets full of grain, natural glo,
bran, vitamins and herbal remedies, but I don't think
the two younger ones have ever had carrots - so the stifle injury,
who loves carrots, eats theirs.
They
had their hooves trimmed. Dakota still had shoes plus loose nails
in his hooves and his hooves were extremely long. They also had
their shots and wormers. John (my husband) was able to bond a
little with the foal at that time but for the most part he is
very distrusting of humans (not my husband). It's going to take
time.
They have toys in their enclosure and the older ones encourage
the foal to play with them. He follows their lead and they handle
him like a mom would. Considering what they have been through
and all their physical problems, I think they are doing very well.
Update
2006 - Click
here to go to Valentine Secret's web page.
He
was doing fine until he hit a "growth spurt" just after
he turned 3. His hind end was growing normally, but it put tremendous
pressure on his misshapen front legs. Basically, his legs could
no longer support his weight and he was in tremendous pain. In
May 2003 after consultation with the vet, the decision was made
to humanely euthanize him.
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