So, my big boy, Winston, decided to stab himself in the butt. Really. My bubble wrapped horses, and STILL they find a way to hurt themselves. Seriously, guys, really?
T-posts are the enemy and I knew this going in. But I inherited a T-post hotwire fence so I tried to make it as safe as possible while imagining ways of funding a ten thousand dollar post and rail fence to replace it. The funny thing is, I have also seen horses impale themselves on broken rails. At a boarding property, Winston took advantage of a nearly downed rail and went for the greener grass on the other side. And don't even get me started on smooth wire. So, knowing my boys, anything is a risk.
Anyhow, I erred on the side of extreme caution and took down the smooth wire, replacing it with not-so-cheap electric three-strand poly rope, making sure to cap each and every t-post. Even then, I keep a watchful eye and test the fence just about every day.
Needless to say, my silly ponies found a way to make their mama's life just a little more dramatic. Of course, it was a day when I came home, energy depleted from work, and doddled a bit before heading down to clean up the barn. The horses were out, so all should be okay, right?
Wrong. I don't even know what happened. Best I can guess, Winston spooked at something in the wind and kicked out? Got wrapped up? Still guessing. Thankfully, the poly rope is more forgiving than wire. But he somehow pulled a t-post over, uncapped it, then backed up onto it. Yeah. You're thinking, WHAT?! Yeah, me too. That's my Winston. Gotta love him.
He wasn't even limping. The only way I knew was he seemed a bit quiet; but then I stepped out and saw the line and t-post disaster behind the barn. Atlas, my other kid, was the only witness. His eyes told me something crazy happened. But overall, they seemed okay. Then, I saw the blood on Winston's bum, running down his tail. Oh no. He let me examine it, and as T-posts do, it was pretty ragged. So I called the vet, knowing the stitches would be beyond me. I am so very glad I did because the wound was deceiving, hiding how deep the puncture truly was.
Thankfully, this story ends well. The vet came, cleaned out the wound, stitched it up, and assured me it did not appear to be at any big risk for permanent muscular damage or lameness. He would have to be kept up for a week, but a small price to pay and he was a champ about it (I think he even liked the extra attention, although the oral banamine and pasty antibiotic, not so much). The wound has healed amazingly well, although with winter still mucky, we have not yet gotten into a good regular workout routine to make certain certain. But overall, he runs around like usual and seems to have no ill after-effects.
I, on the other hand, am back to cursing T-posts and am a bit more helicoptery (as if I ever wasn't). Rather than replace that section of fence, I pulled it since it was just a divider between the boys' smaller day paddocks (that I don't even use any more). Bigger fields, more space, and hopefully less risk. But just goes to show, with horses, you can try try try to prepare for any scenario. But they will always find a way, padded cell or otherwise. Gotta love our ponies. :)
The Disaster Site
Sleepy Winston getting stitches
T-posts are Evil
Good job, Doc!