A fractured hip!

On January the 23rd, 'Mr F' had several falls inside the stable, with the result of him having a double hip facture.

How it happened:

'Madame' has a serious crack in her front hoof, reaching all the way to the top and even through the coronet band. It was certainly bothering her. 'Jane' had arranged for the farrier to come on Monday early morning at 8:30. 

In preparation for the visit, 'Madam' had to be stood in a stable over night so that her hoof was dry and ready to be worked on in the morning.

At the time 'Madame' was in with 'Rose' and 'Blue'. The latter being a rather unruly and inquisitive cob. They had constant fights over feed inside their stable part, luckily so far nothing has happened. 'Jane' asked me if she could put 'Madam' into the stable (separated by a bar into two compartments) with 'Mr F' over night. "Yes, sure. It will be safer for her and certainly calmer to be with 'Mr F".

We put some bedding (leftover hay and haylage) down for 'Madame' so she could have a bed etc.

In the morning I proceeded with my usual routine of mucking out and feeding and spending some time with 'Mr F' - we both have breakfast together. I enjoy eating with the crew, it is very relaxing.

It was 8:15 and time for me to leave to get to work for 8:30.  I was just driving down the drive when the farrier came up with his van. "Oh bummer! He doesn't know where 'Madame' is. I better go back and sort it out."  'Jane' should have been here by now but she is always late where as the farrier is always about 15 minutes early on his first job. Many times over the past years have I made sure that the horses that he was supposed to treat where ready for him in the morning.

I didn't want the farrier having to go through the stables looking for the right horse so I turned my car and drove back. Back at the yard I grabbed 'Madame's head collar and went to fetch her. The stable was separated by a wooden bar that can be sled across to turn it into one big stable. I put on her head collar, slid across the wooden separating bar and led her out. I was just about to tie her up ready for the farrier who was already quite impatiently waiting when we heard great commotion from inside the stable.

"What on earth was that?!" I said and threw the lead rope to the farrier to sort out 'Madame' while I ran inside the stable to check. To my shock I saw 'Mr F' on the floor, trying to get up only to slip again and slam back down on the floor. I just stood there, helplessly and trying to stop myself from panicking. To my horror he slammed back down onto the floor a third time but didn't try to get up again. I didn't know what to do!

'Mr F' saw me stand there and he began to push himself across the floor towards me, he somewhat crawled sideways. I just stood, I couldn't lift him up, I couldn't stop him ... I was helplessly watching him pushing himself across the stable floor. I don't know how he did it either ...

The farrier now came to see what the commotion is all about. When he saw 'Mr F' struggling on the floor he shouted at me "Get out, get away or you get hurt!"  - "No. I will be fine." I said calmly. How I remained to stay calm I don't know. All I remember was that all thoughts stopped.

By now 'Mr F' had reached me and was, still cowering sideways on the floor, resting his neck against my legs. I got down onto my knees and embraced his neck. Then his head just dropped, his four legs curled up closely to the body and then, with one long sigh, he stopped moving.

"That's it, its over - just like this." At this point, for a short moment, I had lost my calm and I semi quietly somewhat screamed "And I have tried to look after you so very much!" The farrier was still trying to get me to come out of the stable but I ignored him. He didn't know the level of trust between myself and 'Mr F'.  There was no danger for me whatsoever, not at any moment.

For a few seconds I remained in this position, thousands of strangely logical thoughts going through my head: 'Now where shall I go? Ireland? Scotland? Back to Switzerland? The only reason for being here is 'Mr F'.' 

Then suddenly 'Mr F' tried to move again. He was now on the flag stone floor and no longer on the concrete covered in poo and urine from 'Madame's night in. In a last effort he arranged his feet and tried to get his back end up. Instinctively I went to help, as tiny as I might be, I am very strong, to the surprise of many. Somehow, both 'Mr F' and I managed to get him back up on his feet. Amazing how strong a body can be in certain situations. 

There he stood, shaking like a leaf. He wasn't putting weight on his left back leg at all. 'He's broken his leg or done some serious damage.' With great effort did I attempt to remain calm. By now 'Jane' had arrived and well I wasn't pleased. 

I went to ring 'Suzie' (our equine Vet) and explained the events and that I wanted her to come and look at 'Mr F'.  She was with us in less than 40 minutes and pretty much equally upset as I was, also not trying to show it. 'Suzie' has over the years become very fond of 'Mr F'. But who doesn't? He is a great horse full of character. 

Her review was the following: 'Mr F' has a fractured hip. Absolute box rest required, at least 6-8 weeks before even considering light turnout. "He must be kept calm at all costs." 'Suzie' said. I cannot remember if she injected him with some painkillers, I am quite sure she did though. I was given a big pack of bute and instructions as to how many and how often he was meant to have them.

OK. This was new for me now. I had never cared for an injured horse. Surprisingly I was still in a very logical frame of mind, leaving out all emotion. All I knew was that I had to be there for 'Mr F'. I had to put up 'a show' and not make things worse by faffing around him like an anxious mother hen.

I quickly rang work and roughly explained my delay and that I will be there for lunch time. I am paid hourly so it's only my loss anyway. Luckily I had one of 'Mr F's stable rugs in the car so I gently took off his feces covered rug and swapped it with the clean fleece stable rug. He was shivering still and had of course great troubles walking. I blocked off the other stable compartment (where he fell) and quickly went to fetch some bedding from the local country store. 

I cleaned both stable sections and readied them for both 'Mr F' and his companion. A routine was set up among the present horses so they would take turn as companions to keep 'Mr f' company and to keep him calm as he does  not at all like being alone. The horses belonged to 'Jane' and considering all the help and work I did for her over the years went WAY WAY beyond paying for livery for 'Mr F'. The least she could do now was to let me have companions for 'Mr F'. He is OK in the stable while I am there, but I cannot be with him 24/7 and on his own he'd go nuts. No good in his current state.

I set him up with water and fresh feed (soaked hay). Lunchtime was near and I had to get to work. No work no money and in the view of the current happenings I sure could not afford to loose any more hours! I didn't think about anything in the future really as there was no point. "Take each moment as it comes, just do as you do." Seeing that 'Mr F' was OK I left and went to work, trying very hard to stay focused.

After work I went straight back to 'Mr F' to administer his medicine and to set him up for the night. I was VERY VERY angry about matters and how it all developed but I shan't go into details.  I looked at this beautiful and innocent being in front of me and I suddenly became aware of just how much he was trusting me to sort things out. I spent some time with him inside the stable before going home for something to eat bu then drove back to the stable for a late night check.

He was clearly in pain but calmly chewing his soaked hay. Nothing else I could do now but go back to my room and sleep.