09/26/2023
***Anyone who owns large animals***
Most days I can say that I love my job! I have days where I have a horse step on my toe, or gets cranky with me. Leaves me with a bruise or scratch. But days like today I hate my job. This is the kind of break that goes directly to your heart💔
I want to be able to fix them all. I want to be able to say that I can reverse age, arthritis or a dropped P3. I want to say that if I just have a little more time or a little more money I can save your beloved 1000 pound baby. But I can’t…. I am not God. And it can be so incredibly frustrating, especially if we know it’s something that could have been prevented. We lay awake at night wondering if we tried something different if we could see improvement; we call every knowledgeable person we know, we find every article, dig out every old textbook we have searching for something else to try. Willing to spend our own funds for any last-ditch effort that could possibly make a difference. And yet… we still can’t save them.
One thing I want to say to large animal owners is, KNOW YOUR PET! This might seem like a stupid thing to say. “Of course I know my equine friend, they are mine”. Do you notice if your horse stops eating? Do you notice if they stop drinking? Do you know the vitamins and minerals that they need and are they getting them in their diet? Do you know your animals normal gait so well that even if they are slightly off you can tell? Can you differentiate between a happy winny and a distressed winny? Know these things!!!! Even a couple hours can make all the difference in lengthening the life of your pet, or preventing irreversible issues. Don’t wait to call a professional📞!!! Call them! Call your Vet, call your farrier. Call someone who you trust to be educated and help you make a good decision. When it comes to the well-being of your animal, I can honestly say I probably want them to be healthy even more than you do. Not because it’s my job, but because it’s my passion. Animals need someone to be their voice even when no one wants to hear it. I am willing to be that voice even if you don’t want to hear it. I will do everything I can, I will consult with your vet, I will get second oppinions, and if there is nothing else to be done; I will be right there choking back tears because I have to to be strong knowing that this is the best thing for the animal to finally gallop across that rainbow bridge🌈.
So PLEASE!!! Know your horse!! Do your research! Get in touch with professionals that can help you care and maintain them properly. It might sound expensive, but trust me, it’s WAY cheaper than trying to save one from neglect. Don’t board your animal somewhere you don’t trust, buy feed from reputable dealers, check your hay before purchase. I think y’all get the picture at this point, so I’ll quit rambling on.
Let’s keep our equine friends happy and healthy🐴 for as long as we are blessed with their presence! Thankful everyday I get to look at this beauty!!!
