Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player


ECLIPSE SHOCKED EVERYONE WHEN HE CAME DOWN WITH PHF:

I lost my 1st horse, Tahoe, to PHF so I was hypersensitive and frightened when I realized, only 2 months after arriving at the new barn that Eclipse had it. Potomac Horse Fever is a potentially fatal disease . No one had forewarned me the barn was prone to attacks of PHF, but the stall walls told the whole story, so I felt betrayed and vunerable.

No sense complaining, I had work to do if I didn't want a repeat performance. I'd arrive early every morning and stay until late in the evening after the vet left. Somedays I hopped on the tracker and moved the pastures [someone had to do it] then take breaks to feed Eclipse more apple slices throughout the day.

A wonderful & compassionate vet Dr. Ross Bowersett agreed to come out every night and give Eclipse fluids through an IV. [Taking him to an equine hospital would cost me $5K which I wish I had, but didn't] So this was a Blessing!

The 1st night, outside the barn, Eclipse got a full exam, including a rectal. For those not familiar with an equine rectal: it’s an arm [up to the elbow] in his butt.

On the 2nd night, Eclipse saw the vet setup his tools in the exact same spot as the night before. He quietly walked to the very end of the ring and stood with his back facing the barn, turning his head occasionally to see if I was coming. I purposely left him alone because I wanted to see what he would do. I wasn't disappointed!

The vet decided he needed more light, so he moved his tools inside the barn aisle. I noticed Eclipse saw this and he slowly started to walk back to the barn. Hehe! I clipped him to the cross ties and the vet administered the fluids. This gets better, I promise!

On the 3rd night, the vet setup his tools outside where he had the first night and Eclipse immediately started to walk away, but soon as he saw the vet move the tools back into the barn, didn't he turn around and come right back into the barn aisle all by himself. Didn't he turn around exactly at the cross ties where he gets the IV.

Every night for the next 14 nights, it was the same routine: soon as Eclipse heard the vet’s truck, he would walk into the barn aisle, on his own; turn around and stand right at the cross ties waiting for the vet. The vet was astonished. Said he's never seen a horse do this before! Of course he didn't know Eclipse!

I'm pretty certain if the vet had put his tools outside the barn again, Eclipse would act the same way he did the 2nd night; walk away! ha-ha!

Eclipse was so relieved he wasn't getting another rectal, that the IV seemed like a party. I mean, he'd actually twirl the cross ties while the IV was in his neck.

The grocery store had a huge sale on Delicious apples so I purchased close to 20 pounds, plus an apple slicer. I was so upset that it wasn't until I was 10 miles away from the store, on the way to the barn before I remembered I left the apples in front of the store! *SIGH*. Eclipse ate apple slices all day long & loved it! I loved I was getting moisture in him.


Updated: 22-Nov-2011