Chronicles of Junior

This past Tuesday, we brought into our Sanctuary a senior equine. I only know a snippet of his past (what his previous owner did with him). We are also guessing at his age because we were told 20+. I am aging him at 25 years old simply to set an age. He is thinner than I prefer but the previous owner said that what he looked like on Tuesday was his standard weight that he's been at for the entire time they have owned him.

 

I would like to chronicle our newest senior equine's stay at the Sanctuary in this blog. He is the typical senior equine with a few standard aches and pains, and weight issues that many senior equines face these days.

 

Junior is now on dairy quality hay fed twice a day (6am and 6pm). This hay is from a 3x3 square bale and he receives an entire "sliver". (Typically horses at the Sanctuary receive a half a "sliver" from a 3x3 bale.) He is also fed a "sliver" of alfalfa from a small square bale. Neither the hay or the alfalfa is weighed at this time. He is in with two other horses so figuring out exactly how much he eats is unknown. I am considering stalling him at night so that he has 12 hours to eat hay and alfalfa without any interruptions. He is also receiving one scoop of Nutrena Senior and a half a scoop of Calf Manna. Again, neither are measured. His grain ration is currently being soaked with cold water but will switch to warm water with the drop in temperature. I'm also considering adding beet pulp in a week or two once he's adjusted to his surroundings and routine.

 

We are only in November but the temperatures are in the low 20 degree Fahrenheit for highs and in the single digits for lows.  The wind chills are in the teens below zero (Fahrenheit). He has a thick winter coat already but I am contemplating putting a blanket on to ward against chill. I know blanketing is a touchy subject but thin and old horses on occasion need additional "support" to get them through winter.

 

Junior is hard to catch but if I pull him out every night to at minimum eat his grain (or to stall overnight), I expect he'll become easier to catch.

 

He does currently have front shoes on and I will be making a phone call to my farrier to have the shoes pulled and front feet trimmed before we receive any more snow (or ice). We are not allowed to trim Junior's left rear leg. If it becomes necessary to trim, Junior will require heavy sedation (per the previous owner and myself after watching how he reacted to asking for his left rear foot).

 

He's also an absolute doll and will meet you at the gate. He is a touch-me-not horse but that could stem from his past or his general personality. We'll never know.

 

Please welcome Junior to the Sanctuary because he is now "home".