Rescued Minis

[MiMi Susan]

I just rescued 3 registered mini cuties. They are in sad shape - mane & tail long & matted. One filly is real skinny but very sweet (16 mo old). The mare & her foal (a 15 mo old filly) are in good shape but have long matted tails/manes (act as if they have never been worked). I have them confined right now. Want them to get used to me & have started them on a feeding regimine. I am taking them to the vet this weekend. What should I have him check/do on this first visit? I haven't wormed them yet but plan to this evening. I read on this site about mixing the med in with their food. Great idea! Just brought them home on Sunday evening but they all 3 run right up to me to eat out of the bucket. I am a real greenhorn so could use all the advise I can get. I'm already in love!

[horselady]

Welcome to ht first of all, you need to make your intros. and second just let them get to know you and trust. and use baby oil on their manes and tails to take out any knots, I have used skin so soft from avon and it works wonders and smells good.
have the vet just do a simple exam and worm them, start shots include tetnus and do not over feed if they make you feel guilty, a salt block and hay is all they need.and good for you for saving them.
and if they are registered, get that paper work in to the office with you as owner asap

[LoveMyHorse18]

okay sorry, but this makes me sick, no offense to anybody/thing.. but minis?! needing RESCUED?! they stay fat on AIR!
Sorry, it just makes me soo mad to see ANY animal suffering, but a mini? c'mon. this is getting ridiculous!

ETA:
Thank you very much for rescuing them though, the world needs more people like you!

[qtrhorse1993]

welcome,..wish i had something to add..but its hard to say what to do. you dont want to shock their systems, dont feed to much to fast so they dont founder or colic...you have already planned to take them to the vet, keep us posted. they can get fat quickly and on very little. please be careful what you give them.

[kaykay]

Welcome to the world of minis!

I have to strongly agree with the above post. Do not feed them up to quickly or you will run into health problems. With thin horses we always feed them up for a week on hay only then slowly add grain. I do not deworm them until I have put a few pounds on them.

Also go slow with handling and training. Horses really stress when moved and thin ones stress even more. Watch for signs of ulcers.

I also would not vaccinate until they have gained weight and even then I would do the minimum (no 5 ways etc)

Lovemyhorse you would not believe how many thin minis CMHR has rescued. Alot of people mistakenly believe the "handful of hay" is enough for a mini but it is definitely not. Some are easy keepers but there are hard keepers even in minis. Pregnant mares and young growing foals take a lot of feed

[MiMi Susan]

Thanks so much for all the advice offered. I've been doing a lot of research on how to best help these poor little gals. My heart broke when I saw these 3 little gals (expecially the one little filly). She is so sad looking. Her backbone sticks up & she is just skin & bones. Her poor little hooves stick way out in front, don't really know how to describe them. They almost look deformed. I have to feed her separately because the other 2 new girls don't let her eat. Even though she's ugly I already love her dearly!! I'm praying I can turn her around & have a happy filly.

I have 2 other minis but they are in excellent health & were bought from reputible breeders. They were both already halter broke & extremely gentle.

Once I gain the confidence of the 3 new girls I'll start halter breaking them so I can have the farrier come take care of their feet. Like I said on my first post I'm new to the horse business & can sure use advice.

Thanks again!

[singing tree]

Unfortunately, its sounds like the thin one with the "funny" hooves has foundered. That means that the coffin bone in the foot that is normally suspended had fallen, and caused the hooves to grow out to the front. Proper trimming can help, but the hooves will never be totally normal again. So you really need to bring her back to a good weight slowly, and you dare not feed her much grain if any. I'm sure the vet will fill you in on how to handle things from here.
Thanks for taking them in though!

[MiMi Susan]

Singing Tree, After reading your post I did a little research on the web. None of the photos of "foundered" hooves looked like the hooves on the poor little girl I have. Maybe her hooves are just really long. I'm probably just wishful thinking. Hopefully I'll know more after the vet vist.

I don't have a clue what this little filly has gone through but from the looks of her she's had a bad life in her 16 months. I just want her to be happy & healthy. She's a loving little sweetheart.

Her mane was so matted & nasty that I just gave it a good haircut yesterday. She looks better even with no mane. I know people will probably cringe that I cut it off but if they saw how bad it was maybe they would understand why I did it.

Thanks so much everyone for all your help. I really appreciate it.

[giddyupgrandma]

I adopted my two registered minis in May. One was extremely overweight and the other little gal was skin and bones covered in a winter coat. Poor nutrition since birth left her with very crooked legs and bleeding ulcers. She was so sick on the day I brought her home, that she could not stand up. My husband would pick her up and hold her up several times an hour. (He is not a "horse person!") We watched her all night long until our vet arrived in the morning. We hand fed her. After 24 hours on the ulcer medication, her appetite returned. When the weather got really warm, we had to shave her furry coat off. She never shed out on her own. We still feed her by herself so she gets enough to eat. But I wish I knew how to post pictures, because she is absolutely adorable. Light exercise has built her muscles up and she no longer has crooked legs. I thought she was the ugliest mini I had ever seen, but now everyone agrees she is very cute. She is only three years old. So, your homely little mini may still turn into a beauty.
I am still having trouble getting weight off my other mini. She is pregnant and due in April. We found that out after we adopted her. She is dominant and must have been eating all the food. I know kaykay advised me not to change her diet drastically while she is pregnant, so I have not. Good luck with your minis. I never owned a mini until I got these girls and I am just in love with them.

[kaykay]

I dont see any pictures?

Kay

[singing tree]

Well, it would certainly be a bonus if she is not foundered. Hope you are right on that! Of course some pics would be helpful....

[pegzee]

does anyone know anything about conversion kit to put 2 mini harnesses together?Or should i buy a team harness.I have 3 drivers.I have 2 that will go together as a pair.Any info would be appreciated.peg

[sundancer maiden]

There is no reason to believe the Mini has foundered. When a horses hooves get really over grown they go forward, look like leprecan (sp?) shoes.

[Deanna]

There is a great horse thinning blade that works excellent for mats on horses it is a manesaver and works great for thinning before shows. http://www.kyhorse.com/store/groomin...inningrake.htm

[horselady]

There really is no reason to say she has foundered, seems to me just plane neglect, just feed and trim her feet and use baby oil for the matted mane and tails, I have used spray pam also, and just let these poor girls eat good hay and have some love, they will bounce back and it will take time. do not over do with vet, shots, or food that will cause more harm than good, and hold off worming until they are beginning to put on weight and are eating properly.
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[qtrhorse1993]

can we see pics please....??

[MiMi Susan]

I'll take some pics tonight & try to upload them. Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate it.

The little "ratty" horse is so loveable. She follows me around like a puppy. Still won't let me brush her but hopefully soon she'll trust me enough. My granddaughters came over on Sat & she let them both pet & love on her. She's extremely gentle & loves to be petted. Can't say the same for the other two although they do both come to me if I have food. Still won't let me touch them.

[MiMi Susan]

Let's try this again..... Photos of Matty (the one in the worst shape)

[MiMi Susan]

The little mare & her filly.

[horselady]

Cute little horses, just need tlc and good trims, will bring feet under and leg back where they should be. and Time. that is all it is going to take.
I would add a little corn oil to the food, that will help shine up the coat and add oil to the skin.
Post in 6 months what they look like, ok.?