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Liz Mitten Ryan owns a 320-acre horse sanctuary where she raises horses with free roaming rights on her property. When she heard noises coming from her barn, she investigated. She found 7 horses inside the tiny barn sleeping.
I see seven horses that ate something that not only acted like a sedative but appears to have induced mild colic in a couple of the horses.
I have to wonder if whatever she fed them, or even their hay, may have had something toxic that she was not aware of.
I hope the end of this story wasn't a call to the vet
They are all in good health with great coats but seeing seven horses sharing the barn floor to sleep is not something that ever happens.
I know there are other experienced horse owners on here, hopefully they will share their thoughts
I had the same thoughts. I didn't think it was normal for horses to lay down like that. My father owned a horse for a couple years and I only saw the horse once laying down. Even then she was awake and didn't stay laying down long. She mostly slept standing up.
They didn't look colicy to me. None were pawing, nosing their sides, rolling violently, getting up and down to repeatedly roll, displaying flehmen response, or kicking at their bellies.
Horses will often nap as a group. Usually one horse will stay standing to act as a lookout. Drive by a pasture on a sunny day midmorning, and you will often find a bunch sunbathing laying down.
They didn't look colicy to me. None were pawing, nosing their sides, rolling violently, getting up and down to repeatedly roll, displaying flehmen response, or kicking at their bellies.
Horses will often nap as a group. Usually one horse will stay standing to act as a lookout. Drive by a pasture on a sunny day midmorning, and you will often find a bunch sunbathing laying down.
Agreed. I have seen 7-8 horses napping together outside, in the sun with another standing guard. I have never seen them crowd together in a barn, especially when the article said they have 320 acres.
I saw some really subtle colic signs on a couple of them. Horses are prey animals and hide their discomforts fairly well, unless the pain gets too bad.
I've had horses with mild colic from drinking cold creek water. All they did was sit down. Deer fashion with their noses tucked behind their legs. I'd had them for years and knew this wasn't normal behavior so I called the vet. Sure enough they were in colic mode. Maye they would have worked their way out of that mild colic on their own but I wasn't taking chances.
Agreed. I have seen 7-8 horses napping together outside, in the sun with another standing guard. I have never seen them crowd together in a barn, especially when the article said they have 320 acres.
I saw some really subtle colic signs on a couple of them. Horses are prey animals and hide their discomforts fairly well, unless the pain gets too bad.
I've had horses with mild colic from drinking cold creek water. All they did was sit down. Deer fashion with their noses tucked behind their legs. I'd had them for years and knew this wasn't normal behavior so I called the vet. Sure enough they were in colic mode. Maye they would have worked their way out of that mild colic on their own but I wasn't taking chances.
Right again, both my uncles trained and showed....and I grew up around horses all my life, had two of my own...and this just isn't right...
I've seen mild colic and severe colic...and quit frankly, it annoys me that someone would take a video of this thinking it is funny....horses do not lay down together in a barn like that....
Right again, both my uncles trained and showed....and I grew up around horses all my life, had two of my own...and this just isn't right...
I've seen mild colic and severe colic...and quit frankly, it annoys me that someone would take a video of this thinking it is funny....horses do not lay down together in a barn like that....
My best to you
I didn't re-read the article but I think this is a rescue place.
One would think they would have enough common sense to know something isn't quite right when seven horses lay down in a barn and some of them are passing excessive gas.
The majority of people who do rescues, of any type of critter, have their best interest at heart. It would be nice if these people understood there is more to an animal than a shiny coat and a full tummy, and learn some basic medical care for the animals.
We can hope all the horses worked thru whatever made them sick, in spite of the apparent stupidity of the person taking the video.
I would have had a near-meltdown if that had been my horses and telling my vet clinic I didn't care who came to the farm, just get someone here "five minutes ago".
I didn't re-read the article but I think this is a rescue place.
One would think they would have enough common sense to know something isn't quite right when seven horses lay down in a barn and some of them are passing excessive gas.
The majority of people who do rescues, of any type of critter, have their best interest at heart. It would be nice if these people understood there is more to an animal than a shiny coat and a full tummy, and learn some basic medical care for the animals.
We can hope all the horses worked thru whatever made them sick, in spite of the apparent stupidity of the person taking the video.
I would have had a near-meltdown if that had been my horses and telling my vet clinic I didn't care who came to the farm, just get someone here "five minutes ago".
While I do believe there are rescuers out there who do good by animals, I also believe just like anything else, that a lot of rescues are in it for the money....due to a personal experience and the fact that no one is fighting to close down puppy mills. Why? That to me, would be the very first thing any rescue would want to encourage our leaders to do, to outlaw puppy mills once and for all...
There are tons of people working with rescues, that don't know anything about the warning signs of sickness in animals...they are doing a good thing, however, like you say...I can't agree with you more.
Like the parents who take videos of their kids riding dogs, etc....they just don't seem to know any better.
As I said, both my uncles raised, showed, rode in shows, trained and bred horses....so...something just isn't right in this photo...
I had the same thoughts. I didn't think it was normal for horses to lay down like that.
No usually they do not UNLESS THEY ARE NOT FEELING GOOD........
I do hope they were all OK!!
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