About Our Host
HorseGirlTV™ is a semi-monthly vidcast hosted by Angelea Kelly Walkup. The show takes the classic world of horses and plugs it into the wired generation. Tune in. Tack up.™ More Info »
In The News...
Join Team HorseGirlTV
Subscribe to Podcast, FREE
Add As Myspace Friend
Search Professional and Facility Listings
Search The Marketplace
In The News...
"HorseGirlTV" and "Tune in. Tack up." are trademarks of HorseGirlTV LLC.
Terms of Use. Privacy Policy.
Story Submission • May 01, 2008
A Pony Named Dapples
The emergency call came in around 10:00 Monday morning. A pony was down in the pasture with laminitis, and her owner had no dry lot to keep her on. The Equamore rescue team went into action with truck, trailer and cameras.
Stepping out of the truck, I did several double-takes trying to distinguish the pony's feet from the surrounding rock and scrub she was standing in. As I drew near to Dapples, a flurry of overgrown hoof terms hit me: "Aladdin slippers", "Dutch Shoes", and "Ski slopes". They all meant one thing, and that was shocking neglect. She wasn't actively foundering at all; but she could hardly walk with six inches of toe on each foot.
Dapples stood quietly while her caretaker told us her story. She had been a "Party Pony" until the business folded two years ago, and the caretaker agreed to take her on. This was good news for Julie, a lovely white mare who had lived alone in the pasture for 20 years. Dapples and Julie live d their live nibbling at the scrubby pasture and got a little hay in the winter, but not much more.
As we began to lead Dapples slowly to the trailer, Julie clearly began to suffer with the thought of losing her little pasture mate, running along the fence and whinnying loudly. The decision to take them both was made quickly and Linda entered the pasture to halter JUlie for the ride back home to Eden Farm. After a few moments of hesitation, Julie seemed to understand what was happening and allowed Linda to slip the halter onto her head. Julie went first and loaded beautifully, calling for Dapples who was close behind. Despite her long toes, Dapples managed to clamber into the trailer without hesitating and we headed for Equamore.
To read what happened to Dapples and Julie after their arrival to their new home, please check out Equamore's site at http://www.equamorefoundation.org
