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Mare Treated for Potentially Life Threatening
Hoof Infections
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One of our older mares, Adhara (mother of Bellatrix II) began to limp in January. We try to not intervene more than necessary, but by April she wasn't any better. Dr. Robert Allen, DVM, was flown in from Freeport to assess the sitaution and to treat her. Xylazine tranqulizer was delivered by blowpipe and Adhara stood quietly while her forefeet were exmined. An attack of thrush was clearing up in her right hoof.
Her left hoof showed no signs of abscess, but over rich feed may have been affecting her blood chemistry, thus affecting her hooves. She was treated with Penicillin and Banamine, and the pencillin therapy continued for two more days.
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This sounds simple, but remember, these are wild horses, and while they tolerate Rehor's presence (Milanne -Mimi - Rehor, founder of Arkwild, Inc. and head of the Abaco Wild Horse Project) and enoy her scratches and rubs, they do not enjoy the process of being darted and having the darts retrieved. Ouyr precedent setting treatment of hte mare Nunki involved two people, and Nunki is far more tolerant of huma presence than Adhara. Adhara has always been much more aloof.
By the third day of treatment it would have been difficult to get a shot into Adhara, and it was obvious that there would be no dart retrieval even if the shot was successful. Rather than lose the dart or risk having the needle stay in her, treatment was stopped. Adhara eventually let Rehor near again and in the meantime her lameness improved. The incident was simply another in the long list of hoof treatments we have carried out, and underscores again the need to get the horses into their own forest preserve. It appears that progress is being made in this direction.
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