Sparky's First Week at Home

After the first day (See Sparky1), the next couple of days were cold and rainy. We continued to visit Sparky often, to pet and brush and comfort him, occasionally to halter and lead him, but didn't push him to learn anything new.

We took his halter off, as we were concerned he might catch his foot in it when he scratched his head (it is a bit too large for him) and he is now tame enough not to need it except when actively being lead.

We are trying to clean Sparky - he is just a mess. His coat is full of "dreadlocks" of knotted hair wound around seeds and sand. His coat is actually nice and soft, once it is cleaned up.

Sparky does not seem too healthy - very droopy and slow. He seems a little tender-footed, and he coughs and has a snotty nose. 

He's just the opposite of Ruby her first few days with us - she was hyper and excitable. Once in awhile after we have petted and brushed him and made over him for awhile, his face changes and he looks really happy and alert - like a normal horse. Then he goes back to his sad-sack face.

After the horses left, Sparky actually sparked! He ran and bucked around the pen. This is the first time we have seen him show this much animation. He's SO CUTE when he runs and bucks!

On the other hand, it's two steps forward but another step back: his cough and snotty nose are worse today. 

You have to be very careful worming a heavily infested young one. If you kill all the worms at once, their little digestive systems can't handle it (they are not meat eaters, after all) and they can become impacted or even toxic. So we're giving small doses at 5 day intervals.

The initial worming (1/2 dose) has definitely brought results. He's shedding out now and putting on weight. But his right eye tears constantly and is red. He has rubbed all the fur off that eyelid, indicating a long-standing problem. 

He had a big fungus patch on his face, but that is about all gone now. 

He still has a cough and his energy level is low. He seems droopy and depressed, and never runs.

I am amazed how fast he learns, despite his overall poor health and seeming "out-of-it" demeanor.

It is amazing how "soft" he is on the lead rope. Just the slightest pull is all you need to communicate a turn or a stop. As long as the dogs are in the house, nothing freaks him out. 

He does panic if the dogs are around while he is taking a walk in his halter and lead rope..

On the other hand, he responds very well to slow, gentle movements and voice tones. 

Once in awhile he forgets everything and goes back to being a scared wild horse. He panics, rears up, and runs to the far end of the pen.

The only way to get him back is to stand very still and then approach him very slowly and gently, reassuring him that he doesn't need to fear. Then all of you can see his face sort of go, "Oh, yeah! I forgot!" and he lets down, softens, and comes over to be petted or haltered.

Grooming: He enjoys being groomed, and it feels good to all of us (including Sparky) to get all that caked-on dirt, snarls and tangles off him. It's good de-sensitization, too, to handle him all over his body.

Saturday, April 28 Michael worked again with his hooves and was able to clean the front ones. He dug two large stones out of one foot, which may explain his weird foot action. Immediately his gait improved.

Wiley and Sparky seem to have a special friendship established. Sparky grooms Wiley, and Wiley just lies there and accepts it. Here is the ultimate test: Wiley is cooling off in Sparky's water trough, and Sparky, though curious, does not protest.