Penny

In late May, 2012, we agreed to take in a 20 year old mare. Our local friend had gotten her for Christmas. Penny was unable to compete with the other animals for food and was losing weight. Then someone moved in next to them with a Clydesdale stallion and have him contained by a flimsy electric fence. Mary was afraid the stallion would end up at her place and go after Penny. When our vet came out to do a dental on her, he said she was about 22 years old. Penny  is gaining weight on free choice hay and some supplements. She also has a dental scheduled and we have also been treating her infected hooves and skin fungus. Rusty, the old Arab gelding, fell in love with her immediately and they are inseparable.

Penny and Rusty- love at first sight!

Although a farrier had recently told Penny’s owner she did not need a trim, he apparently had not looked at the bottoms of her feet. She has thrush (a fungal infection) and her bars were overgrown and laid over. I trimmed the dead frog tissue and the bars and did a bit of a mustang roll on the hoof walls. The walls have white line disease and separation, caused by the fungal infection. I soaked her in apple cider vinegar and then dusted her feet with antimicrobial hoof powder after I trimmed them. We will continue with weekly soakings in Oxine until the infection clears up.

Penny with horrible bar overgrowth and excess callous

Penny's much improved hoof

Penny a few days after arriving

Update Aug. 30. Penny has gained about 100 pounds and her skin is healed and her hooves are in great shape after multiple trims. Here she is playing in the rain with Rusty.

Penny has gained a lot of weight, her feet are greatly improved and she really enjoys her life with Big Rusty and Warrior.

Penny

Penny after 9 months here