Di, a senior Shetland Pony, came to our attention this winter from concerned neighbors. With hooves that curled up and nearly touched her legs, a mane and tale full of cockleburrs, she was observed being unable to walk far and spending the majority of her time lying down. Her owner, who inherited her, fed her senior feed and she wasn't in bad weight, but for various reasons had not been able to get her hooves trimmed for a long, long time. Ultimately she was allowed to come to GSH, after he attempted to help her hooves himself and cut all the burrs out, so she could get the care she needed.
Initially trimmed by our Iowa farriers, it became apparent she would need more care, and possibly x-rays. As she became more active and weather permitted, she was brought to South Dakota and was seen by our farrier. She was rescheduled to be taken to the vet for sedation and possible x-rays, due to the amount of corrective work that needed to be done. And today, she has cute little hooves!
She has foundered in the past but her hooves are in better shape than expected. She is reported to be 23, but our vets wouldn't be surprised if she was older. Either way, she's a sweet senior pony who will likely return to Iowa when her rehab is done to work with the small Bug Club program there.
Di could use a sponsor - interested? http://gentlespirithorses.org/donate