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Post by pdevlieg on Feb 27, 2006 20:14:27 GMT -5
Hey CE - thanks for taking care of this lost soul. I hope she gets a forever home soon. She deserves some stability in her life.
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Post by critterseverywhere on Feb 28, 2006 0:00:33 GMT -5
Rain was pretty sore when I got to the barn tonight. She was definitely still mentally engaged with me and less depressed than her first few weeks here, but I would say back to being as sore. There was also quite a bit of swelling in her legs. She was having a hard time making it over the little lip betwee her stall and run so we're moving her back over to the side with just a stall. I'm considering the possiblity of bringing her home to my place when Azalea goes to Peri. That way she would be able to move in & out of her stall w/o having to step up (keeping her moving is better for her) and Basset could have her space for evaluation & training. I've had a ton of serious inquiries on Basset, but they all want to know more about what she would be like under saddle which is something we don't know for sure yet.
I think it is going to be very difficult to find a home for Rain that can provide for all of her special needs and also be prepared that she could take a sudden down-turn at any time. She has a ton of love to give though and I sure enjoy spending time with her. Such a sweet ol' gal! (though she was too tired to feel social tonight, and actually nipped at Laney. Poor Laney was soooo confused! Normally, though Laney is the boss, it is Laney who protects and almost 'mothers' Rain when she isn't feeling well, but Laney was really playful tonight. Once she figured out that Rain really wasn't feeling well, she left her alone to try to get me to play with her instead...such a good little filly!)
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Post by bryn on Feb 28, 2006 6:09:35 GMT -5
Thank you CE. It sounds like, once again, you have a good plan. I support your proposal.
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Post by nalasmom on Feb 28, 2006 12:15:44 GMT -5
I support you CE as well! Thank you for all you have done!
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Post by critterseverywhere on Mar 2, 2006 12:03:55 GMT -5
For anyone wondering how Rain is doing... Rain goes up, Rain comes down. Weds was the worst I've ever seen her, Thur-Fri were good days, Sat was so-so, Sun & Mon absolutely AWFUL, Tues so-so, yesterday bad mentally but decent physically. It goes on.... There doesn't seem to be any way of knowing whether it's going to be a day where she feels like a 15 year old and looks awesome, or a day when she can barely stand. I've tried and tried to figure out some type of correlation. Does she feel better when she's turned out for 1 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours? Alone or with Laney/Azalea? (with Azalea=bad) Does she feel better or worse if you force her to exercise? Does the weather make a difference? Does it matter if a storm is moving in or out? Is she better/worse at certain times of day? I haven't been able to find ANYTHING that is consistent. The only things that I know for absolute certainty are that: 1) If she misses even 1 day of her probiotics, she gets cowpatties 2) If I had any type of painkillers (bute, etc) to her food, she gets cowpatties 3) She's in better shape than when she came by leagues in most areas, but the healthier she gets overall, the more obvious the hind-end problems become. 4) She's a smart, strong-willed horse who has the wisest eyes I've ever known and I am so, so sorry there isn't more I can do for her
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Post by pdevlieg on Mar 2, 2006 12:09:25 GMT -5
CE - thank you for the updates. It must be very hard for you to watch her everyday. My 7 year old daughter is absolutely in love with this old lady, so give her a kiss from Marina next time you see her.
Thanks!
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Post by critterseverywhere on Mar 5, 2006 11:15:05 GMT -5
Rain was feeling pretty good this weekend...which was nice because she had company! Cardicorgi & certifiedgirl came out to visit her and Laney AND they brought treats ;D I was glad they were able to visit Rain on a day where she physically felt pretty good (even though she was a little crabby until she saw her favorite thing in the whole wide world...TREATS!). Cardi brought quite the selection and Rain has already figured out that the rustle of a paper bag is nearly as exciting as hearing the feed buckets being clunked around. (She isn't real impressed with the licorice...but boy does she love the apple treats!)
We had moved Rain into a stall with attached run, but she wasn't always able to navigate the step up/down (not a big step...the narrow side of a RR tie) and we were concerned about her not always coming inside as often as she needed to to drink/eat/get out of the weather (though she wears a blanket when the weather is cool or wet). So now Laney has the run and Rain is back in a regular stall. They both seem happy that way so I think we're going to stick with that plan for awhile.
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Post by cardicorgi on Mar 6, 2006 12:06:31 GMT -5
I was thankful too to see her on a good day! She had an almost feisty look in her eye when CE led her out, it was good to see. Once again, CE, thanks for being such a good steward for her, she looks good!
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Post by critterseverywhere on Mar 11, 2006 22:31:42 GMT -5
Cassie & I delivered Rain to her new home on Friday. Technically, this is a foster home, but I have a feeling we may need a pry-bar to get her away from there! The family fostering her used to board out at Cassie's while they were buying then building their new property. They have an older gelding who is just a little younger than Rain, but with similar level of physical impairment (arthritis) as well as a 2 year old grade filly. Neither of their horses are riding horses but they get lots of love, attention, and live on a gorgeous property. The property has 35 acres fenced with vinyl fencing and a 3 stall barn for the horses. (Rain is in heaven...35 acres for 3 horses means grass all year round and no mud even in rainy western Washington!). The horses get brought into their spacious stalls each night and get grain morning and night so there is no problem with Rain getting her senior feed and joint supplements. When I unloaded Rain and introduced her over the fence to Mark (older gelding) and Jenny (young filly), there was no squealing or posturing...just some quiet snuffling then back to visiting with the humans. Although we had originally planned on letting them get to know each other over a fence for awhile, we decided there really wasn't much trouble they were likely to get into in that big of a pasture and Rain was feeling really good. So we turned Rain out with Mark and Jenny. Jenny came up and thought she was going to be fiesty (She's been known to be a bit pushy at times. Hey, she's 2! ) Rain cocked one leg at her and pinned her ears a bit and Jenny decided that there was something really interesting at the other end of the pasture. lol Smart filly! Mark, on the other hand, was a gentleman and is showing signs of having found his soul mate! He and Rain immediately moved off to begin grazing side by side. Rain's foster mom reports that they haven't left each other's side since. ;D I just love a happy ending! ;D (I didn't cry when I saw her instant friendship with Mark in her beautiful new home. I didn't. Really. I swear. erm...well, maybe a little
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Post by horsekrazi on Mar 11, 2006 22:41:32 GMT -5
Yay for Rain! I am so glad to see that many of the horses are now finding their new, forever homes!
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Post by pdevlieg on Mar 13, 2006 12:23:41 GMT -5
I'm so happy to hear that Rain's transition went well. Thanks for the sweet story CE, maybe a happy ending!
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Post by safehorses on Mar 13, 2006 13:08:20 GMT -5
Thank you for such a great description of Rain in her new home...I am sooooo happy for the old gal. Thanks CE!
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Post by schwung on Mar 27, 2006 19:36:09 GMT -5
I spoke to Rain's adoptor just the other day. She adores her and promises Rain has a home for life. After a little eduction in manners (she's a little pushy on the ground), she is now sweet and calm enough for her children to handle. She's eating a ton and doing great, and the best part is she is running and even bucking with her two other horses. She lives in a 15-acre pasture with two other horses. Her primary purpose is to be a companion to the other retired gelding so that he doesn't get lonely when the 3 year old goes out to work. She's serving her purpose well. It doesn't sound like Rainbow could have asked for a better home.
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Post by horsekrazi on Apr 11, 2006 21:48:04 GMT -5
Glad to hear she is enjoying herself! What a great place to spend the rest of her days.
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Post by gypsygirl on Apr 24, 2006 22:05:47 GMT -5
I am so happy for Rainbow. She is such a sweet gal. We need to talk these folks into a photo or two in her new home or her landing spot forevert till adopted. What city did she land in? If they are close I would love to bring her an apple by
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