Post by schwung on Dec 7, 2008 21:49:54 GMT -5
Jasmine (registered name "La Zhara") is one of several of the Snohomish County horses from the Jean Elledge case that we have been caring for since March. Jasmine, as many of you are aware, was seized by the county from Jean Elledge at the end of February and taken to the Enumclaw auction to be boarded, along with her young filly, Ella. They were there for two weeks before being seen by bystanders at the public auction, and by that time both Jasmine and her foal were in incredibly poor condition (Ella being near death). When the vet came out that night to check on them, she ended up taking Jasmine, Ella and Dory that night to her house to care for them. The auction owner informed her that Jasmine had also aborted a foal earlier that week (and he didn't think that important to tell someone, earlier??). As it turned out, Jasmine had retained some of the placenta and had a roaring uterine infection and was very, very ill in addition to being in horrendous condition. Ella was put in a sling and given plasma, and Jasmine had to have her uterus flushed and be put on antibiotics.
After a week and a half of recovery at the vet's, they were strong enough to come to SAFE. Ella was still very weak and had to be trailered separately from her dam in case she needed to lie down in the trailer, so she wouldn't get stepped on. Upon arrival, Jasmine was cooperative enough but completely shut down and really didn't "see" people. I've since learned that Jasmine ran wild at Jean's for years, that no one could catch her, and she just used her as a baby factory.
For the first month, Jasmine and Ella were stalled at night and out during the day, so she got regularly handled. It wasn't until that warm day arrived and Allison and I decided to give them both a bath that I discovered the other side of Jasmine - which is that if she decides she doesn't like what you are doing with her, she bolts. Rips the lead rope out of your hands and takes off. Jasmine has a scar over her nose where no hair will grow, right where the halter lies. I would not be surprised if she got that scar using this trick in the past. She's very smart about it...she doesn't give you any warning before she bolts, and there is NO stopping her. After she tried this trick several times that day, Allison and I gave up on her bath, and instead she got to graze nearby while Ella got a bath.
Having her feet done was also on the "I don't like this" list, as well as getting wormed. Jasmine was a master at using her weight against us, and at getting away with what SHE wanted to do. Retraining her was going to be a challenge, but we are always up for a challenge!
But if you weren't doing anything she objected to, Jasmine was not a difficult mare to work with. Jodycat had Dennis Wright out to work with several of the horses (a very generous donation on her part), and I pulled Jasmine out thinking she would be the worst of the bunch. Instead, Jasmine was the most well-behaved, and did everything he asked her to do willingly. We had him check her to see if he thought she was broke, and while she cared less about him leaning on her and putting his arms around her belly and squeezing, she also didn't seem to know anything either, so he surmised she is not broke.
Sadly, we lost little Ella, and Jasmine knew before we did that Ella was not going to survive, as when the vet came to take Ella back to her clinic to put her in a sling and try to revive her, and Jasmine was led away from her, Jasmine never once looked back, and never once called to her filly. Instead she rejoined the herd of mares at a dead run and went back to life as if Ella never existed. I guess maybe that's nature.
Anyway, Jasmine recovered extremely well and by the summer was a fat, gleaming mare. She's a big girl, a good 15-15.2 hands but she's also wide as she is tall, she looks like to ride her bareback would be sitting on a sofa. She remains aloof at times but she is now generally easy to catch, and is starting to show more interest in people. She is a very energetic girl for her age, and she loved to fun full tilt as fast as she could - towards us for her food, away from us if she thought we were going to make her do something, and often just for the pure joy of it. She might not be slender, but she can run! She has one slightly enlarged knee, but it has never seemed to bother her and appears to be an old injury. She's getting better about her feet, but still a little difficult with her hind feet. Fortunately, she has great feet!
Jasmine is currently being fostered with Julie at Edensgate farm. Eventually, we will have her started under saddle, and she will retire from being a baby factory and begin a new career, at age 18, as a riding horse.
Photos of Jasmine at the auction (photos courtesy of cathy):
1 1/2 months after seizure:
With Ella:
Two months:
Photos courtesy of Monica:
And, over the summer (also courtesy of Monica):
Doing what Jasmine loves to do best, running full tilt:
After a week and a half of recovery at the vet's, they were strong enough to come to SAFE. Ella was still very weak and had to be trailered separately from her dam in case she needed to lie down in the trailer, so she wouldn't get stepped on. Upon arrival, Jasmine was cooperative enough but completely shut down and really didn't "see" people. I've since learned that Jasmine ran wild at Jean's for years, that no one could catch her, and she just used her as a baby factory.
For the first month, Jasmine and Ella were stalled at night and out during the day, so she got regularly handled. It wasn't until that warm day arrived and Allison and I decided to give them both a bath that I discovered the other side of Jasmine - which is that if she decides she doesn't like what you are doing with her, she bolts. Rips the lead rope out of your hands and takes off. Jasmine has a scar over her nose where no hair will grow, right where the halter lies. I would not be surprised if she got that scar using this trick in the past. She's very smart about it...she doesn't give you any warning before she bolts, and there is NO stopping her. After she tried this trick several times that day, Allison and I gave up on her bath, and instead she got to graze nearby while Ella got a bath.
Having her feet done was also on the "I don't like this" list, as well as getting wormed. Jasmine was a master at using her weight against us, and at getting away with what SHE wanted to do. Retraining her was going to be a challenge, but we are always up for a challenge!
But if you weren't doing anything she objected to, Jasmine was not a difficult mare to work with. Jodycat had Dennis Wright out to work with several of the horses (a very generous donation on her part), and I pulled Jasmine out thinking she would be the worst of the bunch. Instead, Jasmine was the most well-behaved, and did everything he asked her to do willingly. We had him check her to see if he thought she was broke, and while she cared less about him leaning on her and putting his arms around her belly and squeezing, she also didn't seem to know anything either, so he surmised she is not broke.
Sadly, we lost little Ella, and Jasmine knew before we did that Ella was not going to survive, as when the vet came to take Ella back to her clinic to put her in a sling and try to revive her, and Jasmine was led away from her, Jasmine never once looked back, and never once called to her filly. Instead she rejoined the herd of mares at a dead run and went back to life as if Ella never existed. I guess maybe that's nature.
Anyway, Jasmine recovered extremely well and by the summer was a fat, gleaming mare. She's a big girl, a good 15-15.2 hands but she's also wide as she is tall, she looks like to ride her bareback would be sitting on a sofa. She remains aloof at times but she is now generally easy to catch, and is starting to show more interest in people. She is a very energetic girl for her age, and she loved to fun full tilt as fast as she could - towards us for her food, away from us if she thought we were going to make her do something, and often just for the pure joy of it. She might not be slender, but she can run! She has one slightly enlarged knee, but it has never seemed to bother her and appears to be an old injury. She's getting better about her feet, but still a little difficult with her hind feet. Fortunately, she has great feet!
Jasmine is currently being fostered with Julie at Edensgate farm. Eventually, we will have her started under saddle, and she will retire from being a baby factory and begin a new career, at age 18, as a riding horse.
Photos of Jasmine at the auction (photos courtesy of cathy):
1 1/2 months after seizure:
With Ella:
Two months:
Photos courtesy of Monica:
And, over the summer (also courtesy of Monica):
Doing what Jasmine loves to do best, running full tilt: