Well I suppose I should be giving an update about Pippa the Pipsqueak! 9 days ago we had this little flash of stripes bolt off the trailer and dragged into a corral. She would run from people and any fast movements of any kind. Curious of humans, yet terrified. Her old, ratty, too-small halter was so tight on her face with rubs and scarring present, and a gaping wound under her chin. She was clearly not taken care of. Over the last 9 days I have spent many hours sitting calmly in the corral, getting Pippa used to me. She was eating, drinking and appeared healthy over all aside from her seriously bad halter job. By the second day, I had already put in about 5 hours with her and she finally ate from a pail from me. That was a relief. Over the next few days, she would eat from the bucket, take treats off my legs and reach over to take grass from me, but was still noticeably afraid. By day 3, I could touch her forehead and her ears a little bit, but I could tell she was irritated so I never pushed her along much- we went at her pace. On September 15, I had the biggest break through with Pip- she took a treat from my hand. Needless to say, she got a LOT of treats that day and quickly became very comfortable with me. That was the start of everything going uphill over the next couple of days. Pippa ate from my hand and also several other people hands (scary strangers), I could pet her back, shoulders, sides, chest, forehead and ears and most importantly walk up to her without her running off. By yesterday, she was following me around the corral, nosing at me and exchanging breath. Then we had the hugest moment- I changed her halter! Her poor gaping wound was swollen and sore, but is getting harder and healing up with daily applications of Fiskes salve. To ice the cake, tonight as I pulled up to the barn, Pippa brayed at me for her dinner. I am so happy this little girl is improving so steadily- She has been an amazing experience and I am so happy to have rescued her!!
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 02:05:14 +0000