Changing goals and speed

[AClark]

Fred reminds me of a Fiord Horse or a Haflinger. He is sure a nice looking boy! And you're a week away from your own baby? You go girl!

I think you're on to something with the Haflinger - especially with the color, size, and he's built like a brick ....house. They knew he was half QH and something else but couldn't remember what else. Obviously, he is an easy keeper, and he really eats like a pig.

The goat...escaped for the 5th time last night. DH got home late from work and we literally nailed plywood over the door and called it good. You could hear him butting the plywood a couple of times last night and I guess he finally gave up.
My grandmother was telling me about someone she knew that owned goats, and how they used to make sausage out of the little bucks they weren't keeping. She couldn't imagine how you could do that to something so cute...well, after yesterday, I can not only imagine it, but I told DH I wouldn't feel a bit bad about eating him. He's lucky he stinks like hell and I know he'd taste like he smells.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Congrats on all the new or soon to be new arrivals!

 

[AClark]

We had a tragedy yesterday. I heard Traveller screaming and the goats were making a ton of noise, so I go to check on things and Lucy had spooked and jumped the fence. I'm still not sure what spooked her that bad to do that. My neighbors helped me chase her down, but in trying to get her loaded to bring her home (she was 2+ miles away when my neighbor caught her), she threw her head and cracked her skull wide open in the sinus cavity. It was absolutely horrible. I won't go into details on what it looked like, but think of the most awful thing you've ever seen and that pretty much sums it up. I thought she was going to bleed out, the reservation police showed up to assist (they were great btw), and then it started to clot and the bleeding slowed way down, so we figured we would lead her home and try to have the vet meet us there so we can get some medical attention ASAP, if nothing else at least some painkillers for her. I called the vet and they refused to even call the vet on call since I wasn't already a client for equines - it was 5 minutes after closing so I got answering service for their 24 hour emergency line. I was told to call the emergency vet over 15 miles away, they were less than 5 miles from where this was happening.

She ended up going down and having a seizure about halfway home, she wasn't going to get back up. The police, me, and my neighbors all agreed that the only humane thing left to do was put her down. I think she either threw a blood clot to the brain or had some kind of brain damage from the injury, even though it was lower than the brain cavity. The police called it in and stayed while I put her down, which was basically crowd control at that point. My neighbors were nice enough to help me haul her off with their flat bed since they had a lift. They put her out deep into one of their pastures by a creek, where they put their cattle that have to be put down.

I'm still in shock at something I've done a million times, just simply loading a horse into a trailer, ended like that. One good head sling that hit just right; she had been in a trailer before too. I'm thankful for the police being there, as some guy came running out screaming at me about "why'd you shoot that poor horse" and they intercepted him. I'm not sure how that went down, as they told me to go ahead and go home, and I was more than happy to. I wasn't in a state of mind to deal with someone getting in my face over something I didn't want to do, and probably would have lost it on him. I'm trying to convince myself that he wasn't being a total jerk and just didn't know any better, that there wasn't another option. Had I not done that, she was going to lay there and suffer for God only knows how long.

DH was there with me, and only my oldest son knows how it actually went down, but thankfully didn't have to see any of it. DH ran home to get my pistol while I stayed with Lucy, my son knew what was going on when he went to find it. I'm crushed, it's almost like a bad dream, where any minute you'll wake up and it won't be real.

 

[NH homesteader]

Oh my goodness I am so so sorry. How horrific and tragic. I'm glad the police sound reasonable there. I would have some unkind words for that vet.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That's horrible and I'm so sorry you had to deal with that.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

How awful. My heart dropped to my stomach reading this. Just awful
I am so sorry you (and Lucy) had to go through this.

 

[Latestarter]

What a tragedy... So sorry this happened and you had to put her down. I would definitely write a letter to that vet who's office turned you down and explain the details and thank him/her for not being there when he/she was needed. I would be livid!

 

[Goat Whisperer]

What a tragedy... So sorry this happened and you had to put her down. I would definitely write a letter to that vet who's office turned you down and explain the details and thank him/her for not being there when he/she was needed. I would be livid!

I was thinking the same thing
Several of our vets were some of the only people willing to handle situations like this (in our area). It isn't uncommon.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Wow, what a turn of events.
I do applaude you for your quick and responsible decision, it is difficult to absorb a situation like that and do what was Best for her...leaving ya no real Choice. It still doesn't make it any easier to bare, tho...

 

[Baymule]

Aww... I am so sorry about Lucy. You were so happy to have her and so excited. This was just a freak accident and not your fault. I know you are heartbroken and stunned about the whole thing. What a terrible thing to happen. I admire you for doing what had to be done, it takes a strong person to do that.