It’s all in the Timing
December 1, 2014
Hello, my name is Cassie and I am a Certified Equine and Canine Equine Massage Therapist. I am also a Veterinary assistant. My love and life’s passion since I was a little girl was horses. I remember when I was 8 years old my mother took me to riding classes in the next town over. She told me that the lessons would be one half hour lesson a week. Little did she know that riding would take over our lives, and it did. After a while I leased several different horses over the years and then I wanted my own.
My parents have always been behind me and have helped me work it all out. I have worked very hard over the years to keep a horse. It’s not financially easy. Many things are costly as you know. Showing, boarding, and medical issues to name a few.
Fast forward, I was 16 fell in love with what I thought was my dream horse. He was a 16.1 hand TB gelding.
Our goal was to get on the young riders team before I turned 21. And then my career had a big halt into it 8 1/2 months latter.
I got the phone call every horse owner does not want to get. I will never forget it. It was that early the morning phone call from the barn. I picked up the phone and was told, “you better come quick”, ” your horse is colicing”.
The night before I had gone for a nice ride but I did not know it was going to be my last time riding him. We decided that we need to get the vet out.
My heart sunk. I rushed to the barn as fast as I could. When I got there I started to hand walk him. I knew we where past the banamine stage. That’s when you give them some medicine to make them comfortable. Sometimes it relaxes them and it works .
I cringed until the vet came. My horse had decided to lay down as he had been up a lot and could not get comfortable. Pawing at his stall and looking at his side and going up and down. He had a high temp., he was not a easy horse to tube. My poor guy knew he was in trouble but he wanted to please me, he was such a trooper. He really tried to hang in there for me.
It was not easy for the vet to tube him when she came. So we decided to bring him to the clinic which was not too far away. This would make it easier on him and we would have more help there.
I was working for that clinic at the time. They were wonderful to us and did the best they could. It was tough for me to see my guy in a stall with 4 IV bags hung and being tubed and sedated . This all was to make him comfortable and control the pain he was in.
The it was time for some big test blood test and ultrasound. The blood work came back, it was clean. What does that mean , ” I said to myself”.
The only thing it showed was that his electrolytes where low. You would think where he had been given 4 IV’s that he would be hydrated.
Now they tell me they want to do an ultrasound. You guessed it, nothing shows again. They can’t find why my horse is colicing. His muzzle and lips are getting bigger. I was was watching him waste away in front of me. The day was a blur and it still is.
The Doctors still can not figure out why he is colicing. He is getting weaker by the hour. They do more blood work and more time goes by. They still can’t figure this out.
At one point, I just started to cry and said my best friend is going to die. Then a a window opened up, there was hope he was showing signs of turning around.
That was short lived, it only lasted about an hour. He eventually got worse, and at this point there was no hope.
I ended up having to put him down , “my best friend”. No words can say how I felt, but I knew it was the right thing to do. There was no hope. And I felt my career had ended.
Colic can be the number one death in horses.
Remember to always make sure you listen to your horse. Watch for the signs with his/her behavior. Your life and career can change in a matter of minutes. Horses can go from bad to worse very quickly. Winter months can be very critical with the weather not just the summer months. Be aware.
Loosing my horse was not the end of my career. My life has taken many twist and turns. At the time I did not like it, but I know I am better because of it. My Mom always says to me “Cassie, what doesn’t break you, makes you.
It makes you who you are, an how you handle the things life throws at you”.
Life’s lessons UGH!!!!’ Timing is everything
Thanks for listening, I’ll be back to talk to you soon,
Cassie Ball, ESMT,CCMT
