It turned out this was to be the first of our many visits to the Weiper's Centre (also known as the vet school). I phoned my line manager as I heard the news via a phone call to me at work, I was imaging all sorts of scenarios, broken jaw, fractured teeth, bitten tongue etc etc. I finished the phone call and ran out of the hospital where I worked. I would like to say I drove sensibly to the stables, the truth is I doubt if I did as I cant remember the journey.
I arrived and Jake was already for travelling, he was reluctant to load, but he eventually saw sense.
We hadn't been to the vet school before, thank goodness somebody else was driving. After registering Jake and signing a consent form. Jake was examined and x-rayed.
It turns out he had fractured 2 front teeth, probably from a kick. Thankfully it was nothing more serious, but only having Jake for 2 months, the guilt kicked in; it was all my fault, I could have avoided it.
Knowing this way of thinking was not helping Jake, I gave permission for him to have surgery. He was sedated, given pain killers and thankfully, not all the teeth needed to be removed, just the fractured fragments. He was discharged home, still sleepy, still leaking blood from his mouth, but he could go home.
Being slightly sedated, he was easier to load home, strangely.
Since then he has been in and out of the vet school many times over the past 9 years. I partly feel it is my fault, but then again, he is very well-loved and not many would have spent 18 months of carefully controlled rehab for a split tendon with a potentially poor result.
Oh the things we do for our animals....
Jake
Jacob Himself
Thursday 3 February 2011
Saturday 15 January 2011
Race against time ...
... 9 months later of having weekly classical dressage lessons on Jake and is friends, I find out he is for sale. Unbeknownst to me, Jake was a working livery and it was the year I was 30.
Its funny how life has a way of making decisions for you. I had my mind set on an arab or TB chestnut mare and was looking at adverts and even put up a wanted ad of my own. I was offered a beautiful 16 h anglo-arab gelding - bay. He was stunning, but my mind and heart were already made up, I wanted Jake. Over 9 months we has started to bond. Highlands do not give their hearts easily and are incredibly loyal.
The riding instructor contacted his owner and we agreed to meet the following day, my heart was in my mouth as I knew somebody else was interested in him. I was on tenderhooks absolute tender hooks. I had persuaded John that having a horse was a good thing, he would be my birthday present (John was stuck for a 30th pressie for me and I highlighted how perfect it was all working out). Little did we know.
Jake stayed as a working livery at the stables for about 6 weeks, it didnt work out.
I subsequently moved him a bit closer to home and he was wormed, saddle refitted, new bridle bought, new rugs, dentist visited. The dental visit found something very wrong with Jake, he refused to treat him and I had a phone call at work. I dashed out of work, had him immediately referred to the Weiper's centre and raced him up there ......
Its funny how life has a way of making decisions for you. I had my mind set on an arab or TB chestnut mare and was looking at adverts and even put up a wanted ad of my own. I was offered a beautiful 16 h anglo-arab gelding - bay. He was stunning, but my mind and heart were already made up, I wanted Jake. Over 9 months we has started to bond. Highlands do not give their hearts easily and are incredibly loyal.
The riding instructor contacted his owner and we agreed to meet the following day, my heart was in my mouth as I knew somebody else was interested in him. I was on tenderhooks absolute tender hooks. I had persuaded John that having a horse was a good thing, he would be my birthday present (John was stuck for a 30th pressie for me and I highlighted how perfect it was all working out). Little did we know.
Jake stayed as a working livery at the stables for about 6 weeks, it didnt work out.
I subsequently moved him a bit closer to home and he was wormed, saddle refitted, new bridle bought, new rugs, dentist visited. The dental visit found something very wrong with Jake, he refused to treat him and I had a phone call at work. I dashed out of work, had him immediately referred to the Weiper's centre and raced him up there ......
Monday 10 January 2011
The Beginning
I am Helen and I first met Jake, as he is known to his friends nearly 10 years ago. It was my third or fourth time at that particular riding school and had heard about him, but had not had the pleasure of seeing him.
I hadn't been in Scotland for very long and desperately missed horse contact which prompted me to start having riding lessons 2 months after 'immigrating'.
I still remember it as if it was yesterday, the first I saw of him was his huge dappled hindquarters as he was lead into his stable. My jaw dropped and there was a sharp intake of breath, presumably mine. He turned around facing the door way, looked me up and down, looked me in the eye and resumed the attack on his haynet which was rudely disturbed earlier on. It was as if he had decided I was of no consequence and not worth bothering about, I felt decidedly dismissed.
From that time, I was hooked. I was struck my his size, but mostly by his 'don't give a damn' attitude. I was in love and I still am to this day.
Jake is a 16.3 hand (1 hand = 4 inches) at the shoulder grey (was dappled) Clydesdale x Highland gelding. The size of the Clydesdale with the looks and personality (including cunning) of a Highland Pony. After 10 years, his cunning and intelligence still astound me.
I hadn't been in Scotland for very long and desperately missed horse contact which prompted me to start having riding lessons 2 months after 'immigrating'.
I still remember it as if it was yesterday, the first I saw of him was his huge dappled hindquarters as he was lead into his stable. My jaw dropped and there was a sharp intake of breath, presumably mine. He turned around facing the door way, looked me up and down, looked me in the eye and resumed the attack on his haynet which was rudely disturbed earlier on. It was as if he had decided I was of no consequence and not worth bothering about, I felt decidedly dismissed.
From that time, I was hooked. I was struck my his size, but mostly by his 'don't give a damn' attitude. I was in love and I still am to this day.
Jake is a 16.3 hand (1 hand = 4 inches) at the shoulder grey (was dappled) Clydesdale x Highland gelding. The size of the Clydesdale with the looks and personality (including cunning) of a Highland Pony. After 10 years, his cunning and intelligence still astound me.
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