Lessons learned
Luna’s disappearance from a paddock on our ranch gave me a new appreciation for some horsekeeping basics that are easy to forget or let slide:
• Maintain a well-stocked equine first-aid kit. Luna’s owner, Kirsten—a nurse by profession—always carries with her a large tackle box filled with every essential. We have a lot of supplies, but they are not particularly organized. This will change! (See FirstAid Kit Refresher, page 66.)
• Don’t “wait and see” if something doesn’t seem quite right. Call your veterinarian, if only to alert them of an impending issue. Of course, our remote location makes this a greater challenge.
• Allot ample time for recovery. Even when a problem has apparently resolved, it may require more time to fully heal than you might otherwise expect. In Luna’s case, Kirsten declared she was giving her mare the summer off to fully heal from the cuts and wounds she sustained during her escape. At least one of the wounds was quite deep, with gaping wound edges that might have benefitted from sutures had she been found earlier—which leads me to the next bit of learning:
• Practice your leg-wrapping skills before you need them. Kirsten is quite skilled at cleaning up, treating and wrapping injured areas. It’s been years since I’ve had to treat and wrap a leg injury. This was a good wake-up call to sharpen up my skills.
• In an emergency reach out quickly and cast a wide net. Your friends, local law enforcement and riding groups are a good place to start, but go beyond those to internet-based resources. For example, Stolen Horse International, Inc.—a nonprofit group—not only maintains a database of missing horses but provides tips and guidance for owners searching for lost horses.— Bobbie Lieberman