My horse, Meindert, needed a bone scan
Recently, Betsy, my stable manager, was out riding Meindert, one of my four Friesians, through the snowy woods along the Bedford Riding Lanes. Horse and rider approached a stretch that was a bit uneven and Meindert stepped precariously on a rock. The next thing Betsy knew was that Meindert stumbled and then fell backwards onto his right rear. Fortunately, they weren't far from home and they managed to return without further incidence.
Our veterinarian, Dr. Elizabeth Kilgallon, examined Meindert and thought it best that he receive a bone scan. She recommended Fairfield Equine Associates, a well-respected equine medical facility, located in Newtown, Connecticut, not too far from my farm. I am very happy to report that the scan showed no sign of injury and Meindert has returned to his happy home.
1 This is my horse trailer getting prepped for the trip to Fairfield Equine Associates.
2 The name of my farm on the side of the trailer
3 Gyurme is loading up the trailer cabin/tack room with necessary supplies.
4 A view through the trailer
5 Here's Betsy leading Meindert and Gelbu leading Ramon.
6 The horses were a bit apprehensive to enter the trailer.
7 Betsy had to coax Meindert in.
8 Once Meindert was on board, Ramon followed.
9 Gyurme making sure the horses have plenty of hay
10 The ramp is lifted.
11 The back doors are closing.
12 While chewing a mouthful of hay, Meindert is wondering about this adventure he's on.
13 After a 40 minute ride, they arrive at their destination.
14 Fairfield Equine Associates
15 The grounds are neat and tidy.
16 Ramon is looking around with great interest.
17 Betsy lowering the ramp
18 Meindert backed off easily.
19 Being led into the facility stable
20 And into a stall
21 Betsy brought a large quantity of hay from the farm.
22 Meindert was confused about his new surroundings.
23 He began neighing loudly.
24 Betsy thought it best to have Ramon stay with Meindert for company.
25 Horses are, after all, very social creatures and Meindert was happy to have his buddy for the 2 nights that spent there.
26 This is Traci Oliveira - certified technician - she gave Betsy a tour of the facility.
27 This is a digital radiograph machine, which will be used on Meindert.
28 There he is on the roster.
29 The MRI room - those blue objects are very powerful magnets.
30 This sign says it all.
31 They do their own lab work on premises.
32 This is an equine operating table.
33 This conference room has a window into the operating room for learning purposes.
34 All kinds of charts and info about horses
35 This is an actual horse skeleton.
36 The skeleton was tagged with numbers and letters as part of an identifying game for children.
37 A good view of the spine
38 And rib cage and hind quarters
39 An x ray of an unfortunate horse
40 A cross-section of an actual hoof
Photos By Eliad Laskin
Hi Martha, What a scarey blog with a very happy ending. Thank God Meindert wasn't hurt! Was Betsy riding him when he fell? I sure hope she is doing fine, also. You have the best people who take care of your animals during a time like this. I love the photos and explaination of everything that happened. Your horse trailer is beautiful and how great that Betsy took Ramon to help Meindert get through this scarey event. Also loved the tour of the equine medical facility. Hope EVERYONE had a great weekend. Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | February 8th, 2010 at 1:46 am
Hi Martha,
Lots of exposure to horse trailers and getting on and off does much to ease horse anxiety. Check out Pat Parelli and natural horsemanship if you really want the best for your animals.
Pam
Posted by: Pam Webreck | February 8th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Hi Martha, What an excellent facility! Fortunate that it is so close and that your horses can receive the best of care. Owning a horse is a huge responsibility. Loved all the photos, and best of all, the happy ending. I am sure your horses were happy to get back to the farm!
Posted by: Jayne | February 8th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Martha - I am missing Martyn in this blog. Meinhardt and Ramon are so majestic. Betsy and Gyurme are champions of good care. There is so much to their loving care. What a great facility in Connecticut. So glad that all is well.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | February 8th, 2010 at 8:42 am
I am so glad Meindert is going to be fine, he is a beautiful animal.
Posted by: Karlene Wissel | February 8th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Martha, your horses are gorgeous. Seeing Ramon accompany Meinhardt for the trip reminds me of The Black Stallion book. Glad everything turned out ok!
Posted by: Christy | February 8th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Your horses are absolutely beautiful - I'm glad Meindert is okay and back in his wonderful surroundings.
Posted by: Karen | February 8th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Oh. . .Thank God he was okay. . .When I read the beginning of your blog I panicked knowing what could have been the results . . .So happy everything turned out okay and thank you to Betsy for her expert awareness and caring ..
Happy ending ..
Regards your friend. . nina
Posted by: nina zeumer | February 8th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I hope Meindert will be okay. Please let us know when he is home. Thank you for sharing the pictures.
Posted by: Susan | February 8th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
I hope Meindert will be okay. Your horses are beautiful and I can tell that they are well loved. Thank you for sharing the pictures.
Posted by: Susan | February 8th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Hi Martha,
There is so much I like about this blog but mostly that Meindert is okay and Ramon went along to keep him company. That is so sweet; you and Betsy are the best. Animal lovers everywhere are great people! I thought picture #12 was so touching with the caption you wrote but I bet you really do know what your animals are thinking. Have a great day! Trish
Posted by: Trish | February 8th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Thank goodness Meindert is alright. Wasn't just recently nursing a pulled muscle? I do hope that Betsy is OK as well. The love and exquisite care you provide for all of your animals continues to amaze me. There's nothing you wouldn't do for your beloved companions.
How adorable and charming that Betsy brought Ramon along to keep Meindert company.
Posted by: Sonya W. | February 8th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Long live Meindert! I can't help but wonder if Meindert translates to German and if so, what does the name mean?
Posted by: Tina | February 8th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
that is good news!
Posted by: Wendy (Give Love Create Happiness) | February 8th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Dear Martha, So happy to hear that Meindert is well! Hugs for Meindert...and for you. Trina
Posted by: Trina | February 8th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Martha,
I am glad to here your horse is doing well. Do you know of any good horse trails out your direction in case I ever make a trip from Minnesota to there with the horses.
Posted by: Amber | February 8th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Thank you so much for always presenting your blog in an educational way. The picture makes a memory with the caption that is easily grasped. I have learned so much more about fields I was already interested in since I began reading your blog- you keep me up to date!
Posted by: Stephanie R. Ireland | February 8th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
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Martha - Very glad to hear Meindert has a clean bill regarding bone scan. Or stifle wasn't hurt.
Nice rig. Good manager young Betsy.
The incident reminded me of a favorite poem by Walter de la Mare - Here are last few lines for your pleasure
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"Ay, they heard his foot upon the stirrup,
And the sound of iron on stone,
And how the silence surged softly backward,
When the plunging hoofs were gone."
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Luv as always - Keep smiling.
.
Posted by: celia stock | February 9th, 2010 at 12:30 am
Hi Martha, I'm glad all turned out good for your horse. The horse skelaton shown at the facility is like the one I had as a kid. I still have it, I had to put it together as a puzzle. Yep horses love to have a companion & it does calm them down when they have to be moved to a different place. My horse is 36 yrs. old & is now alone since my husbands horse died years ago but she winnied for a long time after he was taken away. She now visits the neighbors mule across the creek. They stand by their fences & look at eachother for company. It's been a hard winter around here also with 20 inches of snow, wading thru it to the barn. I'm 71 yrs old & this stuff must be keeping me in shape. I love seeing all your animals on your show. JoAnn
Posted by: JoAnn Pochciol | February 9th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Paneling was beautiful in the stalls. I wonder if it has to be replace often. I have an old horse van. It was orginally lined with pretty wood...now it has the "patena of many striking hooves".
I once hauled two race horses home in a new trailer. The end gate was dimpled/cratered by the time I had driven 3 hours. And that is the horse business.
Posted by: Margie | February 9th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
martha
i love horses also,i raised them when i was young.infact i love all animals. was very glad to hear all was good with meindert, may you injoy many more years together.
Posted by: linda | February 9th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
I am sooo glad that Meindert's progress report and examination came out okay! At first, I was alarmed - with your/our recent loss of Martyn, and then, to learn of Meindert's misstep/fall. Awww. I absolutely hate to see horses fall when viewing westerns on tv...the poor fella' riding the horse gets killed, and I always lament the poor horse's topple versus the human's - my own kind!...
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How absolutely sweet that Ramon accompanied Meindert to keep him company! That was excellent thinking on Betsy's part! I had wondered why the TWO horses were entering the trailer, and not just Meindert alone.
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Oh Martha!...they (and Rutger and Rinze) are two beautiful boys! They just make my heart go pitterpatter when I see them!
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Again, I am very relieved that Meindert is "a-okay" and is back home in his familiar and secure surroundings. He has such a good life. Bless his heart.
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God bless Martyn, too.
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=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | February 9th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Hi Martha,
Glad to have read that everything with Meindert turned out 'OK'. The Equine Facility looks wonderful. Very familiar with the area, use to live near Newtown.
Your fan,
Alexis A., N.Y.
Posted by: Alexis A. | February 11th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Thank God Meindert is ok...it's always nice to have a stable mate come along for the ride..great facility and well equipped...we have some Equine orthopedic facilities close to here and of course UW Animal clinic in Madison. It makes me reflect on my horses that are now gone for a year bringing back a flood of memories...Your horses are so lucky...
Posted by: delia | February 12th, 2010 at 11:32 am
I love that you're an animal lover; I am one too! Since your show's in NYC, I thought you should know that animal shelters funds are being cut in half this year, and more than half next year. This is unfortunate. Subsequently, more animals will suffer, and probably be destroyed and put to sleep more often than before. We need to make everyone aware, we need help, and if we all work together we can make something good happen here.
Posted by: Mary | March 4th, 2010 at 12:30 pm