Why you never want the barn manager to call you...

Last Saturday, Nov 18th, I made the decision to put Navi back out with the big herd (something like 100 acres) for the winter. Her knee had been giving her some trouble so we were going to take the winter off of riding. I figured movement would be good as she was still 100% pasture sound and she loves to run and play with the other horses. Oh and it was a win win cause she would get to have free food and roaming room and I got to save like 50 bucks a month. Now I know the risks of putting a horse with 20 other horses, but she did great last spring with them. I also know the risks of putting a horse in any pasture with barbwire fence. Not even 24 hrs after I turned her out I got the dreaded call from the ranch manager....Now keep in mind we had stayed and watched her for over an hour interact with the horses and then had gone back at 4 pm before we left on Saturday to make sure she was still getting along with everyone.

Sunday morning around 10:15ish the manager called me, and said the words no horse owner wants to hear. "I have bad news, Navi got into the barbwire fence". My heart dropped. I was trying not to panic. Everything was running through my head on how bad it was. She was still walking though and S was bringing her in from the pasture. I was relieved that she was walking and able to make it the mile or so track in from the pasture. But still I remembered what her back leg look like after getting into smooth wire I could only imagine what barbwire did. The ranch manager then called back while I was driving after he met up with S and saw Navi. He gave me the report I didn't want...bone was exposed on her leg. I hung up and called the vet to have them meet me at the ranch. I did all this while driving the 40 miles there. Talk about a long drive. I was in tears and called my best friend to tell her I was heading out there, but didn't know what to expect. I had already called my partner and said "meet me at the barn Navi got into the barbwire" (I was at my mother's house visiting).

The vet beat me to the barn and had just looked at her when I arrived. She said "Well it is a big cut, but she should be fine." Oh thank goodness I was happy to hear that! And so we started the process of sedating and cleaning. Navi overall was a champ. She usually hates needles,but did well and only danced a little. She then did great for the cleaning and wrapping. Next up was to get the trailer and get her to the vet. She was to spend a few days there since there was bone exposed. This is why I always make sure my horses will load in a trailer! So many people don't make it a priority for their horse to load. I don't care if you never plan to take your horse anywhere, practice trailer loading! My other half had to help lift her front leg up into the trailer, but then Navi hopped right in and we had her to the vet by noon, not even 2 hours after she was found. I couldn't imagine having to fight her to get her to load.

The next day we went out to visit with the vet and see the wound unwrapped again. The vet was pleased with how it looked just 24 hours later. We set up our treatment plan. She was to come home Wednesday and be on stall rest with every other day bandage changes. The decision was made to move her into town so she could be closer to us. With winter here, I just didn't know if we could make it the 40+ miles after work in the dark if a snow storm hit. And we were looking at a min of 2 months of stall rest with bandaging. So I got a hold of a barn 10 miles away from me and had it set up for her to go there after the vets. She will be in a heated barn for the winter and I know I will be able to attend to her. (Remember that 50 bucks a month I was going to save, lol, yeah not so much now).
So here we are...5 days out from the accident. She is at her new home in a stall and I begin the process of wound care on my own. Way easier when the vet cleans and wraps it, lol, and way prettier. Again though I was super proud of this little mare and her being super easy to trailer load and unload in a new place staying calm the whole time! Our current estimate is 4 months of stall rest, hopefully some turn out after 2 months. Maybe hand walking after 1 month. With any luck she will go back to riding sound by summer (if her other issue clears up also over the winter). Every step of the way people have been wonderful in offering help! The vet, the new stable and my current barn are all amazing people!