Well, I just met Daisy. She’s so terribly thin - she has a very long coat, but underneath she’s all ribs and hips! She has an extreme roached back, she looks like a buffalo (which I could see in the picture) whether from injury or natural conformation I don’t know. I think the people are well-meaning, and their other animals seem to be in good shape, but they don’t know how to deal with a foundered, insulin-resistant mini. They haven’t had her teeth floated, but mentioned she doesn’t really eat hay. Probably because she can’t chew it. As soon as I get her home I’ll call the vet out.
BTW, is Peanut named after Exterminator’s flaxen-maned companion pony(ies)? I must have read “Old Bones, The Wonder Horse” a thousand times 'till it fell apart. If not intentional, he’s a dead ringer!
St.Germain, can you put another pic of Daisy up, please? The one your original link went to has been taken down. The ponies are so cute! I hope she’ll blossom with you and Peanut, btw. Good on you for taking her in, and a good friend for Mr. Peanut.
Hello Again - I doubt Peanut’s name is anything literary-related. I bought him at a real estate/personal property action for $50. His feet were horrible overgrown and turning under and he’d obviously been foundered at some time. It cost me more to find someone to trailer him than he cost.
tarragon918 - I’ll have to do it when I get home tonight. Photobucket is blocked at work.
I picked up Daisy this morning and brought her back to my place. No time to watch her settle in - I had to leave for work. Vet comes out next Thursday.
I had the farrier out Saturday and the vet yesterday. The vet says Daisy is too emaciated to get vaccinations yet. Definitely Cushings, so we’ll start Pergolide for 3 months. Her teeth are very bad, but because she’s so fragile right now, we can’t sedate her to do them. She did as much as should could and said we’ll schedule the followup in three months, after she’s been on the Pergolide and new diet and has hopefully gained weight. She has no muscle mass left in her hindquarters, and walks stiffly. Hopefully that will change when she regains some muscle. Her roached back may be from congenital dwarfism, she doesn’t think it’s injury. Hopefully it will also improve a little has she gains muscle. The good news is it doesn’t look as if she’s foundered significantly.
When I first introduced her to Peanut, they just stood with their heads next to each other, touching. Since then, they are hardly separate. I’ve hired some boys and we’re tripling the size of Peanut’s paddock so there’ll be plenty of room.
The vet says Peanut, Nakota and Irish all look great. They all got their vaccinations.
Exterminator was a real live horse, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1918 (after being purchased as an exercise pony!) and holds the never-broken record for stakes wins (30). Many said he was the equal – or the better – of Man O’War. He lived to be 30! and is buried beside several of his flaxen-maned companion ponies, all named “Peanut,” in Binghamton NY.
I think “peanut” is just a natural name for a chesnut mini though.
Anyway, thanks for the update. Golly, they sound so happy! Probably Daisy knows she just hit the old horse Mega-Millions.
I’m so glad to hear that Peanut and Daisy found love at first sight! I hope Daisy’s health improves quickly now that she’s found the right home. Between the insulin resistance and the bad teeth, what are you feeding her?
Merneith - I’ve been giving her soaked hay cubes and a little triple Crown Senior twice a day. The vet said she could have a little grass, if she can chew it, hay cubes, beet pulp, and Triple Crown Senior. I might add some canola oil for some extra calories without the sugar. Apparently the Pergolide should help with the weight gain simply because it’ll help her metabolism.
Whoa! I read that as you giving a triple shot of Crown Royal every day. Hay cubes have always reminded me of shredded wheat for ponies. Need moar coffee.
She’s a lucky little girl to have landed in your stable.
Merneith - Well, some racehorses drink Guiness, but I think Crown Royal might be a little too potent (and expensive) for Daisy. And since she’s 19, she’s not of legal age yet.
PapSett - I need to take some pics. I’m not a good photographer, like EddyTeddyFreddy is.
Avarie537 - No, we tried two inseminations, but neither took, although she’s still ovulating. Frozen semen is an iffy thing. The vet is encouraging me to try to bred do a local Dutch warmblood stallion, who she says is beautiful and has an absolutely wonderful temperament. Here’s a poorly done webpage for him, and this is a video of a foal from last year. The woman who owns him isn’t doing much breeding anymore. I’m not sure if I’m going to take the plunge again, but the least I can do is call her, since my vet spoke to her on my behalf.
Congratulations on finding a soul mate for Peanut! Egad, I’m trying hard not to imagine how the pony ride saddle (didn’t) fit that poor roached back all those years.
Triple Crown Senior is excellent feed; both of my boys get a massive two cups per day of it, to carry the supplements, and they adore the stuff.
Speaking of photography, you can see some of what I’ve been up to here. Have also been developing and selling a line of greeting cards, also submitting work for showing in a local gallery. Between working on that, working on what pays the bills, and flitting about some other sites (not to mention horse care), I just haven’t been to the Dope at all lately. So I missed this most excellent news, StG! Good thing I decided to post about Mare Stare just now, eh? Bless you.
If not intentional, he’s a dead ringer!
The ponies are so cute! I hope she’ll blossom with you and Peanut, btw. 
