On Friday 9th March Bransby Horses was called by members of the public and Humberside Police after an aged stallion had been found wandering dangerously close to the M180 and the A18, endangering his own life as well as motorists. The 14.2 piebald cob was more than accommodating when caught by the Police and seemed to be enjoying his 15 minutes of fame that been generated from his travels. Despite the best efforts of Humberside Police an owner could not be found so a Police Officer named him Blue because of his blue eye. The handsome stallion became very excited at the prospect of being chauffer driven rather than continuing his journey on foot and travelled back to Bransby Horses well.
On arrival at the Animal Reception Centre (ARC), Blue showed subtle signs of lameness but appears to be well handled and in a good condition. He has settled in over the weekend and is proving to be a very laid-back and affectionate pony. At the ARC he will undergo an initial veterinary examination and any further tests required in order to determine the cause of his lameness as well as access his overall health and determine if any veterinary treatments are needed. He we also be castrated after his initial assessments.
Horse lameness is very common and can be the result of a variety of different factors, however in Blue’s case is harder to determine as his history is unknown. Vets assessing his lameness will first examine him whilst he’s stationary to observe for any obvious swellings or heat that could be the cause of the pain; before assessing his movement. The level of lameness shown by horses is graded, most commonly on a 0 – 10 scale. The grading of the lameness is important as this can determine how the veterinary surgeon proceeds with both the examination and treatment options available.
Bransby Horses would not be able to rescue horses like Blue without support from the general public. If you would like to find out how you can aid the charity’s vital work, visit our Support Us page.
