6 January 2007

Updated!

It's been a long time coming, (due to work/time constraints/outside life/computers!) but am finally making updated improvements to the site and hope to finish off their story. Stay tuned for the new section 'Where are they now?' and as promised we will possibly have a gallery of images from Bear and Cruisers time with us ready in the coming weeks.

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26 March 2006

Back Online!

Due to some technical difficulties RescueWeb has been offline and unable to be updated since January.  Bear and Cruiser however are still going strong!  Keep posted for regular updates and images to come.

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12 February 2006

Long Overdue.....

Today we made the most of the Moondarga Vet Day to get all the boys vaccinations and health upkeep back in order.  Both of them had their Equivac 2in1 injections and Bear had some much needed dental work.  Bruce said it looked like his teeth had never been filed in his lifetime.  Poor boy!  He was a very good patient and didn't even require sedation.  In fact, I think he quite enjoyed it!

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21 January 2006

So many sponsors, so many thankyous!

While visiting the Gold Coast for the Southport Pony Club Instructors Seminars in early January, I approached numerous saddleries in the local area as well as between the Gold Coast and Townsville.  It felt so rewarding to come back home with my car loaded with goodies for the boys.

Sincere thankyous go out to these fantastic businesses for donating products to aid Bear and Cruiser!  And while most of the businesses were very kind, shame on the 2 businesses who were approached and made bad excuses why not to donate to these two beautiful horses.

NERANG SADDLEWORLD - Kindly donated a horse rug

HORSES R US NERANG - Very generously donated some vet supplies, thanks to Joanne!

HORSELAND NERANG - Donated 2 BRAND NEW WEATHERBEETA FREESTYLE MESH COMBO RUGS!       Thankyou to Richard and all the team at Horseland Nerang

HEALTHY HORSES ROCKHAMPTON - Donated feed supplements, thankyou!

HORSELAND ROCKHAMPTON - Have kindly donated wormers and vet supplies

 

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29 November 2005

The boys have a date...

With Gary from Townsville Farrier Service, the most wonderful farrier in North Queensland!

As you can see, both horses were really phased by the whole trimming ordeal *snigger* The good news is that Cruiser showed absolutely no discomfort when Gary picked up and played around with his hind legs.

It's a bit of a blast from the past for Gary, who used to shoe Bear when he first arrived in Townsville. Gary was able to fill us in on a bit of his history. Apparently Bear was bought from Sydney to race in the Townsville Cup. Sadly, his hopes of running diminished when he strained a tendon, and he was out for the year. The next year he came back fitter and stronger and took out second place in the same event, making quite a name for himself. It was sad for him to see such a champion in such a state, though he did comment that they had improved 110% since he first saw them back when they were in our care for only a few weeks.

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27 November 2005

Bear goes to heaven

Not heaven up there....heaven on Earth! aka Tracy and Jordan's lovely ex turf farm. Each weekend Tracy has been kind enough to let Cruiser visit on Saturdays and Bear visit on Sundays to make the most of some dry pickings and prepare them both for a (hopefully) permanent shift to a grassed paddock. Both have been very well behaved and I doubt very much that their heads come up all day they are there!

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21 November 2005

The Moondarga manure stall

This little setup has so far in its past 2 weeks of operation raised $44.50 for Bear and Cruiser. It's been so successful i'm finding it hard keeping up with the demand. Thankyou to the kind folk who have all so far been good with the honesty bucket!

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10 November 2005

Big Day Out

Today the boys had an outing to the pony club. Now it is the off season the grass goes wild so we decided to make the most of it and let the boys have a graze. However, grazing was the last thing on their minds!!!

Bear got very excited at his new found freedom and had a canter and a bit of a play around. Cruiser got excited at the idea of Bear getting excited and also had a little canter around. He is still a bit wobbly on his leg from where Bear kicked him a few weeks ago, so he was quickly caught and allowed to graze on a leadrope. Bear eventually settled and also had a pick at the grass. How wonderful it is to see them feeling that good about themselves that they can have a run around. I'd say it's been awhile.

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1 November 2005

They aren't all so lucky..

While racegoers are sipping champagne and making idle chitchat while watching over the glitz and glamour of the Spring Racing Carnival, take the time to think about the ones who were once champions, but not so lucky to live in such an enjoyable retirement. Thousands upon thousands of ex-racehorses are rehomed every year. Many of these horses are put in the same situation as Bear and Cruiser, though lots wouldn't have the second chance these boys did. For alot it would be too late.

The racing world has alot to answer for in the responsibility of re-homing the horses they breed, trial and throw away.

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31 October 2005

Say a little prayer...

Bear is not well, temp of 39.8 degrees and is off his food. Vet thinks infection, however if temp doesn't come down it may cause him to colic.

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26 October 2005

Yeehaw!!!

Bear got very excited after feed time today, and had a hoon around the paddock. It's the first time i've seen him out of a walk and oh boy can he BUCK! His trot looks lovely, canter is a little un-coordinated though i'd say it's been awhile since he has cantered....

Since he was feeling so good, I did a little ground work with him and we started to learn how to lunge (at walk). He picked it up quite well, though sadly it is quite obvious that he has either been very roughly handled or beaten in his previous life as he was very fearful of any kind of swinging rope around him.

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24 October 2005

It's Been a Month

Hard to believe, but already a month has passed since Bear and Cruiser have been in our care. Just over the past week we have noticed dramatic changes in their condition, which interestingly enough co-incides with the second week of them being on a herbal supplement which was donated to us.

Both horses coats are now gleaming, finally a sign of something going right! There is still a long way to go though for these two boys.

Cruiser is walking a little better today after the scuffle last Friday. They seem to be coping ok with being separated, if anything Cruiser is happier as he can have the stable all to himself now!

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21 October 2005

All out war

Today at the paddock we were confronted with one very lame Cruiser. He was deadly lame and kept stumbling down onto one knee, initially we thought he had broken something it looked that bad.

Thankfully the local horse guru was in the area and stopped by to assess the damage. It appears that Cruiser has run into something, possibly from Bear chasing him. The past few days have seen Bear become a little more aggressive at feed times and obviously he snapped and poor Cruiser was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It was sad to have to do, but we divided the paddock in half so they are now separated. Hopefully once they aren't so demanding for food they will be able to go back in together again.

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