The Nebraska 200 Need Homes

[arabmare]

I'm looking at her saggy belly and her tail looks pretty ratty on top- she's rubbing it quite a bit? Fat girl's going to foal, I'm sure.

I hope by the time you have the vet to float teeth, he'll be checking out a little piglet foal, too. I'm sure there'll be a foal by then...!

She looks awesome, by the way.

[FootlooseHorse]

<< she's rubbing it quite a bit? >>

Indeed! Sometimes she just stands leaning back against the panel too - was just doing that when I went out to check her. But (because there's always a but...) her tail was ratty when she came and has been growing out so it's kind of fuzzy / short on top. Still, it wouldn't be "messy" without her rubbing.

Part of the "vet fund" (sounds so official... it's just a separate bank account) is to have him to come out in case anybody around here ever gives birth. ;) I don't feel comfortable checking a placenta for torn/missing parts, etc. (I have seen what a retained placenta can do, twice), plus I'd want him to take a peek at the baby, a so there will be a "next day visit" in the event of any new arrivals. (The teeth will still happen at their regularly scheduled time).

<< She looks awesome, by the way. >>

She's good at her job, converting money and hay into ::ahem:: "body mass" and poop ;)

I'm so glad the trial is over, and for the outcome!

1/15/10 11:18pm

[FootlooseHorse]

<< The jury was instructed to weigh the Class IV felony count of animal abuse on each count. They were also allowed to weigh the lesser misdemeanor offense or return a verdict of not guilty. Rhodes said the jury found Meduna guilty of 145 counts, returning four not guilty verdicts on counts involving dead horses. She said those horses were skeletons. >>

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/jury-finds-jason-meduna-3-strikes-rancher-guilty-on-most-counts/


<< The district court jury in Bridgeport deliberated for five-and- a-half hours Friday before returning the verdict in the case of Jason Meduna. Meduna owned the 3-Strikes mustang ranch 22 miles south of Alliance, where more than 70 horses and burros died on the ranch this past spring. Surviving horses, who were in extremely poor condition, were removed to other locations in a national rescue effort. >>

http://www.doubleqcountry.com/artman2/publish/LOCAL_NEWS_9/MEDUNA_FOUND_GUILTY_IN_ANIMAL_NEGLECT_TRIAL.shtml


<< "Meduna failed to get care for the animals," she said. "He was willing to protect his image at he expense of the horeses and burros." >>

http://www.kcowradio.com/artman2/publish/local/MEDUNA_FOUND_GUILTY_ON_145_OF_149_FELONY_CRUEL_NEGLECT_OF_ANIMAL_CHARGES.shtml

[Guest]

I have mixed emotions about the Meduna verdict. I'm glad he was found guilty and he certainly deserves whatever punishment is doled out. However, nothing will bring back the lives of the innocents. At least we can close one more chapter of this sad story. Too light of a sentence would send a bad message about abusing animals--I hope he gets the maximum sentence allowed under the law.

It is such a joy to watch Piglet's progression. She will never know how lucky she was to have found her way to your family. I just love the fact that she's a bit pudgy. Who could blame her for loving her meals? Now, if she could just get on with delivering that foal.....

[Another Piglet Fan]

I just wish someone would publish an article about the case without including a photo of J.M. Every time I see that face I almost barf. I scroll past it as fast as I can. I hope that face is soon locked away where no one will see it for a very long time. I wonder if making other prisoners share space with him could be considered cruel and unusual punishment.

[FootlooseHorse]

<< I have mixed emotions about the Meduna verdict. >>

I do too. In day-to-day life, with Piglet no longer starved and frail, it's possible to not always dwell on where she came from, what she went through, and why she's even here. But the reality is still there under the surface, and while I'm glad the justice system worked, it's also not something I feel quite right "celebrating" - due to the suffering of so many which brought us all here in the first place.

<< I just wish someone would publish an article about the case without including a photo of J.M. >>

In a way though, perhaps it continues to prove the case? (Not that there was a lack of evidence...) If you are referring to the pic in front of his truck (with his murse?), the horses behind look thin to me. Maybe I just see backbones everywhere since almost every horse we've ever had came to us that way (!) but I sure don't think those horses look very good, or like something he should appear to be proud of.

Here's one of the original Piglet Pics, and then some new ones from today and last night:








01-18-2010 12:17am

[Guest]

OK, I tend to be a total sap anyhow, but the before and after pics of lil' miss piglet brought tears to my eyes. What a difference FOOD makes.

I have been looking at the blog daily since you started it, cheering her on in spirit, watching her grow and fatten up, her coat turning to bright and shiny from dull and matted, and waiting for the big day to arrive. What a lovely little pony she is turning into. And what a testament to what amazing survivors these horses are. I don't believe we should try to save everyone when they come from a situation like this, but this one certainly is a keeper

[Guest]

And may I add to the above: that cute little squiggle down her face, her stocky little frame, her lack of inhibitions, her playfulness, her healthy glow. She is just so darling! I just can't wait to see a new mini-Piglet. Thank you for allowing us to come on this ride with you and Piglet.

[arabmare]

I do agree about the mixed feelings. The fact that Meduna seems so out of touch with reality that he failed to even agree on the stand that there were more than 22 dead horses, just astounds me. He moved their bodies!! Is he blind, as well as stupid?
He seems to have utter lack of remorse, which suggests to me that he's a sociopath. I pray he gets jail time, for EVERY SINGLE COUNT.

As for dear little Piglet- the only thing that even recognizable on her before picture, was her little squiggle blaze. Dear heart...

This BB, while not too many others update their horses, is a testament to the
resilience of these mustangs. They thrive and grow- once they are fed. What a concept, eh?

Cheers, from Nova Scotia, Canada.

[Piglet Fan]

The juxtaposition of those first two pictures of Piglet with her lowered head looking at the camera says so much. The transformation from sad little dirty baby to sleek chubby healthy girl in such a short time is remarkable. As others have said, thank you for allowing us to share in this transformation.

[FootlooseHorse]

Hi Piglet Pals,

We've been hunkered down for the last 5-6 days with rain/wind/hail and road-closing (over the pass, not our streets) snow. The yard is a slurping sucking mass of wet clay/mud, and we have a small lake - or at least "Piglet Pond!"

We knew it was coming, and the horses were all separated - "The Old and Frails" (Charo and Apollo), "The Oldies But Goodies" (Geno and Freddie), "The Meanies" (Duncan and Whisper), and Piglet was put away by herself.

They (and we all) have been going stir-crazy and yesterday I finally let them out to play. There was a lot of streaking around, bucking, rearing, and plenty of slip-sliding away. Also rolling...

The "grown-ups" all found sensible and dry (or at least dry-esque) spots to roll in, and remained reasonably clean - but not Piglet! Living up to her name, she plastered herself with mud :/ I left her out to dry until later in the afternoon, and then it took about an hour to find her under the crust. Following are pictures of some of it (though I was too busy watching them run and buck and forgot to take pics of that part!).









I didn't get a pic of her completely cleaned up because it was getting dark and cold and I wanted to put her to bed, feed, and go inside!

Because of the mud, we may have to hold off on the vet for another week - we have a gravel driveway, but it only goes as far as the house. There would be no safe place for the vet to bring in his truck, at least not if he wanted to go home when he was done ;) I'll know more as the week goes by - there's supposed to be more rain on Tuesday - after I see how things are drying up. (Our hay will likely also have to be postponed, though I did go get some - presently stored in the back of my van, just in case!)

Nothing else new report... (Grrr!)

Oh, and I like "squiggle" as a description of her blaze :)

01/24/10 7:03pm

[Guest]

So, can we consider "Squiggy" as a name for the foal if he looks like mom?

Piglet actually looks cute caked in mud. Can't say that about most horses.

Just love her to pieces!

[Guest]

Okay thanks for the rainy muddy update! Hope everyone 2/4 legs is safe out there. Are you getting airlifts in lol of necessities? Us, we are just frozen to death in Nebraska, praying for 40 degrees. So glad piglet dear is at least there to foal instead of anywhere here. If there is in fact a foal... ? geez she was saved say april 5? I cant imagine her being able to stand being bred in the condition she was in, like she would just have fallen down i think. So she should be due in the next month, if she was bred in march. Right? Geez we have been waiting the entire gestation! er whatever it is....

[Brenda]

On the opposite side of the country, (PA) we are experiencing quite a thaw. 40 degrees and everything is melting. It's normally in the single digits and we're sitting in a foot of snow. As far as rolling in mud, that's the first place my mare goes to roll. I think they do it because they know it means more brushing time.

[FootlooseHorse]

<< Piglet actually looks cute caked in mud. >>

Well naturally! Piglet looks cute no matter what (and I'm not biased in the least...;)

<< Are you getting airlifts in lol of necessities? >>

LOL, well it's not really *that* bad... but just see what happens if a vehicle ventures off the gravel (which itself is soggy and struggling to hold its shape!). We did rescue the Disney Princess bike out of "Piglet Pond" today, in case anyone was worried ;)



<< I cant imagine her being able to stand being bred in the condition she was in, like she would just have fallen down i think. >>

It sure seems like that would be the case :( Perhaps if the poor stallion was in equally bad condition (therefore not so heavy)... maybe...? Or, like you suggested, it might have been a month earlier when she was "less starved" (how sad to have to gauge that way). We'll know soon enough though, and in the meantime, she hasn't been put off of the fellas by any prior experience it seems. Here she is trying desperately to get Geno's attention - even going so far as to grabbing his blanket in the last picture!





<< I think they do it because they know it means more brushing time. >>

That's an interesting view! How is your pregnant mare coming along?

If anyone wants to see photos of the land Piglet came from, here is a blog started by the heroic neighbor who was instrumental (against much resistance - including having the finger of blame pointed at her family) in bringing this situation to light:

http://mustangtruth.blogspot.com/

(Warning to squeamish, there are skeletal remains shown - nothing graphic or "gross", but very very sad.)

01/29/10 1:22am