Goodbye to Woozle

It is with great personal sadness and grief that I and Mark mourn the passing of our dear 'Woozle', who at 35 yrs young, was still full of good nature and sweet disposition, tinged with a good sense of horse humour. She maintained a happy aspect to the last, her back legs just weakened, making it difficult for her to move about safely, fearing that she would have a fall and damage herself badly, she was sent to sleep this evening after her favourite teatime feed, carrots, hand feeding of grass and much grooming and petting.

I stayed with her throughout smoothing her neck and talking to her.

7/8 Thoroughbred cross Irish Hunter, Bay Mare, she and I used to compete in Eventing together, She was very brave and bold, and beautifully mannered in and out of the Stable, and a firm favouite with the small children at the playschool next to one of her turnout fields.
Her name 'Wednesday's Choice',came about because she was bought at the Hereford Bloodstock Sales on the Wednesday Sale Day.
Her Stable name is 'Woozle' from the Winnie the Pooh Story about hunting the woozle.

Woozle in The Wars & Updates

Spent yesterday up and down to the farm, re vets visits to Woozle, she had a big lump come up under her cheek. To me it looked like a black thorn puncture gone nasty, blood puss, etc. The Vet ,Floris arrived from our Island's Liphook Practise, and was very thorough, after a complete check over he flushed & drained out the affected area many times, gave her penicillin, antibiotics etc. Shes still eating, and noshing grass, which is a good sign, as its keeping the jaw active too, we will have to see how it goes today.
He checked teeth etc, took samples and swabs, so far was non plussed too, suggested could be a puncture or an adder bite, they are a mildly venomous member of the viper family, I hate them. Although they rarely kill large animals dogs etc, they will have a bad effect on older, ill health animals.
She was very pleased to be turned out this morning and did her usual nerve racking woobly canter and attempted buck. :)

UPDATE.. Thursday, Floris came back at 4pm examined,squeezed and flushed through the affected site again. She has always been so well behaved with this sort of thing, it was obviously very painful, shes such a little trooper, I felt so sorry for her.
Still I popped her out in the small orchard from 5pm till about now 8pm ish its cool in there , already in tree shade, she was happily chomping away at the grass, when I left her, I have drugs etc to add to her feeds tomorrow, and she was much improved from yesterday.
Floris had to take another set of swabs etc as the first were no good they just set!!.
Friday; Swabs in lab, first tests showed a mixed bag of contradictions, further tests being done today to identify which anti bacterial treatment will be best for specific bacteria present. She is on a broad spectrum one at present added to her feed with an anti inflamatory mix too. The swelling is no worse, just cleaning and treating topically, several times a day.
Saturday: Bright this morning as usual kean to get out in the field,ate her feed well, I cleaned up and treated her face, before being literally dragged along to the field, she is taking great advantage of me not being able to put a headcollar on her, which is really quite funny. :)
Sunday; Swelling going down well.
Monday; Looking better all round, fingers crossed. Vet very pleased with the progress.
Tuesday: Almost looking back to normal, just a bit of residual damage to skin in the area, healing well, nice and clean.
Thank you for allyour good wishes. Linda x