Jed displayed a very positive reaction to being touched right away, delighting in being petted and scratched. Add a big coarse brush to that and he is in heaven! Jedd stretches his head up, sighs and quivers, as he is brushed. We decided to try this outside to make him look even more spiffy for the curious Farrah. And later she did trot over! (Jed asked if I please put the dang camera away sometimes!)…So here is what he looks like when one is brushing his neck….

Our lovely Farrah returned to RF today, so now we have two giant belgians. Because of his feet Jed wasn’t allowed out with Farrah, but the two tried to meet privately over the high stall wall. Paparazzi shot caught the first hello!
Can’t a single belgian get any privacy?

Jed has been wearing his fly sheet every day and it is helping him out. Probably also good for him to learn to wear things (if he’s going to live here, that is!)….today Jed’s buddies left for a new adoptive home, which opened up some daytime stalls. We moved Jed to the opposite one, which is much cooler….happy Jed!

Ok you sadists…The full enchilada. He only agreed to wear this once.

Didn’t remember the camera today but Geri took some that I will add later. It was super hot and Jed wore his polka dot flysheet for his trim. He picked that right front foot up! And held it there for a bit! Then was done. Cleaned out inside but it’s not doing well. The new hoof growth doesn’t look very good at all on this one hoof. We need to make some changes.
Sooo, I am to try and get Jed to put his foot in a tub with epsom salts. An advanced move from the ‘pick up yer dang feet’ but I think we will manage it. Soaking may help. The other problem is that Geri feels he still isn’t getting enough circulation to that foot, and that a lack of bloodflow is a problem. More turnout would help this, BUT, turnout at his current location is proving tricky. Cisco has claimed the herd aggressively. I cannot leave them unsupervised and I do not want to put a grazing muzzle on Jed, as it will deprive him of one of his weapons, his teeth. So I think we are going to move Jed, down to a different field behind the house. We have the trailer so will move him this way.
Before we do this, we need to prep the field. We’re going to take the back hoe and excavate a larger watering hole so that Jed can possibly wade. Also another huge improvement for Jed would be a large area of pea gravel. This is being used more and more to treat hoof issues. as a horse can move and balance himself in the rock to feel more comfortable, as well as exfoliate all that nasty dead tissue below. So mud is out for Jed now and rock is in. We need to create a big area in his new field for pebble or pea gravel, and then truck in a few loads. So two big projects to get done before moving Jed. In the meantime, teaching him to put his foot in a bucket.
No one said that recovery from founder would be easy!

“Don’t I look like a Manly Man? Hmmm?”

Thank you Rene for the most unique fly sheet we have ever seen, much less for a horse the size of Jed.

We haven’t tried the mask on yet, just not sure I could take the entire ensemble without busting a gut…:) Thank you for both the laugh and the practical addition to Jed’s supplies, since he is bothered by flies more then most. They won’t dare bother him in this….

Jed says, ‘What the heck is that? It’s so handsome…!”
Our friend Beth Covert, a talented artist in her own right and draft owner, created this wonderful felted finger puppet of our famous boy. I love the pink nose and blaze shape! (she hasn’t added the mane yet but we couldn’t wait to share!)

The pony on the far left was a camp giveaway. He was once a great kid’s pony, shown extensively, gentle and skilled. But things had changed for him and his life was in danger. Problem was he had developed a painful skin issue and also gone lame. The pony sat all summer, miserable and unused, and by fall was heading to auction. We knew that a sad hairless pony would not fare well there, but that was his only choice unless we agreed to take him. The following week he was trailered over to Rosemary Farm by one of the camp leaders who loved him. He arrived with a buddy and the two became horses of Rosemary Farm.
A friend had been looking for a great kids pony, and we knew that this fellow was that, once. I described this little gelding to my friend, his talents and his needs, and she agreed to welcome him. She felt she could help him. Shortly thereafter he moved again, to her beautiful home. With some TLC over the winter, his skin issues cleared up, getting baths and ointments. His mood improved as well; but he was still lame. My wonderful friend assured me that she would find him a companion home if that didn’t change, because he was really starting to show her his wonderful character. After months of probing, a deep abscess was uncovered in a hoof, and then healed. The navicular in his feet was not extreme and was corrected with shoeing. And Wow! By spring this year, he was restored to a well trained gentle kids pony! His kind spirit returned with his healthy body. He is happy again, in a private home and has his own 8 year old child. This past weekend, they competed in a show together, and were pinned in every class. You know what they say about ‘other people’s trash’; it’s our treasure….
With six months care my friend got a pony with years of skill. Wasn’t she smart? And kind! We are so happy for this little pony who was lucky enough to get the care that he deserved.

“Nom nom nom….good hay!”

Jed eats 2-3 bales a day of hay, plus extras….with his 5 month anniversary approaching on August 4, we have decided to raffle off the very halter Jed was wearing the night we met him at auction. (He tried it on for us for these photos!)….It’s old and worn and was on Jed for a very very long time. We need the hay funds more then we need it, even tho’ it is very special. We hope that lots of fans will buy a chance to win it! Raffle tickets are $10 each; these can be purchased via our web link at www.rosemaryfarm.org/support or by cash or by check. Please make sure that you get a confirmation and a number back from us (i.e. “thanks for the support, your number is now #43?). On August 4, Jed will pick the winning number! We will mail the halter, a nice halter hanging hook, and a photo of Jed, as a package suitable for display….What a unique tribute to a great horse.
(legal disclaimer; this raffle is for fun only, the halter prize has no retail value, just emotional significance only).
This is a one of a kind item for Jed fans! Thank you for your support!

Win Jed’s original auction halter!
On August 4, we will be celebrating Jed’s five months of recovery and happiness with us. Aside from being trimmed every two to three weeks, Jed eats two to three bales of hay a day; that’s no chicken feed!
SO, we are getting creative; we have decided to raffle off the very halter Jed was wearing the night we met him at auction. It’s old and worn and was on Jed for a very very long time. We need the hay funds more then we need it, even tho’ it is very special. So we hope that lots of fans will buy a chance to win it! Raffle tickets are $10 each; these can be purchased via our web link at www.rosemaryfarm.org/support or by cash or by check. Please make sure that you get a confirmation and a number back from us (i.e. “thanks for the support, your number is now #43″). On August 4, Jed will pick the winning number! We will mail the halter, a nice halter hanging hook, and a photo of Jed, as a package suitable for display….What a unique tribute to a great horse.
(legal disclaimer; this raffle is for fun only, the halter prize has no retail value, just emotional significance only).
This is a one of a kind item for Jed fans! Thank you for your support!