367 Days in a Stable
Apache's Journey to Recovery
!!WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CONTENT AND IMAGES MAY BE DISTRESSING FOR SOME VIEWERS!!
Our Apache is a gorgeous Appaloosa X who arrived at Avoca Park Equestrian on the 3rd December 2021. He was to be a young teenage girl's forever horse.
Once Apache arrived, he spent time in his paddock getting used to the property and meeting his new equine neighbours. His days consisted of breakfast, exploring his paddock, chatting to his neighbours and finally dinner. Once he became more accustomed to the property, he began light training to develop fitness and to continue to bond with his new owner, Amelia.
Early in January, Apache had a minor scare with the fence that thankfully wasn’t serious. He had managed to get both his hind legs through the fence. When he was found he was standing quite calmly with his legs in the fence but when he saw his breakfast he became excited and wanted to hurry over. However, he was restricted by the wire, Apache managed to pull the wire off the fence without snapping it and ended up with minor scratches on his hocks that were easily able to heal with treatment.
A couple days later, Apache was again found with a back leg through the fence, but luckily this time he was able to be rescued without a scratch.
Unfortunately, Apache wouldn’t be so lucky the next time. During the night of 15th/16th of January, Apache had a detrimental run in with the fence. He had managed to get his back leg over the one of two wires of the fence in his paddock, pulling all insulators off the posts. In the process, the wire sliced through a good portion of his leg, almost completely de-gloving his leg from the hock down. There was a 20mm attachment of skin remaining at the rear of the cannon bone.
The vets at Elite Equine were called immediately and were here within the hour.
After an assessment of Apache’s leg he was referred to South Eastern Veterinary Clinic. The vets determined that a full recovery was a possibility with surgery. Luckily, Apache had avoided cutting through a major tendon and the tendon he did cut through was not considered to be as vital.
Elite Equine vets made quick work of Apache’s injury. She gave him the antibiotics and medication needed to help him with the pain and to avoid infection. She then moved on to cleaning Apache’s leg and wrapping it up so that when he was taken to the hospital, they would be able to salvage his leg. Throughout the whole process, Apache was such an angel. He didn’t fuss or get scared of the injections, nor did he kick out at the vet when she was wrapping his injured leg. He just calmly stood there while eating his breakfast, allowing the vet to do what she needed to do.
Once his leg was secure in a wrap, Apache then had to take the journey to South Eastern Veterinary hospital, where he would undergo surgery to have his leg stitched back up. Apache stayed at the hospital for another 2 weeks following his surgery so his condition could be monitored by the vets, making sure his condition was stable.
After the vets concluded that Apache’s surgery went well, Apache was able to come home to Avoca Park to continue his recovery surrounded by his friends and beloved owners.
This is where Apache’s long road to recovery begins.
