Phase 2: Healling Time

It’s now been a few months since ID-11104 — now nicknamed Moto Moto by his new owners — first arrived at the farm.

What everyone feared the most ended up being true, the poor dude had laminitis. Treatment has been steady and all was going surprisingly well. His front hooves were still tender, but no longer hurting as bad as they once did. The ferrier had been visiting regularly, always very careful not to make him too unconfortable during the sessions. One day Mr. Ferrier even got Moto Moto a gift! He brought him these funny looking boots which made the pony so excited, making him believe it was finally time to go trail riding again despite the pain. But that wasn’t it. The deception of not getting to explore around outside didn’t even last a second though. These weren’t the normal riding boots he was used to wearing but they were SO COMFY! They made his sore tootsies feel so much better. Best gift ever! 

As for his weight loss journey, it was proving to be its own slow process but there was progress nonetheless. The vet had made him a feeding plan and everything was measured to the gram. And no more human food for this one of course — despite his constant attempts at yoinking any food and snacks anyone held near him. It made no sense that the humans had so much food on their hands and none of it was for him. Why even hold it out near him if you’re not giving him a single bite of your sandwich?! Makes no sense but he didn’t fight it much either. You just had to be fast enough to dodge him when he came for a bite of your lunch and that was all, thankfully he never turned aggressive for it — he wasn't picky and liked his hay soup just as much.

On the other hand, his swayback remained the same. At least for now! He has been getting visits from the local chiropractor to try and help him get a bit more comfortable and the farm owners had received a handful of photos from his previous owners, showing Moto Moto on several trails, carrying the grandson down wooded paths with a proud neck and level back. Those were taken a few years ago, but still, they meant something! Once his hooves were healthy enough to allow it, he’d also begin basic workouts and light groundwork to help build strength, then perhaps with time and conditioning hopefully his healthy back can be brought… well, back!

And for now, turnout time is quite limited for Moto Moto but the other horses on the farm would frequently come say hi through the fence or from the stall’s window from which he would watch them trotting, sprinting and playing around every day.

Moto Moto surely looked forward to the day he’d get to join them and properly become friends with all of them — which was getting closer and closer!