Page 44 - EBONY AN EXCEPTIONAL SHIRE HORSE

NOW WE COME TO THE SAD BIT...........

In December 1991, just before Christmas, Ebony was taken very ill with a
twisted gut.
This is where the large intestine becomes literally twisted forming a kink. It is
normally fatal and very painful, but if caught soon enough it can be operated
on.
1991 was during the good times at Northcote and we had large numbers of
visitors, generating a reasonable income. Also Ebony was one of the only
horses we have ever been able to afford to insure.

With this fact to support us and a quick decision by our vet, we telephoned
the Horse Hospital at Oakham in Rutland, the only people reasonably close to
us at that time, who could undertale that operation.

With a big animal like Ebony, they needed a large establishment and extra

heavy duty equipment in their operating theatre.

We borrowed a horse box from a neighbour and Joe, our local helper went
with me and Ebony to Oakham without delay. Minutes counted with a
situation like this. The gut is restricted, in effect blocked and must be
operated on within a very short time to do any good.
Perhaps within two hours of us contacting the hospital, we were there and he
was operated on straight away.