AL - WAHID (Hameen)
His Story Of Determination and Survival
The early hours of a wet May morning 07
saw the arrival of a much longed for colt
foal. A gift to Sarah from Patricia
Ramsay, bred by her, and born at
Craigweil Stud. I was at the stud taking
my turn in the round the clock watch
over the beautiful mare’s first foaling.
The first forty eight hours of his life
were fraught to say the least! His
mother rejected him almost immediately
and then attacked him when we tried to
ensure his first feeds, in her panic she
stood on one of his legs. It soon became
apparent she would never accept him
and he was removed for his life was now
in serious jeopardy. He then travelled
forty odd miles, all alone in the back of
a horsebox to us at Drumjohn, some six
months sooner than anticipated! It was
clear from the onset all was not well and
he was very weak despite feeding him
every hour with a bottle. The following
day our Vet arrived to check him over
and not liking the look of him ran a
battery of tests as by then he was also
scouring badly. This was due to an
infection in his hindgut passed over
from his mother before birth. His leg had ballooned and he could bear no weight on it so had to remain lying down
with us constantly turning him. Over the course of his first weeks Sarah moved into his stable where they both slept at night on a paper bed under a double duvet and her hourly feeding continued at the request of the vet. At this time I had grave concerns as to what chances he had of survival, the vet shared the same concerns but no stone lay unturned in our efforts to help him battle on, no-one fought harder for him than Sarah, her dedication to him knew no bounds.
Slowly but surely the vet visited less and Hameen grew a little stronger. At almost four weeks old he was strong enough to be helped from his box and supported to stand in the sunshine, something we were to repeat often. Soon he looked forward to getting out and began to walk around his little yard. The vet popped in when he was almost two months old and couldn’t believe his eyes, especially when our little man had a good buck at him! One week later the big day came, he went into the all-weather for a run around with his “mum” Sarah, what a joy that was to see and he loved it.
Despite a few hiccups and long running saga with his bowel condition he never really looked back. With ad-lib milk from a calf feeder, good food and fodder and heaps of TLC, especially from his “mum” the weight and condition crept up and over him. By now he was a deep glowing chestnut with a thick yet very silky mane and tail. His leg had healed wonderfully well and he began to show us what he could really do! Showing off became a favourite pastime and he displayed movement to die for, until…..One fateful day!
While out in the Arena a low flying jet, the blight of our lives, thundered over about 100ft above our heads. Hameen got such a shock he took off and bolted straight for Sarah and safety. His speed was so great he couldn’t turn at the top of the school and he fell heavily on his side and thrashed to get to his feet before we could get to him. I spotted it the instant he stood up, helped by Sarah who was now right by his side, a huge hernia had emerged! He had been born with a slight umbilical swelling with a tiny gap in the abdomen wall but it had almost gone. The force of his fall had torn a great hole and a loop of intestine protruded from it. Our vets quickly arrived but as soon as they saw it knew he was destined for surgery. They got in touch with the Clyde Veterinary clinic and he was booked in but he required tests, medication and to be stabilised before the intricate surgery took place.
The five hour operation was a great success and a week later Hameen
came home. Six weeks of TLC and
box rest later and he was fighting fit
once more. The vet gave his consent
for light exercise to commence and
three weeks later he was able to be
turned out, with Sarah by his side,
for an hour at a time. Soon he was
back to normal with his great
condition quickly returning, thank
God! He was entered to make his
debut at SRGAHS summer show on
8th June but both he and Sarah had
sustained further, separate injuries
due to more low flying aircraft.
Hameen is now fine but Sarah
requires serious spinal surgery.
All going to plan Hameen should debut among the other yearlings at Malvern. He is looking and feeling fantastic, moves like a dream and shows like a Pro! For all he has endured I doubt there is another baby who deserves being in this class more and to hear the applause of the Malvern crowd! Win or lose, it doesn’t matter AL- WAHID (Hameen) has proven time and again that he is not only a winner but a survivor and with Sarah by his side I’m sure one day he will be crowned a Champion.
By Alyson King
designed by Arabian Horse Promo 2008
