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The wildlife is active here in N AZ with this awful
drought we're having. I was up at 1am chasing a skunk out of the chicken
coop. Then I go to feed this am and find that my new arab, Alo, has met up
with a porcupine. He has 7 quills in his muzzle, but only one looks really
deep. He can't eat, so I need to get them out.
He's been here just under 2 mos, must not have had
porcupines where he lived on 300 acres in NE OR. He is a fast learner, and
I'll be surprised if he ever tangles with a porcupine again. But that's
one of the things I like about him - when he sees something new he wants to
go investigate, not a spooky guy. Of course he's still young (just turned
6) and has to go see the world.
Although I don't have the level of trust with
him that I have with my other 2 horses (who I've had for a few years), he is a
good boy and I think I can get the quills out. I tie him real short (he
has been trained to give to pressure from the halter and doesn't pull
back). Using some pliers, I managed to get ahold of one quill and it comes
out. The hardest part was getting a good hold on the quills, of course he
keeps trying to move away. Got 2 out each of the next 3 tries - who
hoo! He is relieved to be able to eat his breakfast, and I hope that he
has more reason to see me as someone he can trust.
Anyone else out there have any porcupine
experiences with their horses? I hope I did the right thing just pulling
them out.
Kathy Kelly
Parks AZ
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