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| Name: |
Kitai
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Age: |
Seven years old
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| Gender: |
Male
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Kind: |
Thoroughbred Horse
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| Home: |
Queensland, Australia
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Kitai
is very lucky that I chose him as my horse! He finished racing in 2012,
and he was retired and resting for the rest of the year, and in April 2013, I
fell in love with him. He was a bit skinny, and had no muscle, and basically
no training, but I wanted him anyway.
I have never seen a horse try so hard in my life, he would run his heart out
for me. He was the most giving and caring horse I have ever owned! For two
months I rode Kitai, training each day, learning to jump - which he took to
immediately. He was such a quick learner that he was jumping high in no time!
It all fell apart in July, when the farrier put two nails into the wrong part
of his hoof, which you would assume that Kitai would limp, but nope, he
didn't show any signs of pain. But then he started rearing ... We got the vet
out straight away, and then a farrier, who looked at his feet, and that is
when they told us the damage that existed on the inside of his hooves.
It is all a very long story, but four vets, about five different farriers
have looked at his hooves, he has gotten x-rays, he has had special
corrective shoeing, and plasters and boots on his hooves, all trying to fix
his problems. The racing industry is so harsh on horses hooves that Kitai's
bones have actually been eaten and rotted away on the inside, and all
infections and hoof separation all happened within his hoof. No one could
believe that he never limped, they said he is one incredibly strong horse!
Anyway, six months later, Kitai still has terrible hooves, and he is starting
to show pain. After trying special boots and vets advice for the past few
months, there is still no improvement. In December he went to see another vet
and farrier, who are incredibly worried, now his bone is rotating down, and
if he keeps rotating and pushing, it will push through his hoof sole, because
it is so thin, and if he keeps walking, the hoof wall will keep separating.
The vet said the only thing they can do is soak his feet each day, put very
special shoes on him, and he has to live in a stable and small paddock for a
year until his hooves can grow back. They are hoping after a year of rest,
then they should improve and he will be able to live happy and walk fine the
rest of his life. He will probably never be ridden again, but thats okay with me!
Kitai has cost thousands of dollars to help him, and a lot of other people
would of just sold him on after knowing he could never be ridden again. The
past months have been so upsetting, it is heartbreaking knowing how sore he
must be, and I feel so guilty that I rode him, even though he never showed
one sign of pain. He just wanted to make me happy. He is my best friend, he
has the kindest nature, and really does not deserve this.
Keep Kitai in your thoughts so he can have a quick recovery! <3
View more images of Kitai!
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