Shire Horses Charm and Lilly
Back from rehab in Switzerland
In the year In 2017, the animal emergency center at Gut Aiderbichl received a dramatic phone call.. The carefree life of 7 Shire Horses was suddenly in danger, because the owners could not keep their beloved seven horses no longer sufficiently care for their beloved seven horses due to their age.
Seven happy Shire Horses had become 7 death candidates
The situation was desperate. The owners did not want to give up their horses separately, which would have made things easier. It was the case that if Gut Aiderbichl had not been able to agree to take in the 7 horses, the cattle transport would have driven the animals to slaughter. Not out of malice, or because the owners did not care about the welfare of the animals. On the contrary, it was simply inconceivable to them to separate the group of horses that had known each other for many years.
Dieter Ehrengruber put an end to this despair and some time later the impressive Shire Horses moved into the main stable lane of the Begegnungshof Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf.
The horses revealed a secret and we understood the desperation
It turned out that you couldn't just put the horses next to each other in the horse stalls. That's when it got noisy. The whinnying told us that they always stood in a familiar order, and that this order was just interrupted. Also on the pasture the 7 horses often stood in the half moon in the usual order: Ted (unfortunately deceased), Pioneer, Tinkerbell (unfortunately deceased), Queen of the Roses, Oakland-Lilly, Charm and Emma (unfortunately deceased).
Everything about the Shires is huge and imposing
The Shires of the animal-loving owners had never been used as workhorses and had never been ridden. For many years they were like children to the people and were simply allowed to be horses.
Our grooms had to take care of the hooves, which in turn was no fun for the horses. Training was done and attempts were made to have the large hooves lifted so that the necessary work on the hooves could be done.
In 2021, Charm and Lilly were brought to the rehabilitation station of the Sandgrueb Foundation in Egg, Switzerland, because their hooves were causing more and more problems. In this rehabilitation station there is the possibility to have horses with severe, chronic diseases treated. The specialists on site treat the sick horses with an indescribable dedication and knowledge and with effective long-term therapies. For example, Charms and Lilly's mallenders were successfully treated in this clinic.
Charm was not enthusiastic about the treatments at first, but was fearful and insecure. Lilly, on the other hand, showed dominance, testing the treating doctors in her own way. Lilly became sweet and gentle and Charm lost her insecurities with time. How happy Pioneer and Queen of the Roses were when their friends came home after more than a year of rehab treatment in Egg, Switzerland.
Hoof care continues to be a big issue especially with Charm and Lilly, but they are calmly facing the work on their hooves.
To improve the quality of life of horses no stone is left unturned
Charm, Pioneer, Queen of the Roses and Lilly will also not be spared from aging. In close cooperation with the Sandgrueb Foundation, Vetsuisse, Faculty Zurich and Vetmeduni Vienna, measures are taken to improve the quality of life of the horses if necessary and to keep it stable.
Quality of life can be improved through the use of various techniques and medical therapies. Sensor halters collect data on feeding behavior, length of time spent lying down, movement and the general health of the horses. Medical therapy work, such as that carried out by the vets in Egg, show wonderful results, as we can see with Charm and Lilly.
Let us wish our Shire Horses many more healthy years - our grooms, the farrier, the experts at the Sandgrueb Foundation as well as the medical missions of the Vetmeduni Vienna contribute everything necessary.
The soul of the horse expresses itself only to those who seek it.
Visit Charm, Pioneer, Queen of the Roses and Lilly in the Hauptstallgasse in Henndorf, and let you together with the huge horses to relax your soul. Enjoy the peace, the power and the gentleness of these wonderful animals.
