Sindy-Stella horse
See Sindy-Stella one last time before life came to an end
The Noriker mare Sindy-Stella was taken in a few months ago. She is eight years old and suffers from laminitis. Her owners suffered various strokes of fate due to illness and so they turned to Gut Aiderbichl’s animal emergency centre. A space was available in the newly renovated B stable and Sindy-Stella moved in. The family’s hearts sank, as they were no longer able to care for their horse in an appropriate manner.
Sindy-Stella lived with cows
Sindy-Stella is used to cattle because she lived with them in the barn and also spent time with the ruminants on the pasture.
The B stable at Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf is home to horses who accepted Sindy-Stella immediately and she has learnt to feel completely at home in the horse family. Here she receives species-appropriate feed, therapies and medication for Sindy’s laminitis and lots of cuddles from the grooms.
Sindy-Stella’s laminitis, a metabolic disease, is probably caused by the horse’s coexistence with cattle in the pasture and in the stable. The feed composition of a horse is different to that of cattle. The animal carers at Gut Aiderbichl pay very close attention to this. If laminitis is chronic, there will always be relapses and pain, but we have experience with helpful therapies for horses with laminitis.
The Samaritans' wish mobile fulfils a last wish
The horse owner had reached the final stages of her cancer and had a huge wish: “I would like to see and feel my Sindy-Stella one more time!”.
Pet owners know the feeling of togetherness with their pet, whether it’s a guinea pig or a large horse, and are well aware of how important the fulfilment of their last wish was. Four days before her last breath, Sindy-Stella’s owner was able to visit her pet.
Horses feel their humans and the encounter between the terminally ill woman and her horse was very touching and at the same time proof once again of how important animals can be in a person’s life. Sindy-Stella treated her owner with sensitivity and calm. She enjoyed the woman’s caressing hands one last time. At first there were tears and sobs, but by the end of the encounter there was calm and peace and a happy smile on the sick woman’s face.
Four days later, she fell asleep forever. We promised her once again that we would provide Sindy-Stella with everything she needed for a protected and happy equine life.
A horse is a magical connection between heaven and earth.
– Unknown
Someday there will be a reunion.
From: Gisela Pschenitschnig, Gut Aiderbichl
