I thought this might be of interest, to the groups.
> >>Dear All, >> >>Many of you will have received previous emails about >>the Horseboating Society journey to Liverpool and >>return. >> >>I notified our local press that Queenie would pass two >>finishing posts. The first was as we returned Maria to >>her home mooring on the Ashton Canal on our return >>last Thursday from Liverpool. >> >>We took one day off then set off for the Marple Locks >>Heritage Society bi-annual event at Marple. The second >>finishing post was therefore our return again to >>Maria's home mooring. It seemed fitting that these two >>journeys fitted together, linking the World Canals >>Conference to Marple where Maria was built in 1854. >> >>The local press turned out to photograph us as we left >>on Saturday for Marple.We had a pleasant trip despite >>showers.We reached the Top Lock to be welcomed by the >>Alcards who had offered grazing for Queenie on the >>very site of the boatyard of James Jinks where Maria >>was built. Maria was moored alongside their boat where >>she would have been launched in 1854. People remarked >>that Maria had come home. >> >>We had an excellent night in the pub where we filled >>the large Liverpool jug which I had bought at a >>re-enactors' fair and had brought on board at >>Liverpool as our own reward on arrival. Beer and folk >>music entertained us. >> >>On the event day, Sunday, we made our way down 4 locks >>to the Memorial Park. The sun shone then it poured! >>The crew ate lunch beside Queenie's paddock in the >>park. Some public were stroking her then had to be >>asked not to feed her as they suddenly produced bread >>rolls. Possibly that was the start of the trouble. >> >>At 2pm as arranged, I talked about the work of the >>society and harnessed Queenie up. Many members of the >>public followed us down the locks to see us operate as >>we set off for home.Queenie worked keenly and we made >>rapid progress downhill - always much faster than >>uphill. >> >>We fastened on our tunnel headlight and hastened on. >>Queenie walked rapidly, knowing we were headed for >>home.The rain torrented down just before we stopped >>for a break for Queenie. >> >>Only then did I know something was wrong. She did not >>want to eat grass and soon lay down. We observed her >>while we had a quick snack. She rose of her own accord >>when we were due to go again. I wondered if she had a >>mild attack of colic. Queenie has never had one day's >>illness in the 10 years with me. We harnessed up and >>she now proceeded slowly. Sometimes colic can be >>averted by a walk. We went on slowly, not pushing her >>at all. The rain heaved down on us. >> >>We eventually reached the boatyard at 9pm as planned, >>our second finishing post, but Queenie was clearly >>unwell. Leaving crew to put Maria on her mooring, >>Queenie was taken home instantly in the horsebox and >>rugged up. >> >>As soon as she entered the field she began to roll in >>discomfort so the vet was called immediately at >>10.30pm. She confirmed colic and gave painkillers.We >>discussed the options. I kept up watch over the next >>hours. By 2.30 pm Queenie was rolling again. I phoned >>to say I wanted Queenie to go to the equine hospital. >>The vet returned to examine Queenie again and sedate >>her for the journey in the horsebox. >> >>I had asked Nigel to be on stand-by. However when I >>phoned at 3am he was probably fast asleep in bed. I >>soon found the driving to be very dangerous. After a >>long horseboating trip and getting soaked, I was very >>tired. The rumble strips jolted me twice as I drifted >>out of the motorway lane. A truck stop provided the >>essential coffee. >> >>At 6am, Queenie was unloaded at Liverpool University's >>Equine Hospital. She had taken 9 days to travel to >>Liverpool with Maria. Thank heavens for motor >>transport too, for a journey now of 2 hours! >> >>After examination, Queenie was rushed straight in for >>colic surgery.I questioned the vets closely about this >>as it is a huge step. >> >>I tumbled back to the horsebox and got one hour's >>sleep to awake to the bustle of the hospital yard. >>I anxiously awaited news of Queenie. She pulled >>through the op and I observed her through an >>inspection window where she was recovering from the >>anaesthetic in a padded recovery room. Not a pretty >>sight. Pouring with sweat and staggering around.Within >>an hour however she looked bright and was transferred >>to a stable. >> >>She is on a critical list and at high risk for at >>least two days to see if the guts begin their movement >>again.She is on an intravenous drip to prevent >>hydration. >> >>Professor Chris Proudman explained that she had a >>blockage of a firm impaction in the small intestines. >>This he has eased by palpitation and he has cleared >>and removed the blockage. >> >>Had he not operated Queenie would have died. >> >>He was kind to praise my decision to get her in >>quickly. It is tempting to see if the colic will pass >>over a few hours. However this allows toxins to build >>up. >> >>He was very interested to hear about Queenie's work. I >>hope we can make him a Proud Man that he has saved her >>life. She is of course there amongst all types of >>horses - children's ponies to Grand National >>racehorses. >> >>Queenie will not be able to work pulling boats or >>carriages for 6 months after this abdominal surgery. >> >>The cause? Unknown. Could it have been the bread rolls >>fed by the public at lunchtime? Nothing can be proved. >> >>I asked about the expression "busting a gut". Could >>her towing work have caused it? He assured me that her >>work would not have been the cause of a blockage. >> >>Insured? No. It is common for people who own many >>horses not to insure their horses. Of course she is >>covered for public liability but not vet fees. >> >>Cost? £3,000 for the operation. Plus £1,000-£2,000 for >>aftercare now. >> >>I always laugh when people say horseboating is the >>cheap way. >> >>Some of you might like to think of times you have had >>with Queenie. >> >>From 1997, Queenie started working at Calder Valley >>Cruising on the Rochdale Canal, delighting thousands >>of passengers annually until closure in 2004. >> >>1998 Cheshire Ring and IWA National Salford Quays >> >>2001 Shared the Huddersfield Narrow with Bonny >> >>2002 South Pennine Ring and IWA National Huddersfield >> >>2005 16 tons of limestone on Maria out of Bugsworth >>Basin, and 10 tons to IWA National Preston Brook >> >>2006 18 tons of limestone (plus 2 of water!) to Ashton >> >>2007 Coal and Cotton to and from the World Canals >>Conference at Liverpool >> >>Her guests of honour include Fred Dibnah on Elland, >>Robin Evans on Maria, and David Suchet on Gifford. >> >>Clever Queenie. >> >>Please do not phone me to ask about her progress. >>Assume no news means she is coming on OK. It's an >>upsetting time for me now. >> >>Meanwhile Bonny has been served but scanned not in >>foal so far. She will take on the boatwork from >>Queenie now this season. >> >>Regards, >> >>Sue >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>Sue Day, chairperson of The Horseboating Society >> >> >> ___________________________________________________________ >>Nervous about who has your email address? Protect yourself with >>AddressGuard, new from Yahoo! Mail. >>http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/addressguard.html >> >> >>-- >>No virus found in this incoming message. >>Checked by AVG Free Edition. >>Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.9.14/883 - Release Date: 01/07/2007 >>12:19 >> >> > _________________________________________________________________ Txt a lot? Get Messenger FREE on your mobile. https://livemessenger.mobile.uk.msn.com/ Yahoo! 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