Sophie & Lilly...the next chapter...

As you will have seen from the first page of this story, written by Fran, Sophie and her half sister Lilly were rescued as orphaned foals from Earaheedy. They were both orphaned prior to weaning age. When found they were so desperate for water that they were sucking at each other’s mouths. Goodness only knows what they had found to eat, but they were literally skin and bone. The body of a mare was found in a nearby dam and it is thought that this was Sophie’s mother. Sophie was covered in mud and had probably been stuck with her, but had somehow managed to pull herself free, then drag herself out of the steep sided dam.

Both fillies nearly died but were saved by Sheila and Ross Quartermaine, then nursed back to health by a caring Fran in Margaret River. They spent several months together afterwards, recovering, but then both were sold. Sophie came to Nannup, south west WA, to be agisted at Wadi Farm by her owner. Lilly went to Margaret River to live with her new owner.

Both owners kept in touch, although the fillies did not see each other again for two years.

Both fillies matured with minor, permanent knee problems from being compromised so early in life, but otherwise were physically extremely healthy, sound and moved very well.

Lilly grew emotionally. She was a “normal” foal – hungry, healthy, cheeky. She enjoyed the company of other horses and humans and quickly seemed to “get over” her early trauma.

Sophie was a very different story. She grew, but not emotionally. Even as a young foal, after being taken for a walk and put back in the paddock, the first thing Sophie would do was gallop down to the water trough, and stand over it. Almost as if she thought the water would be gone, or perhaps because her last memory of her mother was associated with the smell of water.

Although hand reared, as a yearling Sophie began to exhibit other signs of having issues - she did not always like being approached by people...she did not socialise with the other horses in a normal way...she did not exhibit nor learn the normal play behavior of the other foals...and she was easily stressed by change. She would often be seen, when horses were being shifted or new horses were galloping around, standing on her own in the middle of the paddock with her head down. Other horses would be at the fence, curious, excited, paying attention to what was happening, but Sophie, quite simply, did not want to know. The worst thing was the look in her eyes. She looked genuinely haunted.

When Lilly left, Sophie was placed with big young Earaheedy mare, Norma, who over the next few months became the closest thing to a friend, to the filly. After being together for a year, however, Norma was sold.

We did not realise at the time the effect this would have on Sophie. In hindsight it was apparent that this made things far worse, although it did give us an insight in to Sophie’s problem. Sophie felt the loss of the other horse keenly, but it was more than that. We could see that Norma wasn't just gone for Sophie - Sophie believed that Norma had died.

Horse’s memories are far longer and more accurate than many people give them credit for and it was absolutely clear that Sophie was not coping with her feelings of loss. She was still “stuck” in survival mode, believing – in whatever way that horses believe – that all those that left her had somehow died. This may sound strange, but it's not anthropomorphising. We are absolutely convinced that this is what Sophie believed, in whatever way horses experience these things.

Is it possible for horses to suffer from depression? It seemed so. Sophie became even more of a “shut off”, “shut down” horse. We tried reassurance, training, getting advice from vets...nothing worked. Sophie was there in body, but not often in spirit. If it wasn't depression, it wasn't far from it.

We discussed other options with her owner and chatted to many alternative therapists and healers - including spiritual healers. One of the best decisions we made, having recognised what we felt was her problem, was to keep an older gelding (a lifetime horse on the property) with her permanently. When ever horses were shifted, Sophie and the bay gelding, Carranya, were kept together. Carranya was 16 yrs old (rescued from a remount station up north), and had been with us since a yearling. He had never had any major dramas in his life and was very bonded to us. Carranya took his job very seriously and his steady, constant reassurance was clearly good for Sophie.

Just prior to this, we discovered Equine Touch and had practitioner and instructor Mary Hitchcock work on Sophie, giving her a number of treatments over the ensuing months.

Equine Touch, a powerful form of soft tissue manipulation for equines that is incredibly effective in treating a range of physical, physiological and, as we have discovered, emotional problems in horses, made a real difference to Sophie’s general attitude and demeanor. She held her head higher. Equine Touch, combined with her new “permanent” friend, began to bring Sophie out of herself. The look in her eyes changed and that was wonderful to see.

Then unexpectedly, Norma came back to us. Despite the fact that the stay was only a short one, it was excellent timing for Sophie. You could almost see her jaw drop when we lead Norma back in to the paddock. Holy cow, you're still alive... Norma took it all in her stride but Sophie was thrilled.

In August, her owner Elizabeth organised another reunion...and Lilly came for a holiday. It was an extraordinary meeting and we made sure we had a camera handy. The two fillies had changed a great deal since first being separated as skinny foals. They were greying out and both had grown enormously, but it was very apparent that Sophie, stunned as she was, immediately remembered her half sister and hauled on the halter to go and greet her. There was no squealing or striking, as usually happens when youngsters meet, but rather tentatively arched necks, soft sniffing and blowing in either nostril (rather like the French greet, a kiss on both cheeks!), and the quiet, delighted recognition of oldest friends.

The two fillies were then put in to a large paddock together with the older gelding and it was on for one and all! Sophie, who had barely exhibited any play behaviour at all over the previous two years, bucked and kicked and farted and proceeded to joyously gallop headlong about the paddock with her half sister in tow. It was a sheer joy-of-living display that brought tears to the eyes of all present.

Over the next two months, the fillies remained together and played together, well away from the other horses. It was as if they were catching up on lost time. You could just see the penny drop in Sophie - she had finally realised that not everything that leaves is gone forever.

July 2008

Lilly left the property in early July, to return to her home in Margaret River. The two half sisters had shared a great deal of quality time together and Sophie dealt surprisingly well with the parting. The two horses had been spoken to and had been given every opportunity to say their farewells, separated from the usual “mob” the day prior to Lilly’s departure. (Forward planning is critical when dealing with issues such as these.)

Unfortunately, at the last minute, it was Lilly who decided that she did not want to leave. An easy going and very human oriented horse, the role reversal was completely unexpected, although in hindsight it should not have been. Normally a very calm and easy float loader, Lilly decided that being taken away from Sophie was not what she had in mind at all, and it took some time to load the now well grown filly in the normal way. She simply would not walk on, and pulled backwards repeatedly. Fortunately Sophie, looking on from the paddock, did not seem to fret, although she stood and watched and did not walk away.

After some basic training reminders and considerable and energetic encouragement, Lilly took a moment and seemed to realise that she really did have to go...and walked straight on to the float. She arrived back at her own property a little sad, but otherwise unaffected, and wandered off to graze.

Sophie was later seen to be peeved at Lilly’s absence – something she took out on the young gelding she was sharing the paddock with at the time. This was seen as a healthy response however. Sophie was no longer detached or avoiding company. She was participating in the life of the herd again...even if she was cross at her sibling’s enforced absence.

For the next several days, Sophie also returned to the exact same spot in the paddock where she had last seen Lilly...she stood, each time, for a long time, staring at the place where the float had taken Lilly away. Perhaps now realising and waiting for her to come back?

The two fillies will definitely be reunited regularly in the future, however it seems that Sophie is now over the worst of her trauma. She really does now seem to realise that not all horses that vanish from her life are gone forever...and that’s a very good thing.

Sophie (front) and Lilly, enjoying life together again

Watch this space for the next chapter in another year or so! Both these fillies have guaranteed futures as Earaheedy broodmares and, despite their environmentally caused knee problems, will be sound enough to go under saddle, at least for gentle rides. Both will continue to receive ongoing veterinary supervision from Sheila. (And as you can see, their (minor) knee issues don't stop them from enjoying life!)

By KA Waddington