how will you help accommodate them?When the news of a dwarf tolter reached the Phoenix Hearth Stables, the three handlers immediately knew they wanted to take care of him. So Sky and Holly made the trek all the way to Bear Run to check him out. And of course, it was love at first sight.
The only problem? The on site veterinarian Andy wasn't quite sure she would be able to give Dove as much care as he needed. The other tolters had a penchant for getting themselves into trouble, and the handlers were already incredibly busy with all the horses, business, and many other frustrating and time consuming things.
So Aryanna ran an ad in the paper, looking for someone who had the skills and expertise to be able to care for Dove specifically while construction of a special Dove-sized stall commenced. Holly stayed with Dove and kept him on hold while Sky went home to oversee construction and preparations.
There was no luck finding someone for the first couple of weeks. Certainly a couple of people showed up, but they weren't the kind of people the staff would work well with.
Enter Jet, an African American woman in her mid 30s who specialized in caring for special needs horses. She'd just moved into the area and needed job, and hey, having her entire job being taking care of a small horse for the rest of his life sounded like a pretty sweet deal. Jet was friendly, energetic, willing to work, and most of all, absolutely loved Dove. All in all, a pretty sweet deal.
So Dove was purchased, and as soon as the stable was constructed and everything prepared, Dove was brought home to the Phoenix Hearth Stables.
Dove and Jet bonded nearly instantaneously. The little tolter enjoyed having a human companion who would constantly take care of him, and Jet enjoyed Dove's little antics.
Jet keeps Dove on a strict diet, although he keeps trying to wheedle extra treats out of her. It doesn't typically work, as Jet is well versed in being able to not succumb to the cuteness. Dove always gets extra affection from her though.
She also tends to his every need, making sure his hooves and teeth are checked, getting him to the vet on time, making sure he takes his medications, even when he's a bit of a rascal about it.
As he settled in, Dove became a mascot for the Phoenix Hearth Stables, and he even goes with Jet to do presentations about horses for the nearby schools. The kids love him, and Jet makes sure he doesn't get hurt. She's very fussy with him, but everyone is happy in the end.
Dove has earned all the love, affection, and care a dwarf horse could ever want.
special medical notesDove's specific type of dwarfism is moderate type 2 dwarfism, achrondoplasia, which translates into "short extremities". This means that Dove has incredibly short legs. As a result, Dove also has had contracted tendons in the past and is currently being watched to make sure that he doesn't have them again.
Because Dove is so small, it's really easy for him to gain extra weight. Jet is constantly regulating his diet to keep his weight at a range where his tendons won't contract and he won't have to have surgery. Plus, Jet really doesn't want to watch Dove suffer for a time with his hoof pulled backwards.
Dove is also under watch for premature arthritis. It is a strong concern of his regular vet's about the development. Although he's still fairly young, as a dwarf it is more likely for him to develop equine arthritis at a young age. Everything is prepared for when he most likely develops arthritis, just in case.
Dove does not exhibit any neurological problems as of now and he seems quite healthy. If any other developments occur, Jet and the vet are both prepared to help him out just in case.
Luckily, Dove is not currently exhibiting serious medical issues. This may change in the future, but everyone is prepared for the inevitable.
