Caring for poorly pets is always a challenge, but the bigger the animal, the bigger the problem – especially when a beast with a 30-metre digestive system starts suffering from a severe stomach ache, as Natalie Bowen finds out.

Horses are a common sight in Malta, whether pulling tourists around in karozzini, racing at the Marsa track or just resisting the urge to bolt along traffic-choked roads.

Many are used for racing but other equine lovers choose to keep them as pets, particularly if their better days are behind them.

As racehorses require more attention, training and special diets, ponies are a popular choice for people who want to ride for pleasure rather than competition, according to veterinarian James Azzopardi.

“The most common horses in Malta are trotters,” he says.

“These are imported mostly from France and Sweden. Then there are some thoroughbred racehorses, some saddle horses, a good number of locally bred ponies, used mostly for racing, and also some donkeys.

“Usually trotters are imported when they are close to the end of their racing career abroad, as their prices are lower.

“They come to Malta at an average age of eight, which is not that old. Some keep running competitively even up to 16 years old.”

Like any animal, horses require a lot of care to keep happy and healthy, and they surely need a lot more space and exercise than cats and dogs.

The three most common health problems Dr Azzopardi comes across are colic, osteoarthritis and equine flu (see factbox inside for more details).

The most common horses in Malta are trotters, imported mostly from France and Sweden

He urges owners to take swift action if their horse falls ill: “Don’t wait for days or until it’s late in the evening to call a vet. If after an hour or two of do-it-yourself treatment the horse doesn’t improve, call for professional help.”

Volunteers at Funny Farm, Malta’s only animal sanctuary that cares for abused and abandoned horses, agree that colic is a huge problem, particularly as they cannot be on hand 24 hours a day.

‘Horses need constant observation’

Chairman Sean Galea explains: “It’s a nightmare to see to, you have to keep a colicky horse moving so it doesn’t lie down and so it doesn’t roll.

“If they roll, sometimes you have to almost lift them up, shout at them, give them a fright so they get up again.”

Mr Galea says that although the standard practice is to call for a vet, it is common for people to inject their horses with a painkilling drug themselves.

The Funny Farm volunteers do not do this, partly because they believe administering a painkiller will only treat the symptoms, so many times they pay for a vet out of their own pockets to help diagnose what is actually causing the colic.

“It could be gas, it could be from the food, water or anything. It could even be stress,” says Mr Galea.

“It’s like us having a headache, take a couple of tablets and you’re OK, but it could be something else.

“There is no way to avoid it completely – you have to be very observant and tuned in.”

One of their ex-racehorses arrived with a lot of tendon damage to his leg.

“If it’s treated immediately, it’s OK,” Mr Galea explains, “but doing this is expensive and it takes time, and the horse won’t race again.

“It can’t stud because it’s a gelding [it has been castrated] and you’d only do that with a champion anyway.

“Racehorses retire at 16 – they start early and retire early – and then may be suitable to become pets depending on their psychological state.

“If the horse was traumatised, it is difficult to rehabilitate as a companion – it needs time, patience and dedication.”

Volunteer Estelle Duca also believes that lack of public understanding can be a problem.

“Here in Malta, there’s nowhere to take a horse that has been abused,” she says.

“When the police ask ‘why don’t you rehome them?’, it’s not that easy. People assume they are going to find rideable horses.”

Neighbours often see or hear a mistreated animal in an urban area and report its owners, but anyone occasionally driving by a horse in a field may think there is nothing wrong, even if there is no shelter or rug, or the ground is so wet that its feet are suffering.

One horse came to them with a hole in its hoof where rot had set in, so it risked going lame.

If the horse was traumatised, it is difficult to rehabilitate as a companion – it needs time, patience and dedication

Mr Galea highlights this as another condition easily treated by disinfecting the hoof with Epsom salts and keeping the horse on a concrete floor, but if left untreated, it can cause real problems.

Two of the farm’s residents are having physiotherapy for displaced hips and many had problems with their feet.

Mr Galea notes there is a famous saying “no feet, no horse”.

“Problems often come from not being exercised on dry land, not being mucked out and not having things seen to.”

Another volunteer, Lauren Aguis, explains: “They are like we are. If you are flat-footed, it doesn’t seem that bad, but see what it does to your posture and what happens to your back.

“It’s the same thing with a horse but look at how much a horse’s feet have to carry. Some of our adult males weigh 1,000-1,200 pounds.

“At the same time, it’s not outrageous for a horse to have thrush in the hoof but if you treat it, it goes away, or at least is under control. But if you ignore it completely…”

The NGO is trying to improve knowledge about horse health, as it feels many people do not think of horses as pets.

But, unfortunately, it will become homeless at the end of the month as the landowner wants to redevelop the site for an agri-tourism project.

Mr Galea says the government may have approved some suitable land for them but it is not guaranteed, so the volunteers are keeping hopeful that their search for a new home is successful.

Seven of the farm’s 22 horses and ponies have been rehomed but Ms Duca says the ideal situation would be to keep the remaining ones together.

“If the worst comes to the worst, we will split them up, but we’re determined this should be a horse sanctuary.

“The way things are going, it seems that no one cares, but we won’t give up,” she says.

“It’s the only time we have ever asked for anything.

“Now we are begging,” Ms Aguis adds sadly.

*Funny Farm is holding a fundraising concert tomorrow at Ir-Razzett l-Abjad, Tal-Balal, San Ġwann, from 7pm to midnight. Tickets cost €6, including parking, and must be booked in advance. For more information, call 79093267 or 99827951 or visit the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/events/208106102719142.

Malta’s top three equine ailments

Colic

Horses’ worst enemy is colic or abdominal pain, claims vet James Azzopardi.

“This is due to their very long and delicate digestive system, which can be around 30 metres in an adult racehorse,” he says.

Severe abdominal pain can be fatal if not treated, but getting colic is not necessarily an indication of ill-treatment as even the most pampered pony can suffer attacks.

There is no magic formula or course of action to prevent a horse or pony suffering colic, but the vet recommends feeding them small amounts at regular, fixed times.

Giving them concentrated food such as horse pellets or large amounts of grain increases the risk, as does sudden changes in their diet or feeding routine.

“Remember they are herbivores, which are grazing animals, so naturally they should eat small amounts continuously,” Mr Azzopardi stresses. “Obviously feed quality is also very important; they need good quality forage (felu or magħlef in Maltese).”

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a type of articular ailment that affects the bones and joints and is more common in older horses as their cartilage begins to wear out, or occurs as the result of an injury.

However, Dr Azzopardi adds that in the case of racehorses, “they can still race comfortably with good management.

“Soft tissue injuries in the limbs are also common. Being racehorses running at high speeds, even over 50km per hour at times, these ailments are to be expected.

“How to avoid them? Well, don’t make them worse if present and hope you don’t get them!”

Horse flu

The third common ailment, equine influenza, can be treated by vaccinating the animal.

Dr Azzopardi says this can help with the symptoms but unfortunately few horses on the island have received the jab.

Symptoms are not unlike human influenza, as the affected animal will have a dry cough, high temperature, discharge running from its nose and eyes and potentially act lethargically and be unwilling to eat or move.

While the disease is extremely infectious and can spread easily between equines, it is not usually fatal, but the animal may take several weeks to recover and racehorses would be unable to participate in events.

The flu may weaken the immune system and allow secondary infections to develop, such as pneumonia, which can be deadly to foals, so isolating the affected horse is recommended.