Last night’s check found Newt lying down on the hard-standing outside the container.  I managed to get him to stand up, while I quickly tied down some haynets for the others and  found him lying down again, soaked to the skin (it was sleeting).  I got him into the shed and he lay down in the sand, phoned the on-call vet (locum) who said he be there as soon as he could – he was just finishing up on another animal first.

So, I decided Newt would learn to lunge.   Not a skill he knows. I got him walking and trotting (his choice) round and round on the end of an old driving rein (I couldn’t find the lunge line – one of two – anywhere) urging him on and on.  He couldn’t stop, he could walk if he wanted and he couldn’t sit down again.

After about 30 minutes, he decided to canter his way around, so I prayed he was feeling a bit better.  Well aware heart attacks go with exercise after colic, I put him into a stall with Tiddles (who is very stiff again) and watched Newt begin to eat and eat and eat.

The vet phoned to say he was nearby and I told him the update.  Good, but I still wanted him to come. He thoroughly examined Newt and gave him two injections, said he had strong bowel sounds but felt tender in one place.

Later, I left for the night leaving Newt eating hay with Tiddles thinking to myself “please God, let him have dodged this bullet”

Opening the shed door this morning saw me nearly sick with fear but happy faces all round.  Newt’s little bouncy bottom was working over-time – buck, buck, buck.

Newt’s been out all day. I saw him roll (OMG, worry again), but he was eating immediately after.  He’s now in for the night with Tiddles just in case.

I don’t really know what else to say except my nerves are shot to pieces.