Sweet-natured Jessie is fast returning to her old self after an attacker with a hammer left her with a fractured skull.
Jessie, who does Riding for the Disabled (RDA) work in Darwin, in northern Australia, was attacked overnight last Friday.
Centre manager Lesley Monro told Horsetalk that Jessie is friendly and curious, and probably approached her attacker.
Lesley said the attack had shocked locals and she had received calls from all over Australia, including one from the Northern Territory's Chief Minister Paul Henderson, inquiring after the health of the 15-year-old quarter horse.
Jessie is getting the best of care and enjoying all the attention.
"She's doing incredibly well," Lesley says.
The next three days or so will determine whether Jessie will need surgery.
Jessie's skull was fractured between the eyes from a single blow with a blunt object, punching her skull inwards and fracturing her sinus. The shape of the wound indicates it was a hammer.
The bone was pushed more than a centimetre inwards. Her caregivers hope that the bone will begin to knit without breaking apart. If it breaks up, Jessie will need surgery to remove any bone fragments.
Lesley says any sign of a deterioration in Jessie's condition will likely signal the need for surgery.
However, thus far the signs are good. The stitched wound is clean and the swelling is reducing. Jessie's outlook is improving by the day and she remains bright and alert.
Jessie should be out of the woods by Saturday, according to veterinary advice.
Lesley says Jessie will likely be spelled for three months before resuming her duties. It comes at time when the RDA operation can ill-afford to lose good, reliable horses.
 Jessie at the RDA.
Elmo the shetland, front, with Jo, a brumby from the Northern Territory, and her foal, Kelsey, who is wearing a fly mask. |
The centre has 11 horses available to provide rides, whereas normally it would have 18.
"We can't really afford to lose her," she says, "but she'll be spelled for three months.
"Jessie has the gentlest nature and is wonderful with our disabled clients. We've had her for five years and she is a very valuable part of the team."
She is currently spending her time indoors at the facility with pals Kelsey and Jo, both registered Northern Territory brumbies, and a Shetland called Elmo.
"You can imagine we got a dreadful shock when we went to feed our horses on Saturday morning," Lesley explains.
"There was Jessie standing in her stall looking extremely miserable, with a dreadful hole in her head."
She was taken for urgent veterinary attention.
"The vet confirmed that she had been hit in the head with a blunt instrument, most likely a hammer because of the shape of the wound. Her skull was fractured and the blow also fractured her sinuses.
"She is such a trooper," Lesley says. "You would have thought that she would have become head shy and nervous, but, no, she is just the same - and is loving all the attention she is receiving, plus all the treats, carrots, apples, bread etc.
"I still can't believe that anybody could do this to an innocent animal," she says of the attack.
The RDA operation is based at Marlows Lagoon, a suburb of Darwin. It has 38 acres and Jessie was outside with others horses for the night when the attack occurred.
Police are investigating.
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