Welcome Mr. Darcy! 9 year-old Registered Friesian Gelding

Welcome Mr. Darcy to Hanaeleh!

A few months ago we were told about a 9 year-old registered Friesian gelding whose owner wanted to turn him over immediately. We usually network these types of horses, but because of the timing involved, we ended up taking him in at Hanaeleh and named him Mr. Darcy (after Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice).

Mr. Darcy is a registered Friesian and we have copies of his papers. He was imported to the U.S. from the Netherlands when he was five years old. His registered name is Zepp G: #528004201503097.

Darcy’s Weight Management Plan

When Darcy came to Hanaeleh was not feeling great. He was VERY overweight and had not been exercised much, so we immediately put him on a diet and exercise program. Unfortunately, even with a different diet he was still grossly overweight, so the vet prescribed him some medication and he has started to lose weight and gain some muscle. He is feeling a lot better now! When he first came to Hanaeleh, it was a lot of hard work for him to run around, and now he loves to trot around and show off his moves!

Darcy Diagnosed with CPL

Our original goal for Darcy was to get him to a healthy weight and assess him under saddle and find him a new, loving home. However, while grooming Darcy we discovered some large bumps on his legs and called the vet to determine what they were. She confirmed that Darcy has a condition called Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL), which is a disease that is common in draft horses, including Friesians. It affects the lymphatic system and creates both swelling and large, bulbous areas as well as open sores on the legs. There is, unfortunately, no known cure for CPL, only a way to better manage the situation.

We were very lucky that we were able to identify this condition early-on, and we started him on a plan that will keep him as healthy as possible. Sadly, this included having to shave the feathers off of both of his hind legs in order to keep them clean and dry. We also put him on a special diet to prevent any additional inflammation, and he gets long turnouts in addition to his regular exercise. CPL can be very serious and affect the lifespan of a horse, but we are hopeful that we were able to catch the situation early and provide treatment.

Darcy’s Bright Future at Hanaeleh

Because of his diagnosis, we have decided that Darcy will not be available for adoption, but rather he will be sanctuaried at Hanaeleh. This way we can better manage his condition and provide any veterinary care that’s necessary.

Darcy is a very sweet boy, and really loves people! He will pose for the camera, and in true Friesian fashion, believes that everyone at the ranch is there to see him!

He’s also a very calming influence, and has made friends with all of the horses at Hanaeleh. Ollie tried to intimidate him at first, but Darcy has convinced him instead to have mutual grooming sessions. We even turned him out with Gabriel, who tried to pick a fight with him, but Darcy was not impressed, and they went from Gabriel trying to unsuccessfully intimidate Darcy, to another mutual grooming session.

Although Darcy is incredibly sweet, he does not have a lot of confidence so we have been working with him and getting him more comfortable in new situations. He is already looking like he feels much more self-assured and confident!