Upside down and Stuck
October 5th 2007 03:28
Had a bit of drama here yesterday. I was out attempting to free some wire mesh from the long grass (lesson: never leave wire mesh on the grass) when my neighbour yelled out that one of the alpacas was stuck.
Our neighbours’ house is only about 200 metres away, so easy yelling distance.
I went down and sure enough, there’s Sabrina, our 11 year old multi-colour girl on her back, four feet in the air, in a ditch which runs down along the fence and into the creek.
The ditch was full of water because of a heavy downpour. We’re in a bit of a valley so we get the run off from surrounding hills (and everyone’s lovely topsoil too).
Anyway, somehow Sabrina must have slipped and tumbled in upside down and couldn’t get herself out. I had noticed they’d been reaching down in there lately to eat the new grass, so I guess she just lost her balance (or maybe one of the other’s gave her a gentle nudge – she’s not the most popular girl in the herd). She was definitely not going anywhere though, laying there, legs flailing about in the air.
When she spotted me, she stopped thrashing and gave me the saddest look. Sabrina’s been with us for 10 years, so I think she knows us pretty well.
She’s not a big girl, I made a quick estimate of about 70kg, a weight I could handle without doing my back in – I didn’t think to factor in that the ditch was full of water though. I grabbed both back legs and heaved her up onto the flat where she could get herself upright.
Sabrina was sopping wet and in full fleece I’m sure that added another 20kg. At least it felt like it, pulling her out. I’m not sure that I’d have managed if it had been one of the bigger alpacas.
I don't think she'd been stuck in there for long as she was still struggling to free herself when I got there and the others were all milling about. They would probably have wandered off fairly soon, when they realised she wasn’t going to get herself out. I had only given them some hay a couple of hours earlier so my neighbour probably spotted her soon after she went in.
She's all dried off now and none the worse for the experience. Maybe a little more careful about where she steps.
Thank goodness for friendly neighbours.
Our neighbours’ house is only about 200 metres away, so easy yelling distance.
I went down and sure enough, there’s Sabrina, our 11 year old multi-colour girl on her back, four feet in the air, in a ditch which runs down along the fence and into the creek.
The ditch was full of water because of a heavy downpour. We’re in a bit of a valley so we get the run off from surrounding hills (and everyone’s lovely topsoil too).
The offending ditch
Anyway, somehow Sabrina must have slipped and tumbled in upside down and couldn’t get herself out. I had noticed they’d been reaching down in there lately to eat the new grass, so I guess she just lost her balance (or maybe one of the other’s gave her a gentle nudge – she’s not the most popular girl in the herd). She was definitely not going anywhere though, laying there, legs flailing about in the air.
When she spotted me, she stopped thrashing and gave me the saddest look. Sabrina’s been with us for 10 years, so I think she knows us pretty well.
She’s not a big girl, I made a quick estimate of about 70kg, a weight I could handle without doing my back in – I didn’t think to factor in that the ditch was full of water though. I grabbed both back legs and heaved her up onto the flat where she could get herself upright.
Sabrina was sopping wet and in full fleece I’m sure that added another 20kg. At least it felt like it, pulling her out. I’m not sure that I’d have managed if it had been one of the bigger alpacas.
I don't think she'd been stuck in there for long as she was still struggling to free herself when I got there and the others were all milling about. They would probably have wandered off fairly soon, when they realised she wasn’t going to get herself out. I had only given them some hay a couple of hours earlier so my neighbour probably spotted her soon after she went in.
She's all dried off now and none the worse for the experience. Maybe a little more careful about where she steps.
Thank goodness for friendly neighbours.
Sabrina - all dried off
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
I just love these posts, they make my day.
katyzzz
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
She's ok, I think just her pride damaged having shown off her underbelly to the entire herd. Never a dull moment with these critters about.
Cheers.
Comment by cremorne geronimo
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
Thanks for dropping by. How's life in Gretna?
Sabby's just fine. I don't think she was stuck for very long and not injured at all. Cheers.
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
...poor thing, it must have been really scary for her...I'm glad it all had a happy ending.
Lilla ...