Good to know

These two were my onlookers for the day as I went to and fro!

While I maybe could have kept that $300 I spent yesterday at the vets for another purpose..the peace of mind I have and new understating of leg injuries, is priceless. I just had to know the damage to my mare's leg was not worse, and the experts knew and I did not.

Of course- the vets all had to tell me the stories of the horses that did have a broken splint bone and did appear to be fine at first....later to be needing a surgery . Hey, I was there wasn't I..I was NOT going to back out of the procedure now.

She traveled nicely to the apt. of course, with head bumper and legs wraps! They had a few horses in the yard as I drove up . She was great, no calling or nervousness. She just let the gal handle her and trot her to and fro for the Newest installment Young man vet at "Equus Veterinary". he was nice enough yet not very authoritative and referred to my favorite Vet frequently..that was good.

The New guy told me that he like to view the radiography...then go from there. He said he thought it was muscle trauma and that a strong "Sweat" poultice would bring out bacteria.

I was wary of this, as he said it may burn the leg if left on too long...okay..if that is true..it WILL burn my mare's leg anyway, I thought.

He conferred with my favorite vet and he told him to skip that sweat wrap! Good!

They Gave her a dose of horsey downer..I warned them to make it a half dose..she is soo sensitive! She was loose lipped soon after and they began the imaging. It was very cool! It talked to them, as it took photo's, telling them they either did it correctly or incorrectly. Ha!

As the image came onto the screen, It was so plain to see that Wa's leg was intact and that the slice to her Splint bone WAS superficial! Wheew!

She was done in no time and we walked her slowly to the stall so I could pay the bill...she did not mind her confinement this time...if she even was aware of it!

So, I have her on antibiotics and there is a small steriod dose I give to her in the AM.

I am supposed to mix 12 tablets in water and apple sauce and shoot it into her mouth 2X a day..but my PBO is gone till Thursday..and I am not even asking her husband to do that!

So I tested the theroy I have of my mare willing to eat almosty anything -with OATS-YEP!

I mixed the Apple Sauce with the tablets and Oats...it was licked up! So He can do that easily.

All is right on the horse front again friends! I am sooo releived and worn out...being at the barn from 9am till 6pm 2 days straight is tiring....

In between cold hosing and ice wrapping the mare I

> wahsed the truck

> then the trailer

> I cleaned out 3 water troughs

>De pooped 2 paddocks

> Made 28 baggies of suppliments

.....> then I cleaned 3 saddles, 2 bridles, and brushed out 2 sheepskin saddle pads!

Washashe may now continue to view hew nightly deer parade show, from her stall door . 3 of them went by before I could snap this!

Time to go the stable and show the husband how to mix the special brew for Wa!

Thanks for all the sweet and encouraging sentiments. We will be soon riding again and out of the shadows!

PS

I also have some surprising developments to share soon about the mare and I...I just love them!

Totally my fault

This is Wa mare with an "Ice Horse" Therapy rig on...it works very well for heat and swelling reduction. I am soo glad that we got the fridge in the tack room now, as my Ice was all set to go for this emergency. Though I only needed it for the one leg this time..the balance of the strap over the hiney held it in place. She totally wouldn't move either! It was hilarious...frozen.

Today, I also figured out how to get her to step onto a tarp(a dreaded thing) feed her on it!

Man do I feel like a jerk of a horse owner right now! I went on a trail ride yesterday with a new horse..and what was I thinking??? I failed to put the shipping boots on-ONE TIME- and this time, the new horse stepped over on my mare's hind leg!

When we unloaded the horses, She was picking up her left hind and kicking it. As I groomed before the ride and I then saw the slices into her tendon area!

Sick to my stomach, I became instantly.

The gal that was new had just the right things for Wa as she is a Naturopathic nurse. We gave her some Arnica, and put powdered Golendseal into the wound. It was clean and had not affected her gate at all..I walked and walked her to see if she had issue, and she did not.

So we did walk the trails. It was nice.

Today though..my PBO called me in the morning to say, that it had swollen quite a bit and I rushed out there to see and make vet arrangements if needed.

I deemed a call was in order and they offered me a 3 pm...so I waited around all day tending to the duties I had to do...make feed packets...cold hose...make more feed packets...graze and cold hose. I was making sure NOT to get the water on the actual wound, just on the hock and fetlock and other side of the tendon. After I iced and cold hosed and walked her up and down the driveway and over to My PBO's house while grazing her...about an hour or so...I then wrapped it up with a standing wrap. My first one.

This mare's legs are so not typical..they are petites! I found that the neat standing wrap batting I bought years ago, for such an occasion, were so dang huge on her! I got the kind I may wash after use. It came off her leg like 4 inches in diameter! I am going to have them cut in half and have four- out of two! So I had cotton batting too,and that worked fine.

The vet called and we talked it over and since some of the swelling went away with walking and cold therapy...we decided to see about tomorrow...the Radio graphic machine was out till then anyway.

Hope and pray tomorrow she looks great! I will have to cancel my entire day out to get her there by 3pm.

I gave her 1 gram of Butte and more Arnica. She got dinner early and I came on home...

We shall see~

Sunday Stills Silhouettes

A lazy day aboard an equine looking over the bay as it empties...good riding for us as we come to the ocean side of Tillamook Bay Ocean Spit! My friend caught a nice Silhouette of me, seen on the header.

Please click the title for more of Ed's peeps views in Silhouette!

It's A Sign!

We were told it would be smooth riding here...and boy did I need that after the mishaps of the rides lately!

Meet Cazi...a Mustang that I met yesterday..Here Romeo and he share the hay bag delights.

After those hectic events in and out of the saddle of late, I was in for some better times. Little did I know a few days ago, It would be something I would need after unforeseen violent spills!

Monday I was in the barn and this gal drives up ..she was really neat looking. Now, I know that may strike you as odd, that I mention that but, I am a hairdresser and though I am NOT critiquing everyone I see..I do notice someone well put together and sporting a fancy hairstyle..specially around the barn!

Anywho, this gal was just at the Bay Ocean Beach House, where we ride the horses, and had accidentally taken home some of Gemma 's gear and Gem had taken hers...she was returning it now and introduced herself and said, that "we should ride sometime"...I totally never let that invitation go by without a date on the books...I wasted NO-Time in making a date...it was Yesterday!

Jenni and Cazi, a Keiger (sp?)Mustang that she has trained. Boy, is he handsome and though out of shape, his attitude and patience really did show through to me. He is trusting and not skittish, takes the lead or is willing to follow too. He grazed near the trailer without a lead on and hopped right into that trailer, when she pointed to it...just a gentleman.

I took Romeo out this day ...wanting to make sure these trails really were smooth, and not at all treacherous . To be honest..we did take the 'Ridge trail" and I got a bit nervous and wondered if we should turn around..a first for me..but I had to trust Romeo..he is sure footed.

These trails were heavenly to be sure...and very close to the stable for both of us. She lives nearby and picked me up! WOW, I will say it again, SHE PICKED ME UP!

Maybe the days of me always picking folks up is over.

These are private trails that border along about 15 horse homes. They monitor them for intruders and keep them up so nicely! All of them are marked and groomed and WOW...Trail Nirvana!

We were invited to park in the private driveway of her friend...and they extended the invite to me so kindly, after we arrived.

It was so Lovely, peaceful and just as smooooth as pie! There are some trails that are more steep.. that go all the way to the canyon floor to the creeks and waterfalls-but those I will borrow a trail pony for..and reserve the smoother hours of enjoyment for Washashe mare!

While we were out...we lost a cell phone and I knew I would be coming back, on this sunny day, to look for it with my mare...wanting to redeem the trails for her after our spill .

I went home after about 2 hours of riding and then got my mare ready to come on back...
I told her about the Smooth trails and she agreed to try again.
It was gorgeous out and warm..we enjoyed an on-the-buckle ride most of the way...and we went all the way to the end of a grassy road...trails right and to the left with those cute little "SIGNS"..it really is well loved out there. We finally came to the main highway and turned down another grassy road, and it looped it all together! I brought trail markers-wooden clothesline pins with red ribbon..but never needed any because of the signs!

We were walking on back and I heard what sounded like a motorised vehicle coming up behind.
It panicked me a bit,as I was looking to duck into a trail...but, I kept looking back...nothing...but more whooshing noises and now debris all around..I could not see the sky but it was very warm still..and I thought okay..it must be a high wind...we felt it coming on stronger and my erg to return home made us break our walk for a hand gallop!


We got to the open and holy cow...the sky was swirling around over head! I could barely keep my eyes open for the particles of earth being tossed around!

We trotted up the nearby-thank goodness-driveway and I did not even take the mare's saddle off...but just loosened the girth and put her fly mask on. I was hoping that it would darken the lightening I saw all around us now..the thunder was close too...oh! She balked...but got on the trailer and we went about 15 to 20 miles per hour home cause the wind and rains now were so violent!
We made it back to a few TxT msg's asking if we were okay.....

YEP!!!
Praise God and His trail angels, that I apparently have permanently assigned to me and the mare!

Rider off and horse down- round 2

This time...it was Me and Washashe that went down...... Debra and April before .....

The hill down to the creek is steep and narrow and really uneven going.....not at all what I like to ride on with a not-so-nimble mare like mine. I get off for the decent, the last bit, and remount for the creek and then dismount again for the bog area. I had done this and we were going to try for the bog after we watered the horses in the creek..my mare would have none of it and jumped out..up a steep embankment ,though I was waving her away from it..she would have none of my advise.

It had been a day like THAT today..she was uppity with a new mare to ride with though the mare stayed way away from her, not crouding her at all....she kept her eye upon her. She was balking at some places too..not normal for her..but she does hate some of our passages and today...she told me so!

We actually were on the way back..forgetting the bog today..I mounted and headed for the trail up...she does okay with walking it up, but she wanted to trot it and I was in two point to stay with her...THEN=she tripped, and since I was already in forward position, I whipped over her shoulder to the left bank and as she came to her feet, I was still holding the reins , and the tension pulled me under her...OH-MY- FREAKING -STARS!!! Life flashed before me as I looked up at her belly and hind legs.... she fortunately-jumped over me and headed for the top of the hill!

Man...so close and such a blessing once again..to have God's mercy!

I started up the hill and my friend rode behind me...she kept trying to get me to get on behind her , on her mare April and I finally did at one point and that is when i felt my back ache..ooou.

I did not last long..but I did last to see some walkers on the trail ahead and they actually had been called by a nearby Nurse that watched my mare WHIZZZZ on by= with out a rider aboard.

I thought that was sooo awesome that some one would have come looking for me!

Apparently, he had been "rolled" over on by his horse last year and had to ride back hurt..so he sympathised getting the call about me and brought a little motorized thing along to carry me back to home, if needed. I thanked him profusely so and we kept right on going..I was nervous about my mare crossing streets(she probably did it in a "single bound" though, knowing her)..then there is the clear cut area right before the house..Oh..I was thinking of her falling into a root wake or empailing herself. I had to get off that mare..it hurt to badly to ride behind the saddle..and I mad emuch better time on foot!

She was there! Washashe made the (?) miles trek home crossing two streets and making various turns in the trails to get there...and she was not even hot...jsut standing near the other horses ,in the yard.

WHEW! Not a scratch! I am so amazed with the GPS system this mare has!..Well, there are some places I dare not even ride again..I will be on foot with her!

As I drove home..I went on over to the property owners house that had called to find me help. She is a horse owner and the building I ride by every time I go out, is an ARENA! A nice one too..they will board horses this winter and I am already going to do the gals hair soon and it was such a cool meeting..I really wanted to thank her for caring enough to send someone ointo the woods for me!

I miss Pantz! She was so sure footed!

PS..Got a question for you all.....

Be honest now....if you came off your steed out and about on the trails...would he or she stick with you? Or bolt as the horse in the last post did ..and now unfortunately- mine too. ???

Rider takes a spill

Last weekend was eventful and not at all what I had planned.

One day..I took a nap in the grass as my mare grazed nearby..that was neat. She came on by to investigate at one point.

I had actually thought/planned to ride with a friend, here at my place, one,maybe two days... and that fizzled. Soo.... having to do my chores for my PBO, as they went out of town with 2 outa 3 horses, I made it to the stable by 7am each day to feed. And then onto working at the salon and back to feed + ride till sunset, as I do love, in the Pm's. Greeting my mare in the morning is great too! She whinny nickers! I will try to get this on tape sometime..it really makes my friend laugh as she gets there to feed in the am's!

I made plans to ride an evening ride,with the gal that stays at the house of my Barn owner...she is a novice with lots of potential. She loves to go out and I love having a built in trail partner!

Panna, the older Morgan mare, is who she usually rides; but they took her to the beach this time since Danny can be unpredictable for inexperienced riders. We thought to chance it with a walking ride only . We had a lovely time out but he would like to catch up with a hop forward and a hard mouth with head held high so as to avoid bit accountability. I made sure to stop and not get ahead since she really had difficulty with this. ON the way back is where it got dicey..not for my mare until we came across the street and Danny leaped over the ditch and his feet slid out, for he has metal shoes on. My mare got agitated with him and became a bit high herself. We had another downward bit and it opened up to a tree farm. I came to the opening and went to circle Wa and my friend went to do the same,but Danny became very ill mannered and fresh...reared,then spun and just catapulted his rider to the ground...she hung onto the reins yet..to do so longer would have meant he'd maybe step on her..so she let go...and GO-GO-GO -He went!

I bolted right off my mare, at this point,as she saw him running away and got EXTRA LARGE!She calmed after he got out of visual range...I immediately started to pray that he did not injure himself on the run he was having homeward bound..We had to open gates to get where we rode that day, so finding the same way back was out of the question and meant...stopping and hopefully not going through a fence or getting hit by a car going to the road. OH!

My friend was sore,but nothing broken. I was praising God for the mercy! I remounted, told her to walk to the road and wait for me..I would go home and get the car for her. I trotted mostly back and hand galloped for stints...made it back in record time and there he was...standing there,heaving very hard! he was a mess of sweaty horse...but not a scratch and I was sooo thankful!

I got the both of them in a stall and quickly went to rescue my friend! There she was hobling along...I gave her Arnica and Advil ..and rubbed her back with a topical Arnica.She was pretty good the next day and I think we were very fortunate...and I also think DANNY BOY gets to go out agin with me and many others soon..to get him over his spinning,bucking,rearing thing!

More on this soon!