We have recently acquired a new rescue. More information and pictures to come tomorrow!
In the meantime, we welcome all of our friends to join us on facebook! Go to www.facebook.com and search for "Julie Hersey" in Derry, NH! :-)
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Monday, December 7, 2009
Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick...
Jack may be cute, but he's as dumb as a brick? No, that's not right...
Amanda gave me an update on how Jack is doing. I present to you, "The Mirror Story":
"Sunday night I brought all my tack and I was planning on riding him if he had settled down enough. I tacked him all up and brought him into the indoor. It was later at night, and I was the only person in the indoor (besides my friend that came with me). I started to lunge him and quickly realized he had a bunch of energy, so I decided I'd try free lunging him.
Amanda gave me an update on how Jack is doing. I present to you, "The Mirror Story":
"Sunday night I brought all my tack and I was planning on riding him if he had settled down enough. I tacked him all up and brought him into the indoor. It was later at night, and I was the only person in the indoor (besides my friend that came with me). I started to lunge him and quickly realized he had a bunch of energy, so I decided I'd try free lunging him.
After finally getting him to move away from the door, he started running around the indoor snorting at everything. He passed the mirrors on the long side of the indoor and came to a sliding halt. He was SO interested in the "other horse", which was really just his reflection in the mirror. I tried getting him to run around some more, but he was way too fascinated by the other horse! After a couple minutes of standing next to him while he was watching himself in the mirrors, I decided to just sit at the end of the arena and let him do his thing for a while...only he didn't move! He ended up staying right next to the mirror sniffing, neighing, snorting, and eventually play rearing, for over an hour! He was so confused as to who the "other horse" was!
Now the sad part:
After sitting around for so long I decided it was time to put him away. I walked up to him without the lead rope, and tried to see if he would follow me to the other side of the indoor. He followed until he reached the end of the mirrors, and all of a sudden came to a dead halt and glared at me. His eyes got real big and he was pacing back and forth between looking at the mirrors and looking at me, looking at the mirrors and looking at me. I had to walk to the other side of the indoor to get the lead rope, because at that point I realized he wasn't going to be able to just leave the "other horse".
He's doing much better now though. When I go there right after school to clean his stall he comes to the gate in his paddock when I call out to him as I'm walking up. He's learned who I am and I'm SO happy for that! I'm so excited to see how far i can get with him!
Thank you for everything again, I appreciate it all soooo much!
Talk to you soon,
Amanda"
Amanda - Thank YOU so much for putting work into him! Please keep us updated on how he's doing!
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Now the sad part:
After sitting around for so long I decided it was time to put him away. I walked up to him without the lead rope, and tried to see if he would follow me to the other side of the indoor. He followed until he reached the end of the mirrors, and all of a sudden came to a dead halt and glared at me. His eyes got real big and he was pacing back and forth between looking at the mirrors and looking at me, looking at the mirrors and looking at me. I had to walk to the other side of the indoor to get the lead rope, because at that point I realized he wasn't going to be able to just leave the "other horse".
He's doing much better now though. When I go there right after school to clean his stall he comes to the gate in his paddock when I call out to him as I'm walking up. He's learned who I am and I'm SO happy for that! I'm so excited to see how far i can get with him!
Thank you for everything again, I appreciate it all soooo much!
Talk to you soon,
Amanda"
Amanda - Thank YOU so much for putting work into him! Please keep us updated on how he's doing!
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Saturday, December 5, 2009
My Bucket List
Here are my answers!
1. Gallop along the beach - Done it and LOVE it! Now that I think of it, I need to go again soon...
2. Win a blue ribbon, even if it’s for the egg and spoon race - Done it, although I was never very good at egg and spoon!
3. Enjoy an evening of equestrian theater, from major touring productions such as Cavalia to local performance troupes. - Done it! Watched the Lippizaner Stallions and numerous productions of the Pfizer Fantasia.
4. Try your hand at cattle work. Find out what it means when they say a horse is “cowy.” - Did this last year at a farm in Arizona and LOVED it! I wish there were more experiences like that closer to home!
5. Jump! From crossrails to cross-country obstacles, experience the thrill of soaring over fences. - I have jumped in the arena, but have always wanted to do cross country, even if the thought frightens me a bit!
6. Fall off and get right back on again. Conquering fear is empowering. - I have fallen 7 times in my career and have gotten back on each time except for one. It was a pretty bad fall, but knock on wood, no broken bones!
7. See the majestic white Lipizzan stallions of the Spanish Riding School. - I haven't seen them in Vienna, but would love to! I have seen the local performances by the US troops.
8. Come to a sliding stop on a well-trained reining horse. - This is the one thing that I have ALWAYS wanted to do but have never been able to. Maybe some year for Christmas I'll get a reining lesson as a present!
9. Take a lesson with your equestrian idol. - I have LOTS of idols, not sure where to start!
10. Nurse a horse through a crisis and back to full health. - Check! That's kind of the point of this whole website!
11. Experience the smooth ride of a gaited horse. - I have been on Rocky Mountain Horses, Standardbreds and Trotting Ponies before, but have always wanted to try a Tennessee Walker.
12. Watch the horses come through the Head of the Lake on cross-country day at the Rolex Three-Day Event. - Not done.
13. Have the courage to do the right thing for your horse, even when it’s not easy. - Yes, we had to put one of our school horses to sleep a few years ago. She came to us as a rescue and was just an amazing horse. I'll have to write a post about her someday...
14. Attend the Kentucky Derby dressed to the nines—including hat! - Not done, but always wanted to! Minus the hat... :-)
15. Tackle a trail accessible only by horseback and enjoy the view. - Done! Picture above!
16. Take your dream vacation on horseback. - We went to a dude ranch last year and got to work cattle, learned how to team pen, rope, etc. It was a blast! I've always wanted to go to Ireland, too.
17. Master the sitting trot. - Mastered? Probably not. But I don't think I'm all that bad at it either!
18. Ride a fine-tuned horse in your discipline of choice, be it dressage schoolmaster or barrel champ. - I have also always wanted to have a lesson on an upper level dressage horse. Looks like fun!
19. Watch polo. Even better, try your hand at it! - Not done.
20. Feed, muck, groom, ride. Repeat daily. - ALWAYS done, just not the riding part!
21. Wake up to a whinny every morning. - Either whinnies or our donkey Dominic braying right outside our bedroom window.
22. Fly down the track on a Thoroughbred. - I have always wanted to do this, but think I might be too much of a chicken to attempt it! I am not sure if we get less courageous or more intelligent as we get older. When I was younger I would have done it, no doubt about it.
23. Meet one of your favorite famous horses in person. - I met the horse from Lord of the Rings, which was pretty interesting.
24. Ride bareback, bridleless ... or both! - Yes, of course!
25. Share a bond with your horse that’s deeper than words. - I think the bonds I have had with some horses have been stronger than the bonds I've had with humans!
Have a wonderful weekend! :-)
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Thursday, December 3, 2009
Your Bucket List
I cannot take credit for the following piece, but I found it on one of my favorite blogs and thought it would be interesting to hear back from our readers.
The movie "The Bucket List" follows two terminally ill men (played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who embark on a journey with a wish list of things to do before they “kick the bucket.” Here’s our equestrian version of a bucket list—25 ultimate things to experience in a lifetime as a horse lover.
What's on your equestrian bucket list?
1. Gallop along the beach.
2. Win a blue ribbon, even if it’s for the egg and spoon race!
3. Enjoy an evening of equestrian theater, from major touring productions such as Cavalia to local performance troupes.
4. Try your hand at cattle work. Find out what it means when they say a horse is “cowy.”
5. Jump! From crossrails to cross-country obstacles, experience the thrill of soaring over fences.
6. Fall off and get right back on again. Conquering fear is empowering.
7. See the majestic white Lipizzan stallions of the Spanish Riding School.
8. Come to a sliding stop on a well-trained reining horse.
9. Take a lesson with your equestrian idol, _________ (you fill in the blank.)
10. Nurse a horse through a crisis and back to full health.
11. Experience the smooth ride of a gaited horse.
12. Watch the horses come through the Head of the Lake on cross-country day at the Rolex Three-Day Event.
13. Have the courage to do the right thing for your horse, even when it’s not easy.
14. Attend the Kentucky Derby dressed to the nines—including hat!
15. Tackle a trail accessible only by horseback and enjoy the view.
16. Take your dream vacation on horseback.
17. Master the sitting trot.
18. Ride a fine-tuned horse in your discipline of choice, be it dressage schoolmaster or barrel champ.
19. Watch polo. Even better, try your hand at it!
20. Feed, muck, groom, ride. Repeat daily.
21. Wake up to a whinny every morning.
22. Fly down the track on a Thoroughbred.
23. Meet one of your favorite famous horses in person.
24. Ride bareback, bridleless ... or both!
25. Share a bond with your horse that’s deeper than words.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The movie "The Bucket List" follows two terminally ill men (played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who embark on a journey with a wish list of things to do before they “kick the bucket.” Here’s our equestrian version of a bucket list—25 ultimate things to experience in a lifetime as a horse lover.
What's on your equestrian bucket list?
1. Gallop along the beach.
2. Win a blue ribbon, even if it’s for the egg and spoon race!
3. Enjoy an evening of equestrian theater, from major touring productions such as Cavalia to local performance troupes.
4. Try your hand at cattle work. Find out what it means when they say a horse is “cowy.”
5. Jump! From crossrails to cross-country obstacles, experience the thrill of soaring over fences.
6. Fall off and get right back on again. Conquering fear is empowering.
7. See the majestic white Lipizzan stallions of the Spanish Riding School.
8. Come to a sliding stop on a well-trained reining horse.
9. Take a lesson with your equestrian idol, _________ (you fill in the blank.)
10. Nurse a horse through a crisis and back to full health.
11. Experience the smooth ride of a gaited horse.
12. Watch the horses come through the Head of the Lake on cross-country day at the Rolex Three-Day Event.
13. Have the courage to do the right thing for your horse, even when it’s not easy.
14. Attend the Kentucky Derby dressed to the nines—including hat!
15. Tackle a trail accessible only by horseback and enjoy the view.
16. Take your dream vacation on horseback.
17. Master the sitting trot.
18. Ride a fine-tuned horse in your discipline of choice, be it dressage schoolmaster or barrel champ.
19. Watch polo. Even better, try your hand at it!
20. Feed, muck, groom, ride. Repeat daily.
21. Wake up to a whinny every morning.
22. Fly down the track on a Thoroughbred.
23. Meet one of your favorite famous horses in person.
24. Ride bareback, bridleless ... or both!
25. Share a bond with your horse that’s deeper than words.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Which ones have you already done? Which ones would you love to do? And what's on your personal bucket list that isn't listed above?
I'll post my answers tomorrow! :-)
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I'll post my answers tomorrow! :-)
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009
300 Days and Counting!
Can you believe it? I certainly can't. Three hundred days have passed since Faith began her journey to start over her life again. Since she began the journey of touching so many lives and helping so many others.
Looking back at the events of the past ten months, I truly cannot believe the changes Faith has made. I never thought it would be possible for her to recover as well as she did. Hell, I honestly doubted that she would make it through those first few nights. She has transformed in front of all of our eyes, coming to us as a walking skeleton and slowly blossoming into a beautiful swan.
And now, she has transformed back. This time, into a wooly, hairy beast. Old man winter is on his way and Faith is going to make sure that she's prepared for him. Boy, that old lady can surely grow a winter coat on her!
Faith has made a full circle - first an ugly duckling, then a gorgeous swan, and now... a moose. (She really looks like one, I swear!) At least now her coat is shiny and thick, unlike the poor, dull winter "coat" she had when she arrived.
I haven't had time to take many pictures of her lately, but I will try to get some new ones posted soon so everyone can see how snuggly she looks!
Other Updates...
Pet - This little mare is probably the sweetest horse I have ever owned! She is quiet, well mannered and patient. And it's so cute to hear her nicker to me each morning when she hears me coming!
Victoria - Our lovely little piglet has found a wonderful home in Woodstock, NH! She now lives at a farm with chickens, cattle, a pony and a few other barnyard critters. They have sent me updates on how she's doing and they love her dearly. I'm so glad we found such a perfect home for her!
Looking back at the events of the past ten months, I truly cannot believe the changes Faith has made. I never thought it would be possible for her to recover as well as she did. Hell, I honestly doubted that she would make it through those first few nights. She has transformed in front of all of our eyes, coming to us as a walking skeleton and slowly blossoming into a beautiful swan.
And now, she has transformed back. This time, into a wooly, hairy beast. Old man winter is on his way and Faith is going to make sure that she's prepared for him. Boy, that old lady can surely grow a winter coat on her!
Faith has made a full circle - first an ugly duckling, then a gorgeous swan, and now... a moose. (She really looks like one, I swear!) At least now her coat is shiny and thick, unlike the poor, dull winter "coat" she had when she arrived.
I haven't had time to take many pictures of her lately, but I will try to get some new ones posted soon so everyone can see how snuggly she looks!
Other Updates...
Pet - This little mare is probably the sweetest horse I have ever owned! She is quiet, well mannered and patient. And it's so cute to hear her nicker to me each morning when she hears me coming!
Victoria - Our lovely little piglet has found a wonderful home in Woodstock, NH! She now lives at a farm with chickens, cattle, a pony and a few other barnyard critters. They have sent me updates on how she's doing and they love her dearly. I'm so glad we found such a perfect home for her!
Jack - Yes, we finally decided on a name for the big guy! The choice was an easy one - he was a little naughty the first few days here when he was still unwinding, so "Jack" was his first name and, well, you can figure out what his middle name was!
Once he settled in and adjusted, we started working him under saddle. I am honestly impressed beyond words - he was nothing short of amazing! He was quiet, well behaved for the most part and... slow. He actually didn't want to move! (This is probably why he has been retired from racing!) He needed to be pushed into the trot, and once he finally decided to comply, his trot was slow and steady. I can see a career as a dressage horse in his future; his movement is incredibly fluid and balanced.
A wonderful young lady named Amanda has taken him on as a project over the winter. She is experienced with eventing and just loves working with off-track Thoroughbred race horses, so the two of them are a perfect match! She is boarding him near her house and will be working with him every day. Hopefully in the spring and summer they will be going to a few events together! I will keep everyone updated on his progress!As a side note, one thing that "Jack" likes to do after he is ridden is stick his tongue out of his mouth and bite it. Sometimes it comes out the side of his mouth, other times it is sticking straight out. He lets you play with it and grab it, and if you don't, he flips his head up and down making it flap around. He's bizarre, but such a cutie!
Jack & Amanda, November 2009 65 more days until Faith's one-year anniversary! Can you believe it?!
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Friday, November 27, 2009
A Time for Giving Thanks
Looking back at the events of the past year, I have so much to be thankful for. It's hard to comprehend all that has been accomplished in such a short time. Three horses, all knocking at death's door, were saved. It was because of an amazing group of people - some of which we have never met - who supported us, encouraged us, and helped us push on through the tough times. I cannot even begin to describe how thankful I am for everyone who has helped our cause.
To start, Dan has been utmost supportive with everything that has happened here at the farm. His drive to do what's best for the animals is unrivaled; I do not know of a more compassionate person. With his constant, unwavering support, he has stood by my side at each step along the journey. I couldn't have done any of it without him.My family, who has always believed in me. Thanks Mom and Dad for always being there and encouraging me every step of the way.
My faithful friends, thanks for listening to me when I needed it most and always having that shoulder available to cry on, although I have probably borrowed those shoulders more than my fair share. I couldn't have gotten through it without you!
My wonderful farm "staff", the veterinarians and farriers who have helped out our animals and literally saved their lives. Without your compassion and expertise, they wouldn't be here today.
My amazing students, who have put in more than their fair share of help around here, between assisting with the rescues, bottlefeeding orphaned piglets, and taking over feedings for me when I had the flu, you girls rock!
To everyone who has supported Faith, Linus and Pet, I really cannot express my gratitude towards your contributions. We couldn't have done any of this without you.
And finally, to my lovely Faith... I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were something special, and it didn't take long for you to prove it. You are truly a miracle and you have touched so many lives. I have laughed, cried and enjoyed every step along the way in your journey. Your recovery has been emotional and educational, and I have learned so much from you in just nine short months. Even though you'll never know it, you're my hero.
Faith & Julie ~ The First Night ~ February 2, 2009
We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
~Julie, Dan, Faith and Friends!
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Friday, November 13, 2009
What is YOUR contingency plan?
I just wanted to give everyone a quick update...
All of the horses, piglets, and other critters are doing wonderful. I, however, am not. I have the flu, and have been battling a fever of 102.5 for the past two days. It is finally starting to drop and I no longer think I am going to die. So much for my appointment to get the flu shot next week, huh?!
Which brings up a good question, or rather, a series of them. This can be answered by all animal owners, not just our horse friends that read this blog...
What is going to happen to your animals when you are no longer able to care for them? What is your contingency plan in the event you are no longer around? Where will they go? Who will be responsible for them? Would you consider euthanasia?
I'm curious what your thoughts on this delicate yet grossly important subject are. Comment below!
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All of the horses, piglets, and other critters are doing wonderful. I, however, am not. I have the flu, and have been battling a fever of 102.5 for the past two days. It is finally starting to drop and I no longer think I am going to die. So much for my appointment to get the flu shot next week, huh?!
Which brings up a good question, or rather, a series of them. This can be answered by all animal owners, not just our horse friends that read this blog...
What is going to happen to your animals when you are no longer able to care for them? What is your contingency plan in the event you are no longer around? Where will they go? Who will be responsible for them? Would you consider euthanasia?
I'm curious what your thoughts on this delicate yet grossly important subject are. Comment below!
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Monday, November 9, 2009
The Journey to New Hampshire
Yesterday, Pet made made the journey in New Hampshire!
We arrived in Vermont shortly before 3pm and were greeted by Pet's family. They rode her for us, showed us her cues, and told us all about her history. It was amazing to see how much this family cared for her.
After all of the goodbyes were said, we loaded her into the trailer and headed East. We pulled into Derry by 6pm and and she quietly stepped off of the trailer. She sniffed the air and whinnied to a few horses, and then cautiously followed me up the driveway towards her paddock. I walked her around, showing her where the four corners were and where her food and water was located. She called for the other horses a few times, touched a few noses over the fence, and settled right in.
This morning, Pet met her new best friend. I brought Faith out to her paddock just a short while ago and turned her loose. Pet listened to her footsteps and nickered for her. When Faith nickered back, Pet followed her sound and cautiously walked towards her. The sniffed noses and let out a few mare squeals. A few minutes later, there were instant buddies...
Have a great day!
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We arrived in Vermont shortly before 3pm and were greeted by Pet's family. They rode her for us, showed us her cues, and told us all about her history. It was amazing to see how much this family cared for her.
After all of the goodbyes were said, we loaded her into the trailer and headed East. We pulled into Derry by 6pm and and she quietly stepped off of the trailer. She sniffed the air and whinnied to a few horses, and then cautiously followed me up the driveway towards her paddock. I walked her around, showing her where the four corners were and where her food and water was located. She called for the other horses a few times, touched a few noses over the fence, and settled right in.
This morning, Pet met her new best friend. I brought Faith out to her paddock just a short while ago and turned her loose. Pet listened to her footsteps and nickered for her. When Faith nickered back, Pet followed her sound and cautiously walked towards her. The sniffed noses and let out a few mare squeals. A few minutes later, there were instant buddies...
Pet listening to Faith drink from the water tank...
And a cute picture for everyone to enjoy: Rosalie and Victoria snuggling together in the warm sunshine...
Have a great day!
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Saturday, November 7, 2009
On the Road Again...
I have been exceptionally busy around here, hence the lack of new posts. Here's a very quick update:
Victoria is doing wonderful. We're still looking for a home for her - anyone looking for a friendly pet? She's adorable, but we can't keep her and don't want her to end up in someone's freezer. Email me at greenwoodstables@aol.com if you know someone who may be interested!
Faith is doing well but is stocking up a bit in her hind legs, so we're back to wrapping her every night again. She is growing a winter coat and is getting really fuzzy.
The Thoroughbred gelding (who still does not have a barn name!) is doing extremely well! He is a sweetheart and his personality is really opening up. I found a wonderful young lady who will be taking him over the winter to put mileage on for us. She likes project horses and loves off-track Thoroughbreds, so it's a win-win situation for all of us!
And finally, a few students of mine are travelling with me to Vermont tomorrow to pick up "Pet", the blind Appaloosa mare. I will have pictures and details for everyone on Monday!
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Victoria is doing wonderful. We're still looking for a home for her - anyone looking for a friendly pet? She's adorable, but we can't keep her and don't want her to end up in someone's freezer. Email me at greenwoodstables@aol.com if you know someone who may be interested!
Faith is doing well but is stocking up a bit in her hind legs, so we're back to wrapping her every night again. She is growing a winter coat and is getting really fuzzy.
The Thoroughbred gelding (who still does not have a barn name!) is doing extremely well! He is a sweetheart and his personality is really opening up. I found a wonderful young lady who will be taking him over the winter to put mileage on for us. She likes project horses and loves off-track Thoroughbreds, so it's a win-win situation for all of us!
And finally, a few students of mine are travelling with me to Vermont tomorrow to pick up "Pet", the blind Appaloosa mare. I will have pictures and details for everyone on Monday!
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
New "Caption This" Photo!
As many of you know, "Victoria", the little runt of Sophie's litter had big setbacks during her first few weeks of life. Much to Dan's original dislike of having a pig in our house, she moved in with us. I carried her weak body through the door, and his perspective changed.
He set up a dog crate for her, complete with fluffy pillows and warm blankets, propping her up underneath a heat lamp with a bowl of milk in easy reach. (Just for your information, he doesn't treat me like this when I'm not feeling well... Although if he set up a dog crate for me, he and I would have words.) Victoria has since made wonderful progress, and as seen in the post below, is now back outside running around with her mom and siblings.
During her stay with us, a pretty nasty cold snap hit. It was too cold for one of our chickens (who happened to only be about 9 weeks old at the time,) to be in the barn. Granted, we had a heat lamp set up for her, but even that wasn't keeping her warm enough. So what options were I left with? She came inside too, walked into the crate and made herself comfortable in the warmest spot she could find.
I now present to you, one of the cutest pictures I have ever taken...
Let's hear your caption suggestions!
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He set up a dog crate for her, complete with fluffy pillows and warm blankets, propping her up underneath a heat lamp with a bowl of milk in easy reach. (Just for your information, he doesn't treat me like this when I'm not feeling well... Although if he set up a dog crate for me, he and I would have words.) Victoria has since made wonderful progress, and as seen in the post below, is now back outside running around with her mom and siblings.
During her stay with us, a pretty nasty cold snap hit. It was too cold for one of our chickens (who happened to only be about 9 weeks old at the time,) to be in the barn. Granted, we had a heat lamp set up for her, but even that wasn't keeping her warm enough. So what options were I left with? She came inside too, walked into the crate and made herself comfortable in the warmest spot she could find.
I now present to you, one of the cutest pictures I have ever taken...
Let's hear your caption suggestions!
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
This Little Piggy Is Not Going to the Market...
Victoria is doing so well that she is now back outside with her family! She has pulled through will amazing determination and Dan and I still cannot believe that she recovered.
Here are some pictures of the pig crew!
Here are some pictures of the pig crew!
Victoria and her mom "Sophie"... (who is looking for another pumpkin from me. That pig just loves pumpkins!)
Rosalie, Emmett and Victoria... Notice how small Victoria is compared to her brother and sister. And yes, they are named after Twilight characters. And no, it was not my idea. Remember...the vast majority of my students are pre-teens and teens!
Sophie keeping a close watch of her babies...
Rosalie's face... How adorable is she?! She is a great piglet too - very personable, easy going and cute as a button. She is quite content to fall asleep in your arms.
We are looking for someone to adopt Victoria to keep as a pet and/or for breeding when the time comes. We just do not want her to end up in someone's freezer! If you know of anyone, please let us know!
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Saturday, October 24, 2009
Hitting the Trails
Many have been asking about Faith and how she is enjoying her "official" retirement! Well, she is doing great!
Her daily routine consists of getting her breakfast around 6am, being groomed once she is done eating, and then she heads out to the paddock behind the barn. On the cooler days we blanket her, but lately the weather has been favorable. She stays in her paddock until dinnertime, which is normally around 6 or 7pm. Her stall is prepared for her before she arrives, cleaned out with extra shavings, two fresh buckets of water, a full hay rack and her bucket of grain and supplements.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As many of our readers know, things around the farm have been quite busy lately! Between working at the shop, lessons, the new Thoroughbred that arrived, and managing all the farm animals, I barely have time to think!
So I decided to do one of my favorite things that I have just been too busy to fit in - I went on a trail ride! A group of students wanted to go as well, and it was a good change of pace for the school horses, so it was a mutually beneficial decision.
Everyone started choosing horses and before I knew it, all of our best trail horses had been taken. This left me with few options: a Morgan who likes to go down the trails sideways at a trot, a Half-Arab who firmly believes that monsters live in trees, or a Saddlebred who chooses to listen to the voices in his head over that of his rider. No thank you.
I thought about it for a few minutes, then I headed out back, put a halter on Faith and brought her into the barn. It wasn't until she was fully tacked up that my students actually believed I was going to take her. Her legs were wrapped, her bridle was adjusted and we were ready to head out.
Due to her leg and muscle problems, we have been careful to only put small riders on her. For that reason, I had never ridden her. She has been doing well lately, has built up a substantial amount of muscle, so I figured it was about time. I grabbed the mounting block, stretched up to the stirrup iron, and up I went!
We headed down the driveway, took a right on the street and rode towards the trailhead. Faith was a little hesitant to lead, so we changed our order and Dreamer and Nicole went in front of us. Faith eagerly followed and seemed a little more comfortable in that order.
The fall foliage was beautiful - the leaves were the brightest yellow I have ever seen before! Faith appeared quite content with herself, seemingly enjoying her time. We changed order again, Faith resuming the lead. She calmly looked at everything in sight as she walked along, never spooking or misbehaving. I was quite surprised, actually - I figured that she would at least have been a little goofy! This lovely old girl never ceases to amaze me...
Since many of you are far away and will never get the opportunity to meet or ride her, here's a little taste of what it's like to ride Faith!
As we were heading down the road to the trailhead:
In the woods underneath the bright yellow maple trees!
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
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Her daily routine consists of getting her breakfast around 6am, being groomed once she is done eating, and then she heads out to the paddock behind the barn. On the cooler days we blanket her, but lately the weather has been favorable. She stays in her paddock until dinnertime, which is normally around 6 or 7pm. Her stall is prepared for her before she arrives, cleaned out with extra shavings, two fresh buckets of water, a full hay rack and her bucket of grain and supplements.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As many of our readers know, things around the farm have been quite busy lately! Between working at the shop, lessons, the new Thoroughbred that arrived, and managing all the farm animals, I barely have time to think!
So I decided to do one of my favorite things that I have just been too busy to fit in - I went on a trail ride! A group of students wanted to go as well, and it was a good change of pace for the school horses, so it was a mutually beneficial decision.
Everyone started choosing horses and before I knew it, all of our best trail horses had been taken. This left me with few options: a Morgan who likes to go down the trails sideways at a trot, a Half-Arab who firmly believes that monsters live in trees, or a Saddlebred who chooses to listen to the voices in his head over that of his rider. No thank you.
I thought about it for a few minutes, then I headed out back, put a halter on Faith and brought her into the barn. It wasn't until she was fully tacked up that my students actually believed I was going to take her. Her legs were wrapped, her bridle was adjusted and we were ready to head out.
Due to her leg and muscle problems, we have been careful to only put small riders on her. For that reason, I had never ridden her. She has been doing well lately, has built up a substantial amount of muscle, so I figured it was about time. I grabbed the mounting block, stretched up to the stirrup iron, and up I went!
We headed down the driveway, took a right on the street and rode towards the trailhead. Faith was a little hesitant to lead, so we changed our order and Dreamer and Nicole went in front of us. Faith eagerly followed and seemed a little more comfortable in that order.
The fall foliage was beautiful - the leaves were the brightest yellow I have ever seen before! Faith appeared quite content with herself, seemingly enjoying her time. We changed order again, Faith resuming the lead. She calmly looked at everything in sight as she walked along, never spooking or misbehaving. I was quite surprised, actually - I figured that she would at least have been a little goofy! This lovely old girl never ceases to amaze me...
Since many of you are far away and will never get the opportunity to meet or ride her, here's a little taste of what it's like to ride Faith!
As we were heading down the road to the trailhead:
In the woods underneath the bright yellow maple trees!
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
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Friday, October 23, 2009
He's Never Had Cookies Before?!
I spent some time working on the ground with the big guy today. First, I turned him loose in the arena to stretch out his legs and get some energy out. He enjoyed himself, bolting away a few times and letting out a few little bucks, but was more interested in sniffing the hay and shavings we have stored in the corners of the arena.
Then, Tiny and I both took the first steps of the beginning of his education. We worked on personal space, staying at my shoulder, and walking on HIS feet, not mine. He is a quick learner and caught on fairly well. He is still a bit pushy on the ground, but not nearly as bad as I thought he was going to be.
After his lesson, we headed back into the barn. A few of my students who had been tagging along watching our session went for the customary "after work" horse cookie. They offered it to him, placing it their open hand. He sniffed it, pushed it with his lip, licked it and knocked it to the floor. They tried again and he wasn't the least bit interested in it. He didn't know what it was.
I told my students that "Gus" (which is what everyone here has been calling him,) probably had never received horse cookies before, and it was obvious that he didn't know what to do with it. They all looked mortified...
"He's never had cookies before?!" It was at that point which I realized just how much we spoil our horses here, not to mention the incredibly skewed perspective my students have of how they believe "all" horses are treated...
Here are some photos of the big guy from today! Comments on his conformation would be greatly appreciated!
Trotting while sniffing the ground... I see the movement of a dressage horse here!
And stretching his legs out!
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Thursday, October 22, 2009
My Last Training Project
Exciting news! "Tiny" arrived today and settled in just wonderfully! He was a little hot when he first arrived and was pacing back and forth in his stall. But he eventually realized that this was a pretty cool place to live, relaxed a bit and munched on some hay.
He is easy to handle, but a little fidgety. I plan on bringing him into the arena tomorrow and working on some groundwork with him. We need to work on some "personal space" issues he has, as well as giving to pressure and not pulling on the lead. He's too big to be stepping on me and pushing me out of the way with his shoulder. Just because I walk on the bottoms of my feet, doesn't mean he is allowed to walk on the tops!
"Tiny" came with the barn name of "Gus", and we are debating whether we're going to keep it or not. His registered name is "Junaguska" and you can see his pedigree by clicking here: http://www.pedigreequery.com/junaguska. He made 66 starts, had 5 wins and earned $83,077 on the track.
I did get a chance to measure him, and the best I could see is that he is 17 hands and 1/2 inch. Still a big boy, nonetheless! I will keep everyone updated with his progress.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The last big training project I had was with a Friesian/Morgan cross gelding named "Oliver". "Oliver" was a 16 hand, 4-year-old when he came to live with us. He was sweet and sensible, but had very little training. My goal was to turn him into a fancy hunter pleasure horse, and as you can see below, the plan was quite successful.
Here is Oliver just beginning his training under saddle:
And here he is just a few short months later!
We found Oliver an amazing home with a lady in Massachusetts. He is now a competitor in the dressage arena - a perfect job for this pretty boy!
A special thanks to my student Lianna for working with him and modeling for his photos! She will also be helping us with the new guy! Hopefully "Tiny" turns out just as nicely as Oliver did!
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He is easy to handle, but a little fidgety. I plan on bringing him into the arena tomorrow and working on some groundwork with him. We need to work on some "personal space" issues he has, as well as giving to pressure and not pulling on the lead. He's too big to be stepping on me and pushing me out of the way with his shoulder. Just because I walk on the bottoms of my feet, doesn't mean he is allowed to walk on the tops!
"Tiny" came with the barn name of "Gus", and we are debating whether we're going to keep it or not. His registered name is "Junaguska" and you can see his pedigree by clicking here: http://www.pedigreequery.com/junaguska. He made 66 starts, had 5 wins and earned $83,077 on the track.
I did get a chance to measure him, and the best I could see is that he is 17 hands and 1/2 inch. Still a big boy, nonetheless! I will keep everyone updated with his progress.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The last big training project I had was with a Friesian/Morgan cross gelding named "Oliver". "Oliver" was a 16 hand, 4-year-old when he came to live with us. He was sweet and sensible, but had very little training. My goal was to turn him into a fancy hunter pleasure horse, and as you can see below, the plan was quite successful.
Here is Oliver just beginning his training under saddle:
And here he is just a few short months later!
We found Oliver an amazing home with a lady in Massachusetts. He is now a competitor in the dressage arena - a perfect job for this pretty boy!
A special thanks to my student Lianna for working with him and modeling for his photos! She will also be helping us with the new guy! Hopefully "Tiny" turns out just as nicely as Oliver did!
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Let the Fun Begin...
The plans have been finalized. The big Thoroughbred gelding pictured in the post below will be moving to our farm shortly.
Let the fun begin...
I have Dr. George coming out to do a full evaluation of him next Tuesday. Besides the standard tests, I am going to have him shoot a few radiographs of his left hock. (The one that was pinfired.)
We are taking him in as a fundraiser for our farm's rescues. This poses a difficult task for me - my students have a tenacity to fall in love with the horses here. And then when the time comes to see them go to their new homes, the tears begin to flow. It doesn't matter how often I tell them, "Don't fall in love, he or she is only here to be rehabbed." Tissues are always needed. Linus was a prime example.
To those of you who are familiar with off-track Thoroughbreds, I have a few questions... Do you suggest that we radiograph any other joints, besides the pinfired one and any other that may raise questions during his exam? Do any other joints pose more of a problem than others? And is there anything else in particular that Dr. George and I should focus on?
I look forward to working with him, but as many of you know, my time is fairly limited. Is there anyone in my area that would be interested in coming to work with him a few days per week? If so, send me an email at GreenwoodStables@aol.com. Any help we can get for him would be greatly appreciated!
Also, he needs a name! I was thinking "Timothy" so we can call him "Tiny Tim"... Any ideas?!
Thanks for all of the suggestions and advice so far!
Let the fun begin...
I have Dr. George coming out to do a full evaluation of him next Tuesday. Besides the standard tests, I am going to have him shoot a few radiographs of his left hock. (The one that was pinfired.)
We are taking him in as a fundraiser for our farm's rescues. This poses a difficult task for me - my students have a tenacity to fall in love with the horses here. And then when the time comes to see them go to their new homes, the tears begin to flow. It doesn't matter how often I tell them, "Don't fall in love, he or she is only here to be rehabbed." Tissues are always needed. Linus was a prime example.
To those of you who are familiar with off-track Thoroughbreds, I have a few questions... Do you suggest that we radiograph any other joints, besides the pinfired one and any other that may raise questions during his exam? Do any other joints pose more of a problem than others? And is there anything else in particular that Dr. George and I should focus on?
I look forward to working with him, but as many of you know, my time is fairly limited. Is there anyone in my area that would be interested in coming to work with him a few days per week? If so, send me an email at GreenwoodStables@aol.com. Any help we can get for him would be greatly appreciated!
Also, he needs a name! I was thinking "Timothy" so we can call him "Tiny Tim"... Any ideas?!
Thanks for all of the suggestions and advice so far!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This is the Morgan gelding we are currently offering for sale. He is 6 years old, 15 hands, registered and 100% sound. He is, by far, the BEST trail horse you will find - absolutely nothing bothers this guy! His personality is adorable - he is sweet, friendly and loves attention. We are asking $6,000 for him.
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
A "Big" Fundraiser?
A few days ago a friend of the family called Dan and I, asking if we would be interested in finding a home for his horse. We went down to look at him and take pictures, hoping we could spread the word about him and find him a loving family.
While I was informing the horse's owner that I would call a few friends and see if they were interested, he gave me an interesting idea. He knows about the rescues we have done in the past and suggested that I take this horse to my farm, retrain him, and sell him to help fund our rescues.
Hmmm...
Here is the background on the horse in question...
--> He is a 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding.
--> He was a racehorse and earned over $84,000 on the track.
--> His owner says that he is 17.2 hands tall. I haven't measured him yet, but he is an honest 17, there is no doubt in my mind. If he really is as tall as his owner says, that means that the highest point of his back just about his shoulder is 5'10" - he's a giant! For those of you who think Faith is big, this guy is 3 inches taller!
--> He has been officially retired from racing since... Thursday. Ugh...
--> He supposedly raced sound and never had any lameness problems. However, he did have a minor injury when he was younger and his left rear hock has been pinfired. That is not a big concern of mine.
--> He has decent conformation for a Thoroughbred. He has a nice shoulder and hip to him, as well as clean legs. I think he would make a nice hunter/jumper or field hunter. (I will post better body pictures of him tomorrow and everyone can help me analyze him conformationally!)
Here is my background...
--> I have worked with four or five off-track Thoroughbreds before, the last being at least 5 years ago.
--> My barn is currently full and I am in the process of trying to sell one of my show horses. (Anyone interested in a beautiful buckskin Morgan gelding!?)
--> I am afraid of heights. :-)
I really don't know what to do now. So I'm asking our loyal readers, what do you think I should do?!
.
While I was informing the horse's owner that I would call a few friends and see if they were interested, he gave me an interesting idea. He knows about the rescues we have done in the past and suggested that I take this horse to my farm, retrain him, and sell him to help fund our rescues.
Hmmm...
Here is the background on the horse in question...
--> He is a 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding.
--> He was a racehorse and earned over $84,000 on the track.
--> His owner says that he is 17.2 hands tall. I haven't measured him yet, but he is an honest 17, there is no doubt in my mind. If he really is as tall as his owner says, that means that the highest point of his back just about his shoulder is 5'10" - he's a giant! For those of you who think Faith is big, this guy is 3 inches taller!
--> He has been officially retired from racing since... Thursday. Ugh...
--> He supposedly raced sound and never had any lameness problems. However, he did have a minor injury when he was younger and his left rear hock has been pinfired. That is not a big concern of mine.
--> He has decent conformation for a Thoroughbred. He has a nice shoulder and hip to him, as well as clean legs. I think he would make a nice hunter/jumper or field hunter. (I will post better body pictures of him tomorrow and everyone can help me analyze him conformationally!)
Here is my background...
--> I have worked with four or five off-track Thoroughbreds before, the last being at least 5 years ago.
--> My barn is currently full and I am in the process of trying to sell one of my show horses. (Anyone interested in a beautiful buckskin Morgan gelding!?)
--> I am afraid of heights. :-)
I really don't know what to do now. So I'm asking our loyal readers, what do you think I should do?!
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Bring on the Cookies...
This is how I like to celebrate my birthday - doing victory passes!
This video clip is me aboard "SB Cookies N Cream", my Half-Arabian/National Show Horse mare. We were competing in a Ladies Pleasure class at the Deerfield Fair. One of our "show dads" taped my class and put it online, and now I can share it with all of you!
PS - this little mare is an absolute blast to ride!
This video clip is me aboard "SB Cookies N Cream", my Half-Arabian/National Show Horse mare. We were competing in a Ladies Pleasure class at the Deerfield Fair. One of our "show dads" taped my class and put it online, and now I can share it with all of you!
PS - this little mare is an absolute blast to ride!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Our Newest Rescue!
But before we get started, let's begin today's post with a classic joke:
One day a man passed by a farm and saw a beautiful horse. Hoping to buy the animal, he said to the farmer: "I like your horse and I'm in the market for one, so I'll give you $500 for him."
"He doesn't look so good, and he's not for sale," the farmer said.
The man insisted, "I think he looks just fine and I'll up the price to $1,000."
"He doesn't look so good," the farmer said, "but if you want him that much, he's yours."
The next day the man came back raging mad. He went up to the farmer and screamed, "You sold me a blind horse. You cheated me!"
The farmer calmly replied, "I told you he didn't LOOK so good, didn't I?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I am pleased to announce our newest addition to our rescue crew. Pictured below is "Pet" and she will be arriving at our farm sometime in the next few weeks. She is not a "rescue" because she was abused or neglected. Her situation is a different type...
To most people, Pet looks like any other horse. She appears healthy, is at a good weight, and has a nice relaxed expression on her face. She looks content with life, as any horse should. She does struggle with one aspect of her life though.
She is blind.
Her disability does not stop her though. She can still be ridden and even shown, just like any other horse. All she requires is a patient human to guide her through the obstacles that may be in her way.
Pet has been owned by the same family for the past seven years. Her current owners are going through a divorce and needed to sell her. Unfortunately, no one has an interest in taking on a blind horse, so they made a difficult decision: have her euthanized.
Pet was scheduled for euthanasia on September 30th. The owners' daughter contacted me two days prior and I agreed to take her in. Her life was spared and she could continue to be a productive member of equine society.
Plans and changes have been made for her at our farm. We have a small paddock with a run-in shed ready for her arrival. She will more than likely be partnered up with Faith or Amy, our 14-year-old Paint mare.
I have never worked with a completely blind horse before, so this will definitely be a learning experience. We anxiously await her arrival and will post more information as we get closer!
If anyone can offer advice on working with a blind horse, (tips on handling, what we can do to help her adjust, etc,) would be greatly appreciated!
.
One day a man passed by a farm and saw a beautiful horse. Hoping to buy the animal, he said to the farmer: "I like your horse and I'm in the market for one, so I'll give you $500 for him."
"He doesn't look so good, and he's not for sale," the farmer said.
The man insisted, "I think he looks just fine and I'll up the price to $1,000."
"He doesn't look so good," the farmer said, "but if you want him that much, he's yours."
The next day the man came back raging mad. He went up to the farmer and screamed, "You sold me a blind horse. You cheated me!"
The farmer calmly replied, "I told you he didn't LOOK so good, didn't I?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I am pleased to announce our newest addition to our rescue crew. Pictured below is "Pet" and she will be arriving at our farm sometime in the next few weeks. She is not a "rescue" because she was abused or neglected. Her situation is a different type...
To most people, Pet looks like any other horse. She appears healthy, is at a good weight, and has a nice relaxed expression on her face. She looks content with life, as any horse should. She does struggle with one aspect of her life though.
She is blind.
Her disability does not stop her though. She can still be ridden and even shown, just like any other horse. All she requires is a patient human to guide her through the obstacles that may be in her way.
Pet has been owned by the same family for the past seven years. Her current owners are going through a divorce and needed to sell her. Unfortunately, no one has an interest in taking on a blind horse, so they made a difficult decision: have her euthanized.
Pet was scheduled for euthanasia on September 30th. The owners' daughter contacted me two days prior and I agreed to take her in. Her life was spared and she could continue to be a productive member of equine society.
Plans and changes have been made for her at our farm. We have a small paddock with a run-in shed ready for her arrival. She will more than likely be partnered up with Faith or Amy, our 14-year-old Paint mare.
I have never worked with a completely blind horse before, so this will definitely be a learning experience. We anxiously await her arrival and will post more information as we get closer!
If anyone can offer advice on working with a blind horse, (tips on handling, what we can do to help her adjust, etc,) would be greatly appreciated!
.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Taking the Bad with the Good
Dan woke me up yesterday morning. He walked over to the window in our room and drew up the shades. I groggily asked what he was doing and his response was, "I want you to see this for yourself." I secretly prayed it was a new car waiting outside for me, but what I saw wasn't nearly as exciting. Actually, it was quite depressing.
It was SNOW. On October 16th. What the hell?!
Snow is a four-letter word.
I unhappily got up, did chores around here and headed to the shop to work. The flurries ended a few hours later, but the ground was too warm for anything to stick. Thank God.
The good news... is that's all the bad news I have for today :-)
Faith is doing much better. We have gone back to crushing and disolving her meds, then squirting them into the back of her mouth. It's quicker, easier and she is now not quite as grouchy about it. She seems comfortable and is moving fine.
Rosie is also doing great. Two days of a compression wrap and anti-inflamatories and she is moving comfortably again. I still have no sympathy for her, though... :-)
And then there's our little Miss Victoria. She has been living in a dog crate in our living room for the past few days, being bottlefed milk every few hours. I have to say, I honestly believe this piglet is a superhero. She came back from being very sick twice; we almost lost her both times. It was heartbreaking to see - she was so weak she couldn't stand and would cry everytime you tried to move her. But with daily Vitamin B12, heat and a lot of love, she has since regained her strength. Yesterday, she was feeling so good, she was bouncing off of the crate walls for fun. I opened the door, let her out and she meandered all around our house, sniffing and oinking at everything in sight.
Shortly after, she began playing with one of our dog's toys. It's a stuffed cow, with hideously huge eyes, and it "moo's" when you squeeze it. She carried that around the house proudly, much to my dog's dismay. Then, as if she owned the place, she carried her new cow friend over the the dog's bed, climed up, and took a nap next to Molly...
The crew seems to be doing better. I will keep everyone informed as to how things are progressing with them!
There is more to come shortly... I will respond to the hundreds of comments and emails I received in a future post; am working on redesigning the header on the blog with a better picture of Faith; and will have another funny "caption this" photo for everyone.
Have a great day!
.
It was SNOW. On October 16th. What the hell?!
Snow is a four-letter word.
I unhappily got up, did chores around here and headed to the shop to work. The flurries ended a few hours later, but the ground was too warm for anything to stick. Thank God.
The good news... is that's all the bad news I have for today :-)
Faith is doing much better. We have gone back to crushing and disolving her meds, then squirting them into the back of her mouth. It's quicker, easier and she is now not quite as grouchy about it. She seems comfortable and is moving fine.
Rosie is also doing great. Two days of a compression wrap and anti-inflamatories and she is moving comfortably again. I still have no sympathy for her, though... :-)
And then there's our little Miss Victoria. She has been living in a dog crate in our living room for the past few days, being bottlefed milk every few hours. I have to say, I honestly believe this piglet is a superhero. She came back from being very sick twice; we almost lost her both times. It was heartbreaking to see - she was so weak she couldn't stand and would cry everytime you tried to move her. But with daily Vitamin B12, heat and a lot of love, she has since regained her strength. Yesterday, she was feeling so good, she was bouncing off of the crate walls for fun. I opened the door, let her out and she meandered all around our house, sniffing and oinking at everything in sight.
Shortly after, she began playing with one of our dog's toys. It's a stuffed cow, with hideously huge eyes, and it "moo's" when you squeeze it. She carried that around the house proudly, much to my dog's dismay. Then, as if she owned the place, she carried her new cow friend over the the dog's bed, climed up, and took a nap next to Molly...
The crew seems to be doing better. I will keep everyone informed as to how things are progressing with them!
There is more to come shortly... I will respond to the hundreds of comments and emails I received in a future post; am working on redesigning the header on the blog with a better picture of Faith; and will have another funny "caption this" photo for everyone.
Have a great day!
.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Gravity is a Myth: The Earth Just Sucks
Shortly after we had to put Charlotte to sleep, a reader of this blog sent me a very nice email. His heartfelt condolences for our loss, words of encouragement and humor gave me the extra push I needed to get me through that tough period. It couldn't have come at a better time.
Gravity is a Myth: The Earth Just Sucks
Where do I start?
This past weekend Dan and I were reconfiguring (again) our shedrow barn for our farm animal brigade. Sophie and her piglets were ready to be moved out of the barn into the barn out back, and we needed to change things around to accommodate them. And the chickens. (Did I forget to mention the chickens?!)
For my birthday, one of my students thought it would be great to add onto our farm animal crew. (Because I obviously do not have enough to do around here - hahaha) We now have four chickens at our farm. Their names are Parmesan, Marsala, Cacciatore and Alfreda... I have never had chickens before, but they are quite entertaining. And the eggs are delicious! Moving on...
As I was moving around and cutting some new stall mats, I heard a squeal and a few thuds. I ran out of the shedrow to see Faith cornered in the big paddock by Rosie, our 14.1 hand Paint mare. Rosie cornered her where their water tank is and when Faith didn't move quick enough, Rosie kicked. Hard. And repeatedly. Faith finally kicked back, which only infuriated the little mare even more. Running towards them, arms flailing and screaming, Dan and I broke up the battle. Faith took off towards the run-in and we followed.
The sight was ghastly. My poor baby had blood pouring out of her. I quickly called Dr. George and explained the situation. Thankfully he was only 15 minutes away, and knowing that alone was a huge relief. We moved Faith into the barn, a trail of blood following us the whole way. It was so bad that we put shavings down in the aisle to absorb it. Dr. George showed up just a short time later and gave her intravenous anti-inflammatories and pain relievers.
He examined her and found that she had a torn vulva. (Let's hear that collective "ouch..." from our readers.) Rosie's hoof apparently nicked a pretty impressive blood vessel, which was the source of the massive bleeding. Thankfully, it was not interal. However, it was in such a location that stitches were impossible. Over the course of the next few minutes, the blood flow had begun to diminish and her body was beginning clot the wound.
While she stood on the crossties, we clipped and then began tending to her other wounds. Her right hindquarters were riddled with perfect hoof-shaped marks. I believe that seven was the final count. Dr. George and I began clipping around the marks and dressing them. Again, thankfully there was no need for stitches.
The plan was SMZs for the next seven days and bute for the next five. The first day was fine, the second day Faith decided that she wasn't going to eat her grain if there was medicine in it, so we were back to The Oral Medications Argument. (Please refer to our February 5th article.) Let's just say that you never really forget what a bute/SMZ combination tastes like.
Faith has always been a little fussy about eating her grain. Some mornings she dives into her bucket, other days she takes her time. On occasion, a few small handfuls will be left over in the morning, but she eagerly eats it when she is brought in for dinner. Since her injury on Saturday, she has been leaving a good amount in her bucket. I'm not sure if it is because she is not feeling well or perhaps another hormonal issue like we had in the spring. On the positive side, her hay and water intake has been good.
Fast forward to this morning... One of Sophie's piglets isn't doing too well and is in my house, on my living room floor, wrapped up in a blanket and under a heat lamp. My dogs are totally confused, to say the least. The piglet's name is "Victoria" and she is the runt. She is our little redhead with black polka-dots all over her. I'm not sure why she's weak, but we're giving her vitamin B12, bottle feeding her and keeping her under a heat lamp.
And then this evening... Rosie came into the barn for dinner tonight on three hooves and one toe. Apparently one of Faith's kicks made contact and the lower portion of Rosie's right rear leg is swollen and sore. She is barely touching the toe of her hoof to the ground as she walks. We cold-hosed it, gave her banamine and wrapped it in a compression wrap. The vet says to keep an eye on it and call him in the morning if it looks worse.
So the next time you hear someone talk about the effects of gravity, tell them my story... :)
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"Several months ago I discovered your blog. At this point I don’t remember how I stumbled across it, but I’ve followed the adventures of Faith and Linus – and more recently, the funny and then tragic story of Charlotte. I have to say, in addition to your skills with animals, you have a gift for storytelling as well. We’ve never met, but after reading your posts, somehow I don’t feel like a stranger either... And while I’ve posed a few anonymous comments, I wanted to send something a little more personal this time.
Learning about what happened with Charlotte was just heartbreaking. And then to read the summary of everything else that happened on top of that, well, I remember seeing a bumper sticker once that read:
Learning about what happened with Charlotte was just heartbreaking. And then to read the summary of everything else that happened on top of that, well, I remember seeing a bumper sticker once that read:
Gravity is a Myth: The Earth Just Sucks
Scott, how true indeed.
Where do I start?
This past weekend Dan and I were reconfiguring (again) our shedrow barn for our farm animal brigade. Sophie and her piglets were ready to be moved out of the barn into the barn out back, and we needed to change things around to accommodate them. And the chickens. (Did I forget to mention the chickens?!)
For my birthday, one of my students thought it would be great to add onto our farm animal crew. (Because I obviously do not have enough to do around here - hahaha) We now have four chickens at our farm. Their names are Parmesan, Marsala, Cacciatore and Alfreda... I have never had chickens before, but they are quite entertaining. And the eggs are delicious! Moving on...
As I was moving around and cutting some new stall mats, I heard a squeal and a few thuds. I ran out of the shedrow to see Faith cornered in the big paddock by Rosie, our 14.1 hand Paint mare. Rosie cornered her where their water tank is and when Faith didn't move quick enough, Rosie kicked. Hard. And repeatedly. Faith finally kicked back, which only infuriated the little mare even more. Running towards them, arms flailing and screaming, Dan and I broke up the battle. Faith took off towards the run-in and we followed.
The sight was ghastly. My poor baby had blood pouring out of her. I quickly called Dr. George and explained the situation. Thankfully he was only 15 minutes away, and knowing that alone was a huge relief. We moved Faith into the barn, a trail of blood following us the whole way. It was so bad that we put shavings down in the aisle to absorb it. Dr. George showed up just a short time later and gave her intravenous anti-inflammatories and pain relievers.
He examined her and found that she had a torn vulva. (Let's hear that collective "ouch..." from our readers.) Rosie's hoof apparently nicked a pretty impressive blood vessel, which was the source of the massive bleeding. Thankfully, it was not interal. However, it was in such a location that stitches were impossible. Over the course of the next few minutes, the blood flow had begun to diminish and her body was beginning clot the wound.
While she stood on the crossties, we clipped and then began tending to her other wounds. Her right hindquarters were riddled with perfect hoof-shaped marks. I believe that seven was the final count. Dr. George and I began clipping around the marks and dressing them. Again, thankfully there was no need for stitches.
The plan was SMZs for the next seven days and bute for the next five. The first day was fine, the second day Faith decided that she wasn't going to eat her grain if there was medicine in it, so we were back to The Oral Medications Argument. (Please refer to our February 5th article.) Let's just say that you never really forget what a bute/SMZ combination tastes like.
Faith has always been a little fussy about eating her grain. Some mornings she dives into her bucket, other days she takes her time. On occasion, a few small handfuls will be left over in the morning, but she eagerly eats it when she is brought in for dinner. Since her injury on Saturday, she has been leaving a good amount in her bucket. I'm not sure if it is because she is not feeling well or perhaps another hormonal issue like we had in the spring. On the positive side, her hay and water intake has been good.
Fast forward to this morning... One of Sophie's piglets isn't doing too well and is in my house, on my living room floor, wrapped up in a blanket and under a heat lamp. My dogs are totally confused, to say the least. The piglet's name is "Victoria" and she is the runt. She is our little redhead with black polka-dots all over her. I'm not sure why she's weak, but we're giving her vitamin B12, bottle feeding her and keeping her under a heat lamp.
And then this evening... Rosie came into the barn for dinner tonight on three hooves and one toe. Apparently one of Faith's kicks made contact and the lower portion of Rosie's right rear leg is swollen and sore. She is barely touching the toe of her hoof to the ground as she walks. We cold-hosed it, gave her banamine and wrapped it in a compression wrap. The vet says to keep an eye on it and call him in the morning if it looks worse.
So the next time you hear someone talk about the effects of gravity, tell them my story... :)
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