Not a good week

I took the horses back to see Doc for a check up last Friday.  Biscuit got a good report.  No fluid on his lungs.  I had given him his shots and the pulmonary dialator every day.

I was thrilled that he was better.  The blood report showed an infection.  Doc said that was good news.

I went to the barn Sunday evening and he was coughing again.  I called Doc on Monday and he returned my call and said to put him on some more antibiotics.  I had some already.  I asked him if he had time to spay Sister as the other vet said they couldn't until September 5th.  He said yes and I set it up for Tuesday.

I doled out the meds for Biscuit in baggies and gave to Edgar.  Tuesday I took Sister to the small animal clinic - wow - Doc's new clinic in Hampshire-Fannett is pretty amazing.  Very nice.  She did great and was a little drugged up when we went to pick her up that evening.

Wednesday evening Barry and I went to the barn at sunset.  There were a bunch of cars down at the end of the ranch road and I said I saw Phil's car so it was them not the new boarders.  I gave Biscuit some carrots and he started coughing.  I told Barry maybe he is allergic to carrots or his throat is sore.
A truck came towards us from the back of the ranch and lo and behold, it was Doc.  He stopped and I said "just the man I wanted to see" and told him Biscuit was coughing.  He listened to him and and said he was wheezing and he knew that is not what I wanted to hear.  OMG I know I must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

My face started leaking on the way home.  I went on the back porch with Sister.  My heart is just hurting for my horses.

Friday evening I went out there and poor Biscuit choked on his little bit of feed I gave him with his medication of the Benedryl.  Poor baby.  He is such a sweet horse and to have this is doubly cruel.

Kellie and I went to the vet clinic today to talk to Doc.  Vickie Warner happened to be there with her horse that is roaring.  OMG that sounds bad.  Doc said he'd recover.

As for Biscuit and Sarge, Doc said to take them up to Margaret's to check to see if they improve off of the Bahaia.  If they do, I will have to move them from Plum Nearly as there is nothing but Bahaia there.  That makes me sad just thinking about moving my horses.  I love Plum Nearly.

Margaret has agreed to take the boys for a week to see if they improve.  If they do, I will have to find a place to put them at least during the hot summer months.  :-(

Doc didn't offer any good news about COPD - sounds like in 4 or 5 years I will have very sick horses - what could be sadder than that?

A Horses Prayer

I saw this on Justice for Dual Peppy.  Thank God he has recovered...so sad that someone would starve horses to death.

(Author Unknown) The Horses Prayer

Feed me, water and care for me, and when the days work is done, provide me with shelter, a clean dry bed and a stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort.

Always be kind to me. Talk to me. Your voice often means as much to me as the reins. Pet me sometimes, that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you.

Do not jerk the reins, and do not whip me when going uphill. Never strike, beat or kick me when I do not understand what you want, but give me a chance to understand you.

Watch me; and if I fail to do your bidding, see if something is wrong with my harness or feet.

I cannot tell you when I am thirsty so give me clean, cool water often. I cannot tell you in words when I am sick, so watch me, that by signs you may know my condition.

Give me all possible shelter from the hot sun, and put a blanket on me, not when I am working, but when standing in the cold. Never put a frosty bit in my mouth; first warm it by holding it a moment in your hands.

I try to carry you and your burdens without a murmur, and wait patiently for you long hours of the day or night. Without the power to choose my shoes or path, I sometimes fall on the hard pavements which I have often prayed might be of such a nature as to give me a safe and sure footing.

Remember that I must be ready at any moment to lose my life in your service.

And finally, O Master, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze, or sell me to some cruel owner to be slowly tortured or starved to death; but do thou, my Master, take my life in the kindest way. And your God will reward you here and hereafter. You will not consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of HIM, who was born in a stable.

Amen

Sarge is better

Sarge is better - wheezing is better.

Biscuit didn't want to walk on the rocks at the front of his pen - so today I was raking them up and I will get Kayden to pick them up tomorrow.

I took Biscuit out this afternoon and walked him and let him eat grass.  I gave him his shot.  I bought them carrots today and they happily munching away on them.

Tuesday washed out the trailer

Tuesday Kayden helped me clean out my Brenderup.  He pulled the mats out for me.

I called the vet and Kassie said she'd get the results for me.  Doc called me back and said Biscuit's white blood cell count was around 1600 so it is an infection.  I am taking him back to the vet Friday for a check up.

Poor guy - he is being pretty  good about eating the feed with the dialator medication in it.

Barry tried to remove the side this evening but wasn't able to.  He said he'd need a bigger maul.

He is going to give it a go Thursday.

Rasping Biscuit's hooves - Monday

I have kept Sarge up in the arena for 2 days and out in his pasture at night.   I discussed his health with Doc and Lee Ann P and we decided to take the sides off one side  of their shelter so he will get more airflow.

Kade walked them both up to the front for me one at a time. I gave them both a bath to get the sweat off of them.  I brushed out manes and tails.  Kade brushed Sarge ;-)

I then got out my rasp and did all of Biscuit's hooves.  I almost have those carena's gone!

I gave them their meds and Kayden walked Biscuit down to his paddock.

Biscuit and Sarge to the Vet

I called Doc Friday while driving to Houma to pick up Devin.  I told him about Biscuit's coughing and the line up his side.  He said bring them in Saturday at noon.

I drove 500 miles Friday to get Devin - poor guy got sick while out of town working.  I then made an accordian cake for Saturday.  Went to the barn to see the horses.

I got up Saturday and left for the barn about 10:45.  Barry walked the horses up to the front and hosed them off and I hooked up the trailer and washed it out.   We loaded them up and hauled them to Doc's.

We had to wait an hour for Doc.  My horses were very patient and well  behaved  Doc blood from Biscuit and listened to his lungs.  He put the big glove over his nose to make him br beath deep.   Biscuit tolerated it but I could see he was a little scared, poor baby.

Doc prescribed a huge antibiotic once a day for 6 days - plus an airway dialator to help him cough it up.  No riding for a few weeks.

Sarge is wheezing so Dex 3cc every other day to get it under control.  I left the vet $453 poorer but my horses are taken care of.

Doing Sarge's feet

I went out to the barn every afternoon except for Friday.  Barry went with me a few times and I took the horses carrots and Sister went with us.

Sunday I asked him to go with me to cool the horses off.  He walked the horses up and we hoses them off.  Sarge and Biscuit  were full of sweat.  They both got scrubbed with Orvis shampoo and brushed.

I then got out my trimming tools and started on Sarge's back right where the crack is.  I used my nippers because it had been about 4 weeks since I had done his feet.  The broken area is almost gone.
He gave me trash like he did last time and yep, I ended up dumped off my chair again.  Barry helped me up and I was soaking wet.  Sarge kept giving me trash and I really got onto him.  I yanked on his halter and talked loud and cranky after popping him on the chest.  He was much better after that.  Barry was making all kinds of excuses for him.  I did manage to get all 4 feet done - top and bottom.  Woot.  He has really nice feet.

I made more bedadine cotton and stuffed in the holes in Biscuit's hooves.  OMG they are almost totally healed.  I will do his feet Wednesdays or Thursday.

I went out there today with Sister and Biscuit was the one coughing up a storm.  I am going to call the vet and haul him there tomorrow or Wednesday.  I am a little concerned.  I did give him some Benedryl.

Working on Biscuit's hooves

Went out to the barn yesterday with Sister and Barry.  :-)  she is a mess.  Barry walked her out to the water trough and made her sit and stay.  She did a great job.

I gave my boys carrots.  They are so sweet.

Today I got up and went out and got Biscuit and brought him up.  I saddled him up and rode a little bit in the arena but he started coughing.  I don't know if he got the alfalfa cross ways I gave him this morning.  I had worked on side passing and turning on the haunches.  I can't remember how to turn on the forehand.  I will have to work on that.  Anyway, he kept coughing so I got off of him.  Poor  guy!  I got out my rasp and went to work on his feet.

We stopped and I went to lunch with the Lee Ann's for Lee Ann P's birthday.

We got back and I started on his feet again.  They are looking fantastic!!  Working  on pulling those toes back!!  The stuffing of the cotton in the holes has worked like a charm.  Goodness, a few months ago three of these hooves were cut way up.  Now they are growing out and looking fantastic.  The back hooves are getting a little concavity and I was thrilled to see that!!

Riding in the woods FINALLY

Kellie and I made plans to ride out in Tyrrell Park.  I went Saturday night and put Biscuit up in the arena so I wouldn't have a problem catching him.  I got to the barn and fed him and brought the trailer around.  I then put on his hoof boots and brushed him off.  He was a toot about putting on the boots;

Jamie screwed the bar that pulled loose back.  The wires that light the license tag are pulled off so that will need to be repaired.  I notice a crack in the new backing by the tornado episode.  Going to check that out with Danny and make sure it won't cause a problem.

Loaded Biscuit with no problems and headed for the park.  I got there just a little before Kellie and started tacking him up and he was a little nervous as he generally is tacking up. Got him tacked up and mounted up and off we went into the woods!  Yes we were able to go into the woods.

Some places are dry  but still lots of mud holes and soft places.  Lots of spiders.  I was whacking spiders left and right.  Got 2 on me that Kellie said I should be glad I couldn't see them.  My crop is a tangled mass of golden orb webs.

Sometimes we had to go on the sides right ont the edges of the trees...got to the outlet the bayou and cut through the brush.  We went around to the right of ways and come up the side of those in the shade.

Lots of spiders - but we made it...down the new trails too.  Woot.

We gave them baths and loaded up and headed home.

Pulling the Brenderup out of the ditch

I took all three grandkids to McDonalds and then  home.  After we ate we loaded up with the dog to Davis's Doughnuts and got chocolate doughnuts for Jamie and Edgar.   We went out to the barn and I talked to Jamie about pulling the Brenderup out of the ditch when he had time.

We went down to the pasture and here comes Jamie.  He started working on pulling it out - he hooked on to a bar in the back but that didn't work - it pulled the bar off on one side.   Edgar showed up and they finally pulled it onto the road and then hooked onto the front and turned it around so that I could pull around in front of it and they hooked it onto my RAV and I hauled it to the front.

Sister was having hissy fits in the car - she wanted out!! She wanted to be where the action was!