Midnight Rider

This is my first experiment with a video GIF. I've been watching GIFs for some time now and kind of have mixed emotions. Thought I would try one to see what I think. This is one of my little riders on the Shetland Pony, Midnight.

THIS IS A STORY OF SERENDIPITY

I walked into the pony pen to check on Pepper. He was lying down but got up when he heard my voice. He was bearing some weight on the lame foot by the time I got over to him. He walked off and seemed a little better. He wasn’t dragging the toe like he was two days ago and there seems to be a little flex in the joint. I observed him for a few minutes and decided I wouldn’t call the vet. Today is the day the vet is in Portales area and it costs less on a farm call.

I had started my truck to warm up since I was heading to town. As I was climbing in realized I had the good cane with me. Also, I coughed just a little and thought I really needed cough drops to take with me. This meant unlocking the house to go in and take care of these two items. Neither was drastic and I didn’t really ‘need’ to do it. But, I chose to.

As I came out my door, a white truck turned in with a man driving. As he got out of the truck he held up a bottle and said he was close and decided to run the Xterra by here rather than leaving it in town at our drop off. It was Ryan, Doc’s new vet. Since he was here I asked if he had just a few minutes to look at Pepper. He said yes. I gave him the health information from the last two days as we went to the pen.

Now, I want you to visualize just how prepared we were for this undertaking. We had neither halter nor means to catch and hold him while Ryan checked him out. And the only help he had was me – an old lady with cane.

We actually were able to make it work even though Pepper had other thoughts about the situation. As he cleaned the foot and found nothing he realized that Pepper was sensitive to pressure on the frog. He retrieved his hoof testers from the truck and found a tender spot. He dug it out and opened an abscess. He told me to pack it with Betadine and sugar and wrap for 24 hours.

Later in the day when I had both Tiffany and Jas here to help, they worked together, one holding the foot and the other cleaning, packing and wrapping. He actually seemed to walk a little better immediately although you could tell by the leg lift the hoof felt very different.

Yes, horse ‘band aids’ are like those of people – all colors.

Week later update: His foot is back to normal.

HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR HORSE LATELY?

WHEN I LOOKED UP I SAW 'EARS'

I LOVE THE NEW MEXICO SKY

TAKE MY PICTURE

The wind was blowing out of the North with really heavy gusts. When I went up to do the nooners (special feed and medicine handouts) I took the camera. All the mares and geldings in their pens were tails to the wind. I got out the camera and took a picture with the intent of posting it to answer the question people continue to ask about the horses keeping warm in the cold weather. Answer to wind – turn your tail and wait it out.

As soon as I shut the camera off and put the lens cap on Patches came running out of the hay pen looking around as if she were upset. She headed for the space along the fence between Mattie and Golly, found her spot, and stopped. I got the message “Okay, I’m ready, take the picture”. So, I took another one. If you look closely, you will see Patches in the upper left of the top picture and in the middle along the fence in the bottom.

The two pictures were taken within a minute of each other.           

'NOTHING' IS BETTER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE according to Goober