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.

I LOVE THE NEW MEXICO SKY

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

CHRISTMAS PAST

          

  This photo was taken at a Christmas Barn party several years ago and there is a story to this picture. It is of my husband, Ray, who was the Christmas Grinch.

   He would always refer to the helmets as ‘chicken hats’ and, of course, being the old cowboy (real deal believe me) he wouldn’t be caught in one of them.

  One of my students got the idea that we needed to make Ray his very own ‘chicken hat’ so we did. Spray painted a broken helmet bright pink and pasted pictures of chickens on it.

  This was wrapped very carefully and, when we had a lot of bystanders, it was presented to him.

  The old cowboy was a good sport about it and we all had a really good laugh.

MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOS

A NEW JOB

As the school rolls on realistically the time comes that I have to pull an old trusty horse out of service – this summer it was Drafty. By then they have such an impressive resume that when I look into my herd I don’t have a horse that can take their place. So, I begin to check out talents, and attitudes to see who needs to try what next – just like the students.

   This year I have noticed a change in Target to indicate that he is maybe maturing and just might be willing to try some different rider energies. I am always cautious when I introduce autistic and other – what I think of as broken energy – to the horses.

   Target was recently introduced to Tourette’s energy. Inside the barn during tack up he was somewhat uncomfortable with it. However, when we went to the arena, my rider did what he needed to and Target calmed down and they had a really good ride.

   When we returned to the barn, Target was in a relaxed mood and untack went without incident.  

SPECTACULAR TONIGHT

Midnight is back in action with small riders. He has mellowed so he can work sooner with a beginner rider. The little ones love it because they don’t have to use a stool for most of their prep work.

Drafty says Happy Thanksgiving from the barn.

This rider is autistic and his skills and ability are coming along nicely. I decided to introduce Butch to his energy and see how things worked. Both had a very successful ride.

OCTOBER WAS PEANUT FESTIVAL 2014

Once again we furnished our pony rides for the annual Peanut Festival. This year we were inside the event center and in an area that afforded a resting place for the ponies away from the main crowd. It had rained early that morning so we arrived with wet ones. They did dry out before we needed to saddle up. All of them did their jobs of giving the little ones rides very well. 

STILL AFTER THE SNOW 11-17-14

vvvv

At least they made a sippy hole.

Someone asked me which horse is the dirtiest. I told them it depended on the day. Today the award goes to Target.

Mattie and Patches enjoy the warmer day.

FIRE BREATHING DRAGON sort of

I was taking pictures and realized it was really cold as I looked through the view finder. I wasn't sure that horse breath would show up but it does. Check out my short video here -  Fire Breathing Dragon

JUST BLOWIN IN THE WIND

When the wind is from the west and you throw hay over the east fence ......

COWGIRL UP broken arm

THE DAY AFTER OUR HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS FREEZING

When I went out to do chores at noon, I found these in the ATV. This told me that ice was thick this morning when Dan took care of things. You are serious when you break out the sledge hammer.

 MUCH thicker ice today.

Ice on the sides of the tanks.

Ice across the tanks.

Yea! Only water now.

It was worth being out. If I wasn't, I woud have missed this.

I GOT LUCKY WITH THIS SHOT

Sometimes I just get lucky when I point and shoot. This makes me think of literally walking into the sunset or on to infinity.

NEW EXPERIENCES

My Philosophy

 

MOM - I CAN DO IT