Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Yesterday was the day they came back and looked for reactors.  There was one blood reactor they were looking for, called her Eliza.  Not sure that was the name of the test of what.  We had 25 other cows who reacted to the injection and 2 bulls.  Sounds like they are gonna kill all them but we are not sure when.  I think they will do a tissue test on them and that takes 12 weeks to grow.  But now they are not sure whether to take them cause they are pregnant and due in a monthish or wait.  Personally it sucks either way but I think its kinder to kill the cows now then to calve them out and kill cows and calves.  But again we wait for a phone call to see what we are doing.  Oh and the LIS (Livestock inspection services) came out and read the brands on every cow, that took a bit longer than necessary but they actually were pretty quick, helps they have done it a million times.  They shaved a few but that was quick as well.

I also woke up Tuesday with a sore throat and was coughing a bit, didn't think too much of it just thought it was cause of the cold and being outside then Wednesday I was feeling worse and coughing way more so we got extra help and it's a good thing, the cows were not too keen on going back in but they were not that bad.  But ya today its worse.  And I have to go to a tack sale tomorrow.  Which I want to go to but boy do I feel horrible!  Guess its time for cold drugs and hope it gets better.  I am always paranoid about getting it in my lungs cause they are bad.

And its snowing again, can this ever end???

TB Testing

Well yesterday was the day and boy was it a long one.  Whew we were tired.  We are not used to working outside that long in the winter time. We got out at 7:30 and I drove the feed truck and Neil and Ty rode bikes to bring them all in.  Worked pretty good even though I lost the bale part way in lol.   They got her about 8 and took a while to set up then bulls first, haha the chute was froze to the ground and its a good thing our bulls are gentle cause one got stuck.  So we just did him in the chute and backed him out.  He just stood there and waited.  The rest fit, not great for the older ones but they are kinda pushy so they made it.  Then the cows.  We tried to be careful cause they are pretty pregnant.  So we got sand/salt from the road crew and spread it in the alleyway where the cows would go.  It works quick we had liquid in not too long later.

(my view all day)

(the crew they sent)

Every animal got a vial of blood taken from under the tail, an ear tag read and written down and the number on the vial.  Then they got a injection of 0.1 ccs of TB under the skin that will either cause a reaction or not and that's what we are looking for on Thursday.  And the brand inspector is coming Thursday to read the brands on all the animals in case of a traceback needed later on.  Since we've bought cows the last couple years lots of cows have more than one brand on. I hope they are easy to read and we don't have to clip any cause that takes way longer.

(the horses were so nosy!  They came then left then came then left, it was cute)

4 people came out, the head vet, 2 other vets and an inspector.  The head vet was super good, the other 2 were not as quick, the one was just learning to take blood so that took longer.  So many records though its a bit crazy.  The worst part is we are so far out from the original herd and they are just getting ridiculous in testing now.  By the time they are done, they might as well test every cow in Canada.  Its crazy how they slacked off and now we as cattle people are paying for it.  They used to do randomtests on cows and they quit that a while ago and they shouldn't.  Its like the vaccines, don't see any disease for a while and people think vaccines are not necessary anymore......until they get a disease that hasn't been seen for 50 years.

(I tried to get a pic of him taking blood but it didnt show as good as planned.  

They have vaccuum vials and as soon as they hit blood 

they break the seal and the blood just goes in.  

Pretty quick, kinda like they do when drawing on horses 

but the tail vein instead of the jugular)

Anyways we are in the middle and I'm not mad about it but a bit frustrated.  Crazy week, everything at once, out accountant is coming today too but that will not be too bad as he was here in the fall sorta trying to organize us.

What a Pain

So we got a phone call last week from CFIA asking about 2 cows we bought a couple years ago.      Well we still have them and so they made an appointment to come out and see the records and talk. Neil got them both in the other day so they are in the corral, they are not diseased they are quite fat and healthy looking. They came yesterday and spent forever asking about stuff and we are on quarantine now.  It really only affects the cows, horses and cats are free to come and go as we please.  Not sure how long its gonna take but its already a hassle.

They called back today and said they are ready to test either Monday or Wednesday so that's a good thing.  If we have no reactors we are good to go, but if there is then we have even more issues.  No reactors means no quarantine.  I think they will kill the 2 they were looking for anyways cause they want to get rid of the original herd.  But that's better than our whole herd of cows.

We don't keep calves anymore so we don't have calves from them in the herd which saves us some testing.  Although it works kinda hard for them they gotta try and track them down through the auction mart but that's not up to us anymore.

I've had Easy and Jess boarded for the last little while and so they are staying away for now at least till we know more.

***This is all how I understand if not correct I will correct it later***

Well looks like coming out Monday, he said he will bring a crew so we don't even need to get help....I wonder what kind of help his crew will be but I guess we will find out.  For now we wait.

Update

So I been thinking a lot about what to do with Easy.  My options are send him to Doug's and he can live there during show season, it would work but be a lot more expensive.  Or I can just pony him everywhere unless I can ride at home cause he's good to ride alone.  Or I can haul 3 and he can always have a buddy.  Or I think if I haul to Brooks and I'm alone when I ride Jess (which is most of the time there) I can just let him loose.  He's not crazy and neither is she will will work on just walk at first work our way up to trot and we will see about a lope after that.  I think he will be fine and if comes along with us just more exercise for him lol.  One thing I'm not gonna do is to tie him where there is anything he can get caught on.  I used to have an overhead tie place but we took it down cause was in the way, wonder if I can talk Neil into putting it back up somewhere....but where??

(The side scrape, looks bad but the least of our worries)

(and the front scrapes, they are the worrysome ones)

(and the swelling in the fetlock is gone down from yesterday, bad angle from the other foot tho)

I'm sure he hasn't seen hobbles and I'm not even sure that would help at this point, he can still rear and buck with them on and so not really a feasable option.  I've also talked to someone and have a calming spray but since he's kinda calm the rest of the time they figure it probly won't do much but I may try anyways.

(I like this purple one on Jess)

(not as sure about this one but I like the colorful noseband)

But today I went out there caught both and Easy was bobbing his head around like a goof not leaving just being weird.  I don't think he liked the drugs in his mouth.  I just waited and he quit and was good again for me giving them, just his way of saying he doesn't really want them I think.  But he needs them today at least, it's just bute so a painkiller for another day or so.

(our dugout is a bit full lol)

Then I finally tried on the halters Shirley made for me.  I got to get another rope for the teal one, I was using that purple rope on Easy before so that was handy.  Not sure which I will use on them but they are nice.

I just gooped up tails and brushed them and manes out today and that was about it.  Sun was shining and it was warm in the truck but still felt cold outside.  Tomorrow is another day have to see what I can come up with to do then lol.  I'm not very good at doing not riding stuff.  And I feel bad just giving his drugs and leaving.

OH Easy

Well I hauled Jess and Easy over and picked up a friend and her horse and headed to Michelson's on Saturday.  Rode Jess first and she rode her colt.  She's been working in the round pen then out to the big pen and she asked us to help keep her filly to the outside cause she doesn't have much steering yet.  One way shes really good the other she just wants to move in.  Jess wasn't overly enthusiastic about this she was OK right beside her but didn't want to bump her to get her to the outside.  But she tried.  Which made me laugh cause she has the grouchy ears down pat, but again she's all show lol.  Easy was actually not too bad tied in there and I thought we were making progress.  I rode him after and she cooled out Jess who is a giant after a 2 year old lol.  He was good we even loped a couple laps with his tiny rocking horse lope.  Haha he's so funny.

Then thought might as well go Sunday too so we did.  I left the horses at her place overnight and so went and picked up everyone and headed to the arena. I rode Easy first and he was good and then we thought he should help with the colt well he did not think that was a good idea and tried to kick out at her, not allowed ever!  So I gave him a big thump in the ribs with my spur and he hardly even moved.  But never tried that again and the colt actually stayed away from him lol.  Then it was Jess turn and when I tied him up he was being silly again and I just been ignoring it.  I was almost done thinking I should grab Easy and try ponying him in the arena for a bit.  Well before I got the chance he reared up and got his foot over the kick boards and stuck.  Oh crap!  I leaped of Jess and ran over there.  He tried getting it out and was tired actually sitting on his butt foot still stuck.  I tried to help but I can't lift him out.  He jumped up and got himself out, whew.  Heart attack moment.  He was pretty sore and figured we maybe should take him to get looked at just in case.

So we loaded up, called the vet clinic and she met us there.  He was walking a little better but still pretty sore.  He was already swollen under the armpit and a couple scrapes on his leg.  She said he looked like hes gonna be OK but watch him for extra swelling especially in the lower leg.  She gave him a long acting antibiotic (excenell, which I never knew they used for horses we have used it on cows tho) and a shot of Methocarbamol (which is a muscle relaxant like robaxacet) and shot of bute for pain.  Oh and she washed his leg and clipped around the scratches and put ointment on them.  She sent me home with 4 days of oral bute (apple flavor lol)  and a day of oral methocabamol.   And of course on a Sunday...seriously horses why not a weekday???

I finally got home last night at 10:30 and I was exhausted.  Didn't sleep very well but this morning the swelling under armpit is pretty much gone, no heat and he's walking good. There is a little swelling at fetlock but that's where he was caught so not a surprise.  I gave him his drugs and he was good about them.  He is supposed to be off 7 days so there's 1.  I may not do 5 days of bute will see how it goes.  I don't like to give more than he needs.  Maybe try pony him at a walk Friday or Saturday.

This puts me behind but what do I do.  I don't know what to do with him now.  I may just have to pony him and then ride him and pony Jess on opposite days.  They are both broke so that will work easier than trying to haul 3 so he has someone to stand beside.  I have no idea what to do to help him either.  It sucks.

Equine Seminar 1

On Saturday Energy Equine had a clinic at their vet practice and it sounded super good so I wanted to go and so I did.  Its a vet who is really trying hard to get vets, farriers and bodyworkers to work together.  So he is putting on clinics of everyone to get info out there.  It was 2 bodyworkers Saturday, one talking about the SI Joint and the other the Stifle.  Mainly focused on performance horses but talked about others as well.

I thought was very interesting as I have trouble with my SI Joint, I say hip/back cause no one knows what the SI Joint is and its just easier.  But my ligaments are too long and they don't hold everything together like they should.  But horses are different of course they walk on 4 legs.  They had a sample horse Posh and she was having a little trouble but nothing really serious and so it turns out her bones were quite unlevel and she said it probly caused the horse to push her hip out one way on a circle and the other had trouble not falling in, they asked the owner and that was happening.  She also showed us a bunch of stretches we could do and in her tummy tuck she saw no movement in the lower lumbar area and spasms in the SI Joint so said to get a vet check to make sure no other issues there and then she would work on it said was common and wasn't hard to fix.

Then we had lunch and visited and then Sarah talked about the Stifle joint, they are both in the same lecture cause they are quite often related in injuries.  She did a lot of the same stuff and showed us bad issues and how to keep them strong as well.  Then the talk kinda morphed into conditioning cause she said that is a big issue the horse seems fit but they ligaments and tendons take way longer than lungs and muscles do to get into condition.

The vet jumped in and said he agrees a horse takes 90-120 days to get to fit performance level.  A lot longer than most people give.  I had heard that before as well just not for a long time.  He also said he doesn't think horses (besides babies) should have more than a week off.  He says lower their work level but otherwise it takes too long to get back.  And I thought pasture would be good work and he said it is but wearing a saddle and carrying a rider is like weight lifting and they sure don't do that on their own.  I feel like I should be getting Easy in already yikes!

One other comment he made which sounds easy till you think about it was.  "We get fit to do the sport not do the sport to get fit"  Which I understood for my horse but I was doing the opposite for myself, gonna have to change that I guess.  Another one of Feb 11 on the neck and shoulder, I am already signed up.

Winter Maintenance and Trouble

On the 3rd I took Jess in to get her teeth done.  It was so cold who knows why I went when it was so cold but I did anyways.  Shes good as always, was about a year and a half since shes been done and she had a small hook on her one back side and a few points.  Not that she was suffering from it, she's as big as a house!

She was a bit dozy, so we stayed in the clinic for a while I had a coffee and visited, they aren't that busy in January with large animal stuff yet so its a nice time to go.  The sun was shining in was nice.  And then it stayed cold for ever and so I still haven't rode.  Today is only -6 but the wind is just miserable.  I went out for a a bit and man it hurts my lungs.  Which sucks cause now I won't be home till Sunday for another chance to ride :(

Then when I got home that day the waterer quit it was working that morning but not now so I took Jess over to the new cows one and she wasn't interested which I figured, but Razz was staring at the water trough and me then the water trough pretty obvious what she wanted so I caught her and took her over and she drank for quite a while, its slow coming in that one so while we were there the cows came over to visit and see what we were doing.  Almost pet B18 but not quite she was OK with touching me but not the other way around lol.  Pally didn't want to be caught wasn't interested in the water at all so finally I got to leave the cold outside and go in.  And then Neil comes in an hour later saying its working and none of my horses would drink guess they weren't thirsty anymore

Weaning Day

Last Sunday we had a bunch of neighbors come over to help us wean our calves.  We had lots of help, more than we really needed but I much prefer it that way than not enough help.  We said 9 but everyone showed up early and so they went and got the cows early.  The cows start in the small field just north of the house (my horses other summer pasture, about 200 acres)  The cows don't really like that field for some reason, not sure why but they go in there good and then they just wander, and there is lots of grass, good water just not sure if its cause its too small and they have to hang around each other or what but they don't like it.  That's why we only put them in there a couple days before we wean.

Then they cross the road into my horses regular summer pasture and into the corrals.  It works really well and the cows just go in quite nicely, and it only takes a half hour or so.  Then we cut out the cows and let them into the bull winter pasture and the calves get put up the alley, when all sows are out, we put heifers in one pen and steers in another.  Then the truck comes and we loaded up the steers, he was here way early, was supposed to come at 11 and he left the yard at 5 after.  But worked well, he knew he was early and wasn't in a hurry just come to visit with us while we worked.

The we went for lunch, I wasn't really ready for lunch that early but no one minded, they came in had a drink and bull shitted until I was ready and then we ate.  The vet come had a bite to eat as well.  15 for lunch, more than we had ever had at a weaning.  But we had more plans.  We always get done so early we decided to preg check the cows the same day.  Just a test to see how it works, since last year we were done before lunch as well.

Well we got the cows back in the chute all ready, everyone had a job and off we went.  221 cows and it took us about 2 and half hours, of course that includes loading the heifers when the trucker come back.  Pretty good timing, after the open cows were in the pen with a bale and the other cows turned back out, we went to the house and had another drink and it was only 3:30.  Everything worked really well.

Then today our dry cows went to town as well, so we are pretty well ready for winter, tomorrow our cows will get to go up north onto the hay and oats field and hopefully weather is nice and they will be up there 6 weeks, boy will they be fat and happy after that.

And somehow didn't get any pics of weaning and just this one of our truck leaving hauling cows today.

Ready To Go!

Well I got all my paperwork back from the vet today.  Took forever!  But Razz is free of EIA (coggins test)  Although my vet says he has never had one that turned up positive, guess the testing is working.  Needed that and a health certificate.  And the last one is a form I need when I return to Canada.  The vet phoned the Idaho and Washington Department of Agriculture to find out if we need a permit and both said no so that makes it easier.  

I'm starting to get super excited!!!  

Oh and turns out Dee's lump was just fat from where something (maybe spear grass) got stuck in her lip.  Best possible outcome and what we figured but I'm glad to check.

Teeth and Mouth Issues

****a bit graphic, blood mostly****

So last Monday I took Dee to Justin's to gather his cattle, she was super good (if missing a bit of steering and her stop was pretty slow (but I knew about the stop))  But she was tossing her head, I just thought she was wanting me to let her go faster, and it was chilly and she was fresh.  Well after we were done, I went to take of the bridle and noticed she had a giant lump in her mouth about the size of a golf ball.  It was on the inside of her lip.  Boy did I feel bad, it probly hit the bit every time she moved.  No wonder the head tossing.  Well I made an appointment with the vet, couldn't get in till the next Monday.  I wasn't overly worried as she was still eating and acting normal so I just waited.  

By the time Monday rolled around a big chunk of it had just died and fell off.  It was gross, like a big string...eww, glad the vet pulled it off and not me.  He figured we had to get rid of it and send it away for testing just to make sure we knew what it was.

She was pretty sleepy which was good, easier to do surgery on if shes not wiggling and she is a wiggler.  He froze it and waited a bit the cut it off.  Wasn't gonna suture or anything.  He has this stuff its lidocaine with epinephrine in so it is a painkiller and slows blood.  He put that on but there was one little vein spurting out so 3 stitches went in.  And shes on uniprim until the bottle is empty, which I hope is soon as its a pain cause she's a slow eater

She was a super good patient.  Didn't even care we kept bothering her mouth, even before the sedation.  He was worried it was a tumor when I first got there, but the more he thought about it he thinks something went up in her lip and fat got pushed out the hole.  He said its seen a lot in cows but not much on horses.  But we are getting it looked at through a microscope anyways just in case.

  He checked her teeth while we were there and couldn't find any points or anything bothering her so we left it at that.  Sure didn't seem to even notice anything was amiss when I unloaded her she went straight to the grass so I let her eat her fill and put her back with her buddies who were missing her (or jealous about the grass more likely)  While I was there I got a call from the farrier he was just leaving the neighbors and so he come over and did my ponies (except Dee of course) before I even got home.  Pretty awesome, since my last farrier quit without notice (I was pretty mad about that)

While I was there I mentioned I wanted to get Razz and Jessie in for teeth and the export examination.  He likes them in sooner then its all ready when I wanna go so we booked Wednesday.

Down I went, another hot day but I opened the vents and the screens in the trailer.  Wasn't too bad in there when we got to town.  First Razz.  Her teeth had a few points but not bad.  He gave her a regular dose of sedation but with the hot weather and her being kinda calm she about fell over, good thing the stocks hold her up.  It worked out OK though cause he has so draw her for the paperwork and she stood super still while we looked all over for white spots and whorls and everything.

Shirley was gonna borrow Jessie so she was coming in but last week she got a new horse so Jess just got her teeth done.  They really needed to she had a start of a sore on her one cheek, not a callous yet but was working towards it.  Shes good now for a while.  Which I hope lasts as I may not use her again till fall....Have to see how everything is working out with Chili and Dee

Jessie also got the regular dose and I had to hold her head upright while he did the teeth, she was just laying it to the side, lol.  I said we should get her a pillow ;)  

Even afterwards I had to stay a half hour so she could wake up a little, she finally put her tongue in her mouth and quit leaning on the halter so much.  I  loaded them and then went to the grocery store.  Its tough to keep fresh stuff around when we were at brandings forever and not cooking.  

Easter Weekend

We had a full weekend planned, Saturday we headed to Brooks for Neil's Dads birthday and then Sunday we had planned to go to Olds to my Moms house for Easter Dinner.  Saturday worked well, and we come home and had one new heifer calved and so no problems.  Then came Sunday.

Saturday before we left there was a cow in the creek pasture calving and she was doing fine so we left for town, we came back after dark so never went and had another look at her.  Sunday morning Neil went out to check on her and she hadn't had the calf...not good.  So he took his bob out there and brought her back to the yard.  Turns out she was a heifer who somehow got out.  If we knew she was a heifer we woulda watched her a little closer.  Well the calf was dead so we pulled it out.  It was presented right and wasn't that big so I don't know why she never had it on her own.  But then as she was laying in the corral, and we were getting ready to leave, she prolapsed.  So we called the vet and she come out and stuffed her back in and sewed her up.  But by then it was too late to leave for dinner so we just had BLTs instead of ham and scalloped potatoes.   We will go another day and have dinner with them, wont be the same with the whole family but that's how it works sometimes with cows.

It wasn't all bad, our snow is melting something crazy and the road is kinda a mess and really hard to get through.  And it was kinda nice to have a day to do nothing in, well kinda nothing.  But back to it today going riding and hopefully a couple more lessons this week then the show next weekend.  I am kinda nervous about it.  I know I am not really ready to show, but then again I also know I put it off all last summer and might as well get going if I want to.  I am also nervous about going alone.  That will be hard, always easier when there is someone going with me somewhere, but I am pretty familiar with the arena which is nice but still scary.

New Calf

********* Warning this post contains graphic pics   ******

So yesterday I headed into Brooks to drop off a blanket I had sold a girl.  I had not been to town in a while so I went early and did a look around.  I stopped at the scrap booking store and ended up with way more paper than I need but it was soo nice I had to get it and it will get used someday.  And Marks I was looking at the clearance rack and got 2 shirts for $18 that I really like.  I also went to the western store (of course) and they had some nice shirts in there, but they were more than i wanted to spend right now.  Sometimes I am so cheap and it doesn't make sense.  But at the tack place I ended up with a brush, a bag for my boots and of course some treats. 

**************   Another warning about Graphic Pics coming Up ***************
Then Neil calls me and says he is coming to the vet with a heifer and should be there about 5.  Well I met the girl at Tim's and headed over to the clinic.  Vet said the calf was too big to be born so she was gonna do a c-section on it.  I asked if I could take pics and she had no problems with that.  So here goes a pictorial story of a calf being born.  First the assistant scrubbed the freshly clipped area.

Then she gave the heifer an epidural so she wouldn't try to push, and gave some lidocaine in the side where she was gonna do the incision. She clipped with big clippers a big area the a closer shave where she was gonna cut.  Here she is just started the incision.

About 3 layers of muscle to cut through after the skin.

Then the heifer decided she didn't want any more of this.  She went down in the chute and we spent quite a bit of time getting her back standing where we wanted her to be.  Good thing the clinic is fairly clean (or was before we got there)

We got her all back in place, sorta (notice how her head is not in the head gate anymore, just her halter tied to the fence), then cut through the uterus and out comes a back leg.

Neil had to get in there to help to, he is holding the chains on one leg while the vet finds the other one.

Then two back legs are out and got a long ways to pull.

Kinda blurry but the body is coming out.

And hes alive!!!  Into the calf cart they have waiting.  His face is a little swollen from the long birth time, but its always a relief to have him still alive after all that.

And the uterus hanging out.  Sure don't look like it is big enough for a calf to fit in it now.

Looks just random as she is sewing it back together, amazing how it looks so crazy and no order

And then you get this, all sewn up and back to normal.

Now we just got a hole in her side that needs to be stitched up.

Two layers of muscle done, one more and the skin left.

And then she decided she was done.  She backed all the way up the chute and outside and by the time we got her in again I had to hold the halter so I didn't end up with anymore pictures.  But I did get the calf this morning and he looks better.

Afterwards we went for supper at the chinese buffet and I had to take off my sweater cause it was covered in blood and so were the jeans, but at least its not as bad as on the grey coat.  Felt kinda grubby but I was super hungry. 

Wordy Wednesday

Well since I run out of time yesterday, I have to write all about Jessie today so the wordless day is gonna have to wait till tomorrow cause I can't.  On Monday Jessie went in for her pre-purchase exam.  He says she is well conformed for a cutter, short back, nice neck and good croup.   They did the flexion test and she was sound on the straightaway on pavement and on the circles every fourth or fifth stride she was a little wonky but she come out of it within a couple times.  And she seemed a little stiff in the right knee (not sore, just stiff when flexing) even though it tested clean they x-rayed it and there is nothing there.  They also did x-rays of her feet and they show nothing out of the ordinary.  Her left foot is a little turned in but nothing he said he would worry about now.  He said no signs of arthritis, no rotation of coffin joint, but a little irritation on end of coffin bone but that is normal for a 7 year old horse.

He said her hocks were really good, and the only thing he was a little concerned about was the growth rings on her feet were uneven, which can say digestive upset.  But after talking to the owner, he said it is more likely because she is the boss mare and so her feed is probly gobbled down when they are being fed and she gets more than she needs,and then she evened out when on pasture so not too much to worry about.  He did suggest I wear shoes on her front feet if we are doing anything serious though. 

All in all he says she is low to medium risk and would probly be a good horse for me.  He said if I want to show twice a month and do some lessons  she would be fine, but if I wanted to go to Fort Worth (BIG show) then probly too intense for her.  And since I doubt I would make it there (or could afford it) I don't think that's a problem.

So I guess I am getting a new horse!!!!!!  I haven't decided what I am gonna do with her yet, I may bring her home for a week this Sunday and ride her a couple times in Brooks and a couple times a home if its nice out, and go back for lessons next weekend when Charlene's horse comes home we might board in East Coulee where she has a heated barn and then they will stay in overnight and go out during the day (if she has room there).

I got to get her in better shape before doing too much with her and I think that wont take too long, probly a couple weeks and then I don't know what will go on, hopefully some small shows and stuff before spring when everything and everybody starts to get competitive.  I also signed myself up for a Leon Harrel clinic in August and hopefully by then I will have a good idea of what I need to work on with her and be able to ride her better.  I am still definitly gonna keep taking lessons, once or twice a week.  Should be fun!  Now I just gotta wait till Sunday, it seems so faaaaaar away.

Also yesterday morning I had coffee with Susan and Lu.  I havent seen Lu in a real long time and it was nice to get back together.  Where we are thinking of boarding is where Lu has her horse so maybe I will get to ride with her a few times again too.  That would be good.  We are also gonna try to get together more often for coffee.

Wordless Wednesday -- In The Trailer

Happy St Paddys Day!

Okay, so I feel like I haven't been on forever! It has been so nice out and I haven't been on the computer very much because of it. Sunday and Monday I spent working in the wood shop on a set of nightstands and a plaque for door numbers for my Aunt Bonnie. I am almost done both and its nice to be back out in the wood shop. Tuesday I was on my way to lessons, and Jardi phones and said she wouldn't be there for lessons. I got there as she was about to go to the vet. I went with her and stitched up Dots ankle. Not an emergency, but it just was at a bad spot so she got it stitched. We also stopped for lunch while she woke up from the drugs.

Afterwards, Linda came just as I was gonna ride Bailey so we rode together. Her colt is very nice and quiet. It was a nice ride and we might go outside next time if Linda is brave enough and the wind isn't too bad.

I soaked Princess foot, and it looks way better and she is walking sound again. Jardi is tying her outside everyday for some sunshine and she seems to like the change of scenery.

I talked to her about lessons, cause I want to do more with Bailey than just the same old same old. It was okay with Razz cause she needed more riding and basics, but Bailey is past that now. Charlene was saying she wanted some lessons on Ricky, so I might take some with her when she gets less busy. It should be fun, Jardi said I could try the mechanical cow! That would be so much fun.

We also are gonna pound some posts around the yard so I can finally have a fence and an arbor, I'm quite excited about it. I'm not sure if I want a walk through arbor or a bench, I'm leaning towards the bench, cause I think it would be fun to sit under flowers. I would like to plant climbing yellow roses over it.

I thought its about time to worm the horses this spring, and I usually do that the same day the farrier comes, so I called him and hes coming Monday, so that's the big day, I decided I should get a good look at everyone's feet and they all look pretty good for not being trimmed since end of October, the only one who look like he needs his feet done is Dinero, and they are really not that bad.

I am also looking at getting anew trailer, mine is old and wearing out, I have two in mind, so I should be able to get one of them. I am looking at a three horse with tack room, that's all I'm specific about. Oh and it can be pulled by my half-ton.

I hope everyone is wearing green today or here's a "pinch" for those who aren't.