We drove up to Oklahoma to visit Momma's family for Christmas. It was a whirlwind trip. We left early on Thursday morning and returned on Sunday. It was so good to see everyone and spend time together. Annie and I hoped for a big snowstorm so that we could play in the snow, but the weather didn't oblige us. Annie did report a few snow flurries on Christmas morning.
When we arrived home on Sunday evening, chaos greeted us. The cats had stayed in the house while we were gone, and they made the most of their unsupervised time with the Christmas decorations. Ornaments had been ripped from the tree and shredded on the floor. Some kitty sat in the middle of a potted poinsettia and squished it. We found some of our miniature ornaments hidden under the couch, and there were little paw prints all over the forbidden tables and counters. I suppose the cats got bored...
On the Tuesday before our trip, we had a little girl over to ride the horses. I put her on Peg, and we went for a pony ride all over the property. Afterwards, I was cleaning out Peg's feet when I noticed a nail protruding from the sole of his back left hoof! I groaned inwardly, because he is just recovering from the abscess in his back right hoof. I removed the nail, which turned out to be the axle and one wheel from a little toy car, of all things. I knew that I needed to act quickly to avoid another abscess, so I called the vet. He told me to administer an intramuscular tetanus shot, put Peg on antibiotics, and soak his hoof daily (we are getting lots of practice with that). I called my good friend Rebecca to ask her to pray for Peg, since I wouldn't be able to soak him while I was in OK. She saved the day by offering to come and take care of my boy during my absence. It takes a good friend to come and care for your horse on Christmas day! I was so thankful. Peg seems to be fine, and I don't think the puncture will affect him at all. We are, however, learning that Peg is a trouble magnet.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A broken fence and the demise of a wheelbarrow
Yesterday was a day of mishaps and adventures. Since the weather report called for snow/rain during the night on Tuesday, we brought the horses into the barn for the night. It didn't rain or snow, but we slept better knowing that we wouldn't need to go out and bring the horses in if it did. The natural result was a set of five dirty stalls in the morning. I set about the job of mucking out my assigned three stalls, but I filled the wheelbarrow after cleaning the first two. Our wheelbarrow is old and cranky, and it is fond of having low air in its tires when one needs to push it a long way with a heavy load. Yesterday morning was no different. I was supposed to dump my load in the garden, but I decided I would not make it that far. I pushed the wheelbarrow to the compost bins behind the barn and tilted it forward to unload its contents. Crack!! The wheelbarrow body separated from its base. The other three stalls have not been able to be cleaned yet. We are waiting for our wheelbarrow to be repaired by our handyman Daddy.
Out in the pasture, Annie turned Ginger out with Buddy and Jack. Ginger's Coggins test came back on Monday, and it was negative. That means she is able to be with our other horses, and we don't have to worry about the infectious disease called EIA. Ginger was having a wonderful time with her new friends, and Buddy was being nice to her (surprisingly). Annie decided to play a game of chase with the horses, to give them a chance to interact. After a short period of fun and games, Jack got bossy and decided to exert his dominance over Ginger. They were all galloping along the fence line when Jack shoved his heavy, strong body against petite Ginger, forcing her through our three railed wooden fence. She broke some boards and knocked a 4x4 post loose as she went through it. This left Ginger on the outside of the fence, running loose on our property. She was excited and nervous. Thankfully, she ran into her own pasture, and I closed the gate. Annie caught Jack, who was fascinated with the hole he had made in the fence. He went into horsey time out in his stall, and we put Buddy in the pasture with his new friend. We were blessed by God, because Ginger was unharmed by her experience. Now Daddy also has to fix the fence.
We took the horses to GaitWay early yesterday afternoon, and we brought Jack along. Annie and Daddy rode him in the indoor arena before GaitWay's first lesson, and he was really well behaved. It was his first time to ride in an indoor arena, and only his second time to ride in any arena. Jack is very good at being calm and level-headed in new places.
Today, we turned Ginger out with Buddy, Jack, Poco, and Rusty. We won't turn her out with Peg until his shoes are removed, because a kick with shod hooves can seriously injure a horse. So far, all has gone well in the pasture. Nobody is upset, and nobody has been pushed through the fence. Peg is sad that he is missing out on the fun.
Speaking of Peg, the farrier came out on Monday to trim all of the horses' feet. He said that Peg looks great, and I can turn him out in the pasture now. I have also been given the okay to begin exercising him again. I am so pleased! Ginger had her feet trimmed for the very first time on Monday, and she was a very well-behaved little girl. We are continuing to be happy with her, and we believe that her training should be fairly easy. She has an excellent temperament.
We are turning into quite the horsey family! They take up a good bit of our time, but it is well worth it (even when things don't go as planned). I am thankful that God has provided us with so many ways to serve him through horses.
Out in the pasture, Annie turned Ginger out with Buddy and Jack. Ginger's Coggins test came back on Monday, and it was negative. That means she is able to be with our other horses, and we don't have to worry about the infectious disease called EIA. Ginger was having a wonderful time with her new friends, and Buddy was being nice to her (surprisingly). Annie decided to play a game of chase with the horses, to give them a chance to interact. After a short period of fun and games, Jack got bossy and decided to exert his dominance over Ginger. They were all galloping along the fence line when Jack shoved his heavy, strong body against petite Ginger, forcing her through our three railed wooden fence. She broke some boards and knocked a 4x4 post loose as she went through it. This left Ginger on the outside of the fence, running loose on our property. She was excited and nervous. Thankfully, she ran into her own pasture, and I closed the gate. Annie caught Jack, who was fascinated with the hole he had made in the fence. He went into horsey time out in his stall, and we put Buddy in the pasture with his new friend. We were blessed by God, because Ginger was unharmed by her experience. Now Daddy also has to fix the fence.
We took the horses to GaitWay early yesterday afternoon, and we brought Jack along. Annie and Daddy rode him in the indoor arena before GaitWay's first lesson, and he was really well behaved. It was his first time to ride in an indoor arena, and only his second time to ride in any arena. Jack is very good at being calm and level-headed in new places.
Today, we turned Ginger out with Buddy, Jack, Poco, and Rusty. We won't turn her out with Peg until his shoes are removed, because a kick with shod hooves can seriously injure a horse. So far, all has gone well in the pasture. Nobody is upset, and nobody has been pushed through the fence. Peg is sad that he is missing out on the fun.
Speaking of Peg, the farrier came out on Monday to trim all of the horses' feet. He said that Peg looks great, and I can turn him out in the pasture now. I have also been given the okay to begin exercising him again. I am so pleased! Ginger had her feet trimmed for the very first time on Monday, and she was a very well-behaved little girl. We are continuing to be happy with her, and we believe that her training should be fairly easy. She has an excellent temperament.
We are turning into quite the horsey family! They take up a good bit of our time, but it is well worth it (even when things don't go as planned). I am thankful that God has provided us with so many ways to serve him through horses.
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