Monthly Archives: September 2012

Around the Farm (and Nursing Home)

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Both my mom and the new pony seem to be settling in to their new homes.  I am sure mom has had greater mental angst and the Mimi (the pony) greater physical angst.  But both are markedly happier after a few days in Wharton.

The first day at the new facility, momma kept asking when she could go back home.  And if she could go to my house and stay.  But each time, I got there to visit she was out in the lobby chatting away with the other ladies.  I think they were all chatting away and no one really was taking in what the others were saying but they seemed happy enough to be sharing their stories with one another.

By Monday, momma was starting to settle in and accept her new home.  Still confused about time of day and what would happen next, she was telling me she liked the “new place” except her room (the very first apartment) was too far from the lobby. 

Lauren was there to visit her yesterday and spent several minutes getting mom to understand who she was.  But then she asked about Lauren’s wonderful boyfriend and put together who Lauren was and what she was doing (going to school).  Momma got her hair done yesterday so that was a landmark event.  Lauren said it was “Texas Big Hair” but momma is happy with it so that is all that matters.  Also, it costs $11.  Seriously.  We were paying four times that amount in Denver.

Mimi’s sire, Welsh Pony RosMel’s Cotillion showing his stuff

Mimi has spent the last couple of days getting indoctrinated by the herd.  It is about learning to get along, learning to give up and learning to stand her ground.  Horses learn a lot from the herd about manners and behavior.  The herd teaches them the rules of life.  It has not been easy being a small pony turned out with three full size horses.  We have watched to see that she didn’t get hurt but there has been a lot of running, kicking and biting.  A friend asked today how Mickey was accepting the new pony.  When I told her that he hadn’t really objected at all, we both knew it was not typical Mickey behavior.

We started pony training classes last night.  I had looked up Mimi’s sire and found he was known for passing his good, balanced temperament to his off-spring.  Okay, I was ready for some of the good temperament and Mimi did not disappoint me.  Although young and pretty fast with her teeth (still teething on anything she can put in her mouth) and her hooves (oh, boy is Roland the farrier going to love her-not!) once I set to saddle and bridle her she was well-behaved.  I know I owe Caroline for that.  So, the saddle went on, she didn’t object as I tightened the girth and I slipped the bit gently and easily into her small mouth. 

We followed her favorite  new friend, Feather, out to the arena.  Lauren worked Feather while I started Mimi on the lunge line.  I knew that Caroline had been working Mimi on the line so we worked in a small circle with me urging her on determinedly from behind.  I thought she did very well.  She walked and trotted both directions, backed up with some urging and overall did nicely.  I was much happier with her as we left the arena.  She is young, inexperienced and never had been in this arena before.  She took it all in stride-maybe some of daddy’s temperament coming into play.  We will start putting some weight on her back and do some ground driving to teach how the reins work. 

Both momma and Mimi are getting used to their new homes.  One will hopefully settle in and grow old gracefully.  And one will hopefully settle in and grow into a champion.

Enter the Welsh (Pony that is)

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I should know better than to make decisions when I am tired, stressed or overwhelmed.  I tend to be impulsive (note: me buying two Yorkshire Terriers) especially when it comes to animals.  This last weekend with my mom qualified me on all counts above.  So what is new in my barn?  A three-year old, unbroken, naughty Welsh pony named Mimi. 

The pony had been purchased with the purest of motives for Caroline’s young daughter Abby.  Caroline and I are not unlike in sometimes not seeing past the animal to the work needed to make the animal a contributing member of our family.  Mimi was a great Christmas surprise for Abby.  What could be better than a beautiful Christmas pony?  Well, maybe a pony that Abby could ride and play with not one that needed training and miles.  Not bumming on Caroline.  I have made similar decisions a hundred times and will make them again.

It is now nine months later.  Lauren (without Leo or Mickey) is riding only Feather.  She needs a project.  The initial idea was she would just take Mimi for a month or so and get her started under saddle.  Next thing, I figured we might as well just buy her and then success or failure she is ours.

Mimi, about half the size of Feather, their coloring is very similar.

Mimi (registered name Rosmel’s Silver Mimosa) came yesterday.  I put her with old Mr. Kid (there’s an oxymoron).  Maybe because Mickey is sick and not at the top of his game, there is some shifting in the herd.  Kid, when he was 20 and Mickey was five, was the pack leader.  Over the years, Mickey has taken that lead from Kid.  But horses sense things that I should not dwell on.  And normally, setting the new horse with Kid would be an easy transition but Kid, from Mimi’s first step in the pasture, was after her.  Pushing, lunging, kicking and trying to bite, none of which he actually landed on her, but he put on an intimidating show.  He cantered around.  He bucked.  I bet he is really sore today.  The pony quickly learned to stay out of his reach.

As the day progressed, we introduced Feather and Mimi.  Their coloring is nothing short of 50 shades of gray.  Seriously.  Look at them.  Mimi looks bigger here than she really is.  The two girls got along pretty well.

Lauren will have her work cut out for her.  I cannot ride this pony.  She is way too small for me.  So, I can help in the ground training but it will be Lauren’s days in the saddle that will make or break this pony. 

Sharing hay.

In the hunter/jumper world there are whole divisions devoted to ponies and the Welsh ponies tend to fair well.  Lauren can no longer show in the pony division but can get the little one going and then hopefully sell her to someone who will do well by her.  I could even see a few years down the road Jordyn or Abby could be up on this little girl.  She is fancy looking-just got to get her going safely and quietly before any kids get up on her back.

Tomorrow, Camp Lauren will start and Mimi will start learning life’s lessons.  Wish I was going to be home to watch!

Mickey, Mickey Not So Fine

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Darker days ahead?

As the days have progressed from my last uplifting blog on Mickey, his health has gotten worse.  We will not see the doctor again until September 18th to do the next scope.  He is not feeling like his old self.  He is lethargic and tends to lay down whenever in his stall.  When I ride him, he coughs.  I count the first seven times as okay but feel like we need to quit working when he coughs more than that.  And he has each time we have had him out in the last ten days. 

We have done what we can and although Lauren and I are not talking about it much, both feel that even if he can’t compete any more as long as he can still be with us as a pasture horse, that’s okay.  It will be hard but we can handle it.  What I hope against hope, is that the coughing and breathing difficulties do not increase to such a point that it is unfair to Mickey to let him continue on.

Maybe this is a normal part of the treatment, see some improvement, backslide a  little and then improve for good.  I do not know.  I only know the sound of Mickey’s labored coughing is breaking my heart.

Momma Moves, Flies and Starts Over

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I feel like it has been a million years since I left Houston on Wednesday afternoon.  It sounds a little ridiculous but selfish person that I am, I am not used to having total care and dependence of anyone on me.  My mother, Midge, has dementia.  Her health is pretty good overall except for some loss of vision.  But the dementia is tough.  When Amber and I got there Thursday she did not know us.  Total blank look in her eyes.  For those of you that haven’t experienced this yet (pray you never do) it is so unnerving, frightening and humbling to have the person who raised you, loved you and was your biggest supporter have no idea who you are.  Once I talk with her, she remembers but will forget again after I leave the room.

We got everything but the last things packed and waited for Friday when the movers would come.  The move was scheduled between 7-8 am.  I left Amber’s around 6:00 to make my way across Denver in the start of the rush hour traffic.   I got to her room and as she ate breakfast, stripped her bed, got the last items ready and waited.  The movers called at 8:00 am to say their truck had broken down but was finally on the way.

Props to Father and Son Movers in Denver-when they got there, they were friendly, efficient and kind.  It didn’t take long to load what was left of 88 years of living into their truck and head back across town to Amber’s.  Every few minutes, mom would ask if I knew someone who could use her furniture.  I would tell her that Amber was excited about having it and how great it would be in their home.  Then she would ask again.

The movers, Momma and I were to back to Amber’s by 10:30 or so.  They got things moved in and were on their way.  Momma was doing okay but not unlike a toddler, you could not leave her alone.  She was confused about where she was, who I was (at one point she talked to me for over five minutes, telling me about her daughter Cindy Davis until finally I interrupted her explaining again who I was).  She is unsteady on her feet so Amber’s stairs were a big concern.  Thankfully, her demeanour is sweet and accommodating. 

Amber’s one-year old daughter got sent home sick from daycare.  Momma and Lexi were similar in a lot of ways.  Momma was easier to deal with and was less likely to have tears, but Lexi was far easier to scoop up and bring along.  That evening Amber, Ryan and Riley went off to a wedding in the mountains, leaving me alone with mom and Lexi.  I was so overwhelmed.   Dinner alone was crazy with Lexi wanting whatever I had not offered and mom eating slowly drinking some white wine. 

Finally, I got mom and Lexi asleep.  I was sharing a double bed with mom to be sure she didn’t get up and wander during the night.  I think I got seven minutes of sleep, spending the last three hours or so on the floor next to the bed.  When Jordyn crowds me in the bed, I simply push her back to her side.  Not such an effective technique with my mom.  I pushed, she stayed in the same place.

We woke up around 5:00 am to head to the airport.  Mom was convinced her husband Jim had come to the house during the night.  I didn’t try to convince her otherwise.  We had stuffed every remaining item in the big suitcase and were way over the 50 pound limit the airline allows.  The bag cost $125 to check.  Almost half the airfare.  Do not overload your bags!! Bring two instead-lesson learned.

The trip was uneventful except when mom needed to use the restroom on the plane.  All those stories of “mile-high” club-don’t believe it.  Mom and I both in the restroom on the plane was close to impossible.  I would also like to say there are a lot of haters (elderly haters) who are incredibly inconvenienced by our slow path. 

Final word on the trip, we had a wheel chair to get her baggage claim but then getting the giant bag and her up to the sixth floor of parking and out to the car took a millennium.  Glacier are formed in the time it took us to get to the car.

We went straight to the nursing home.  I know mom was scared.  She kept asking if we could go to my house instead.  Thank you, God, that I did not decide that it would be a good idea for her to live with me.  I just cannot provide the constant care she needs and deserves.  When we got to the facility the administrator, Brooke, had made a point to come in to be there.  She is a wonderful southern women, very kind and mom took to her instantly.  Lauren, Ally, Jordyn and Kendyll  were there to help move her in and give support.

I think it went as well as it could.  It will be hard.  My mother sees me in some elite status way that I have not earned.  I will do my best for her.  I got home Saturday night and slept the first continuous sleep of many days.  Momma is home.  I did my best.  I hope she is as happy as she can be!