Author Archives: Exechorseluver

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About Exechorseluver

A writer and horse lover (animal lover) at heart. With a few year's exception, I have mostly worked outside the animal field. I am pretty good at what I do. But at the end of day, I want to be with the horses, cuddle with the dogs and sit quietly as the sun goes down with a cat on my lap. Spending time with my family and especially my grandchildren is number one for me. My little farm gives me a perfect life.

One Hundred Days-a Bruno Story

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!05 days ago!

105 days ago!

One hundred days have now gone by.

One hundred days since Bruno walked into the Texas A&M surgery suite and limped out.

One hundred days of being imprisoned in a 12 by 14 cell.

Bruno's custom stall (cell).

One hundred days of pain, of blood, of boredom and of faith.

One hundred days of trust, that his owners were doing the best thing for him.

One hundred days-of smells of great rains and smells of new spring grass.

One hundred days that have felt like a million and yet flown right by.

One hundred days of bandage changes and new shoes.

One hundred days of fresh shavings, constant food and water from his favorite girl, Lauren.

One hundred days of ups and downs.

One hundred days without a change watching the world from his window.

One hundred days of healing, of rest, of ease.  No race track bustle here.

One hundred days of growing stronger, growing brighter, growing hoof.

One hundred days broken up by a few trailer trips to A&M and an emergency trip to the local vet.

One hundred days of sameness but one night lost forever to a bad drug reaction.

One hundred days that nearly didn’t come.

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One hundred days of jolly balls, salt licks and a true best friend in Mr. Kid.

One hundred days of photos with friends and family.  Of becoming an icon.

One hundred days later, the new hoof re-grown, almost competely.

One hundred days later, being one X-Ray away from being ridden again.

One hundred days later the dream still alive that this big OTTB will once again storm across the pasture.

One hundred days later still convinced that he will soar over the jumps and win some blue.

One hundred days later, we are weary but encouraged.

One hundred days from now where will we be?

One hundred days further-travel along with me.

Come back, big guy, come back!

Come back, big guy, come back!

And things change

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Life is an ever evolving thing at Six Meadow Farm.  A week ago Mickey was attacked in our pasture by an “unknown assailant”.  He is healing.  He is as Jordyn says “tore up”.  But at this point we seem to have warded off infection and all the bites, scratches and cuts are healing.

Mickey and Bruno went to the vet this afternoon.  Mickey for some routine stuff and a check on his injuries.  Bruno, to have his stitches removed from his injury on March 4th that was re-stitched during his trip to Texas A&M.  That is one injury, with its casts, and wrappings that I am very happy to see healing well.  His front hoof, the old bad hoof, is looking great.  Time goes on.  Healing takes place.

We decided against the purchase of a donkey at this time.  I just can’t deal with one additional thing right now.  Hated to let Jack go, tho, I think he would have been the perfect donkey.

Lauren working with Kona (Watch me!) during obedience class.

Lauren working with Kona (Watch me!) during obedience class.

Tonight Lauren  took over as Kona’s trainer in obedience classes.  I saw the orthopedic surgeon last week and he decreed immediate surgery to my right shoulder.  I am scheduled for a rotator cuff repair (four times is charm-I pray) next Tuesday morning.  Have you ever heard of anyone having four repairs to the same shoulder?  But it is so hard.  Each time it is repaired the shoulder is a little more fragile but my work on the farm is no less strenuous.  Last time, I tore it (I believe) reaching up into the Christmas tree.  This time, I believe it tore completely simply reaching my arm up over Leo’s head (yeah, that was awhile ago) to put on his halter.  So, I have been careful.  And I will be ever so careful this time as I ride the road to shoulder re-hab this final time.  I do not think it will take another repair.

Amother dog in obedience class showing his owner love during play time.

Another dog in obedience class showing his owner love during play time.

Amber (the nurse practitioner) will come in next week to help out with my care.  All my girls will be there as I go into the operating room.  It is nice to have their support.  All the grandkids will be here so that will be a welcome diversion as well.

_____________________

Jordyn called me early this morning to tell me-THREE DAYS UNTIL PIN OAK, GRANNY!!.  She is so excited.  We are down to the final details now.  Packing her things to be sure everything  from bows to boots are clean and shiny for her trip in the ring.  Caitlyn will be leading Ky while Jordyn rides.  I think this will allow for a great chance for success as Ky knows and trusts his owner, Caitlyn.  Caitlyn is actually wearing a dress.  We have tried to get Lauren to step up but her dress selection seems limited to sun dresses or prom dresses and neither seems very appropriate.

I am scrambling to get a million things done before I am side-lined.  Please say a prayer for me.  Thanks for riding along.

Getting Ready for the Show

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Leadline-done right! Lauren should be sporting the hat and dress.

Leadline-done right! Lauren should be sporting the hat and dress.

We are less than a week away from Jordyn’s biggest horse show of all, the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, which has been held in the Houston area for almost 70 years.  It is a charity show with proceeds going to Texas Children’s Hospital.

For many area equestrians, it is the cherry on the top of sundae.  Lauren has shown and competed for many years in Houston and only once has had a horse worthy and ready for Pin Oak.  She will not have a horse at the show this year.  First, although certainly a worthy cause, it is still expensive.  Along with expensive, I am a bit of a gambler by nature and I want the odds in my favor.  Not only do the riders pay more for the privilege of showing their horse at the great Pin Oak show, but because of its inherent popularity, more riders want to come.  The classes are huge, so the odds of being the very best or the very fastest are lower.  This is also why a Pin Oak ribbon is valued above all others in Texas.  It says you have ridden against the very best and come out ahead.

Included the multiple week’s activities are International Hunter Derbies with prize money of $10,000 and the biggest draw of all, is the Grand Prix pulling top national and international riders with the promise of $25,000 in prize money to be won twice during the show.  It is the grand-daddy of all the Texas shows.

Okay, so you get it.  It is a big, exciting show.  I am more than a little delighted to have a family member participating this year.  I wish Lauren and Feather or, goodness sake, Lauren and Big Bruno were making their way through the entry gate but I am quite content and thrilled for it to be my oldest granddaughter, Jordyn who will hear her name called out to the packed crowd on Thursday night.  I am thankful that our friends, Kathy and Caitlyn, have offered up an all-star mount for Jordyn to ride.

In this contest of little skill and a lot of pomp and circumstance, the pint-sized rider is dressed as a miniature equestrian with all the trappings of a pro, including jodhpurs, boots, show shirt, tiny wool tailored jacket and black helmet.  The horse has its mane and tail braided elegantly and its coat is polished like a new penny.  Nothing is left undone, including polish on the horse’s hooves.  Every piece of tack from bridle to the inner pieces of the tiny saddle are saddle-soaped, oiled and polished to gleam in the evening lights.  The handler (Lauren) is outfitted in either a fancy dress and hat (which we have already ruled out) or their formal hunt garb.

The fancy bows (they are about a 8-inches long) that Jo will wear in her hair!

The fancy bows (they are about a 8-inches long) that Jo will wear in her hair!

When the class is called, the rider will enter the arena mounted on their fancy horse or pony, led (thus the leadline) by the handler.  At no time, is the little rider allowed off on their own and it should be a sedate but touching sight with the little ones all dolled up on beautiful horses.  The pairs parade around the ring a couple times and magically there is a tie between all riders who then collectively win blue ribbons!  Adding to the fun for us, is that Caroline and her daughter, Abby, also five years-old, are joining Lauren and Jordyn.  Abby will be on her beautiful white pony, Princess.

Tomorrow with Jordyn, we will go to the Equestrian Center where the horses are already stabled and showing in the event, so we can be sure her saddle fits correctly.  I know Jordyn is beyond excited to be part of the big event and can’t wait to meet her partner.  As you can see from the picture above, there is a whole color coordination thing going on, so Ally has been on a hunt to match the bows that will be in Jo’s hair come Thursday night.  We will have some matching zebra ribbon braided into the horse’s mane so he and Jo are a united front.  If only I could get Lauren to wear her hair in pig-tails with bows to match.  How great would that be?

There are always tales, almost horse show folk lore, about things that happen in Leadline classes.  Ponies with one foot in the grave, quiet as a mouse somehow can become electrified under the lights.  I am hoping for a nice, calm trip for all the little riders.  I did hear a story once of a little boy whose mother was way more into the whole Leadline thing than he was (I can’t imagine that!).  During the time while they were lined up for the judge, the little boy quietly slipped off the other side of the horse and headed out of the arena.  I don’t think that will be an issue with either Jordyn or Abby.

If you are out near Katy, Texas early Thursday evening, stop into the big arena and watch these two little girls earn their first Pin Oak blue ribbon.  I bet it will be the first of a future at Pin Oak!

Protection?

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We have had the wild dogs attack and kill our cats.  Now, Mickey has sustained numerous injuries at the hands (paws, claws) of something.  I do not have a big property, just six acres.  While we are out in the country with a sparse population spread across farmland, we certainly are not out amongst the ‘big spreads’ of ranching Texas or the 1000 acres of midwest farmlands.  I expect some deer, coyotes, foxes, and other ‘wild’ life but except for the domestic dogs gone wild incident we have not had any real issues with wildlife.

Apparently, I do now.  Or I might.  Which really is almost as bad.  I do not know, nor will I ever, exactly what happened to Mickey.  But I feel I must take some action to prevent a repeat of what he has endured.

Does this look scary to you?

Does this look scary to you?

So, I looked around to see what my neighbors have used to keep their livestock safe.  The answer is donkeys.  Seriously.  I talked to my friend and vet this morning.  She urged me to get a donkey.  I said “Mickey will be mean to the donkey”.    She countered with “Mickey is in no shape to mean to the donkey!”  I must concede that is a good point.

In researching the donkey as a protector thing, I find much has been written on this subject.  Apparently, it is not so much that donkeys know they are ‘guard donkeys’ but more they come to associate themselves with their herd (be it cattle, sheep, goats or horses).  Many donkeys dislike (hate was a word used in an ad I read today) and are aggressive toward dogs, coyotes and foxes and provide indirect protection for other domestic animals.  Donkeys have exceptional hearing, a keen nose  and excellent vision.  They can use all these senses to detect intruders to their pasture.  They will bray, bare their teeth, chase and attempt to kick and bite.  The downside is they may also chase deer, bears (that is okay with me), strange livestock, humans and other intruders in a similar fashion.

Now, if there is some monster cat hybrid thing slipping into my pasture at night, I doubt the donkey would fare any better than Mickey.  But I bet the neighbors and I would hear the attack.  I can hear the neighbor’s donkey braying a couple of miles away.  The article I read also stated they are best suited to protection in small, level pastures.  Well, that is exactly what I have.

My vet, Lynn, told me not to get attached to the donkey.  If they get sick, founder (hoof problem) or other ailments, you do not treat them like a horse (no, driving to A&M with the donkey!). She told me I could find them for free or little money on Craig’s List.  She was right.

There were many ads to choose from offering whole families of donkeys.  Apparently, people get donkeys and they breed like cats. Donkey birth control must not be an emphasis for most ranchers.   Everyone’s ad said they had too many.  I was attracted to the ad for the nine year-old gelding (a male that can’t make babies) who was halter broken and would load in the trailer. I thought the trailer loading aspect would be a good perk as well.   I think Lauren and I will go see him on Saturday.

I was not interested in the “three donkeys-you catch-you haul” ad although located closer to my home.  I had visions of Lauren and I racing around a pasture being chased by crazy donkeys.  And if we did manage to catch one, trying in vain to get a braying, kicking, teeth baring animal in my nice trailer.  No thanks!  Some of the ads showed really cute mini donkeys, but I think if the point is protection, size is important.

These two are free but must stay together. Looks like trouble!

These two are free but must stay together. Looks like trouble!

Lauren and I will discuss it some more.  But I think a pasture protection donkey is in our future.   Do you think they make signs that say “this pasture is protected by a Donkey Alarm System“?  This should be the start of all kinds of new stories as we learn how to handle a donkey with our herd of horses.

We have a date with this full size donkey named Jack on Saturday. Bet he comes home with us!

We have a date with this full size donkey named Jack on Saturday. Bet he comes home with us!

Happy Monday Lauren!

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Just a sample of Mickey's numerous injuries.

Just a sample of Mickey’s numerous injuries.

Monday started off early (it was not bright as it was still dark and would be for about three more hours).  Megan needed to be at the airport before 6:00 am. She and I left the house about 4:30 or so.  Meanwhile, Lauren had agreed to feed the horses in my absence-except she would get to go back to bed!

Feather and Mickey have been spending nights out in the pasture as the weather has warmed up.  I have been pasturing horses out at night for over five years, weather permitting.  Feather was waiting at the gate but Mickey was tucked deep in the run-in shed.  Mickey’s number one favorite thing in the whole world is food.  If he is not up for breakfast, something is wrong.

Lauren got Mickey up to the barn.  At first, she thought he had somehow gotten tangled up in the fence.  His nose was bleeding and he had scratches down his side.  But examination of the fence ruled out any problems.  When the sun came up a few hours later, Lauren realized she was looking at bites.  Mickey had animal bites on  his nose and his legs. He had deep puncture wounds up his inner thigh and into his groin area.  His back legs were stocking up rapidly. The scratches looked like something with big claws had raked its way down his sides.  He was moving like an old man.

This is all puzzling as it would be unusual behavior for dogs or coyotes to attack a strong, big, male horse.  Feather did not have a scratch on her.  I don’t know if a pack confronted them last night and Mickey stood up for Feather or what happened.  Occasionally, this part of Texas gets a bobcat.  But seldom do bobcats even attack goats or sheep, so going after a horse would be very unusual. Talking with the vet, they tell me they have seen both bobcats and mountain lions get pushed by civilization into this area of Texas.  I can’t believe that. I do not think I have a big cat preying on my horses.   But I have seen Mickey so I am going with he was attacked by a wildebeest.  Seems as possible as anything.  He will be a long time healing and infection will be an issue.  We got him started on antibiotics, gave him a tetanus and rabies shot.  We are giving him something for pain.

Biggest concern is what caused this and will it happen again.  Obviously, the horses will not go out tonight but what will we do after Mickey heals and the summer nights are upon us?  My neighbor is armed with his rifle.  I hope we get some answers.

Both Kona (the poodle) and Gia (the Yorkie) had belly aches and were off to the vet Monday morning.  Turns out for Kona at least, he had ingested too much arena sand playing ball with Jordyn and I this weekend. It is like a sand colic for a dog.  The vet wanted to know if he had been to the beach.  No, just playing ball in the arena.  Every time the wet ball drops to the sand and Kona picks it up, he swallows sand as well.

Lauren also finally caught the orange cat, JP, who has been limping around on three paws for some time but has eluded capture.  Mickey needed to join this trip to vet as well, but that would leave Feather by herself at the barn (she can’t see Bruno) and we knew that would not be a good plan.

Lauren got to school late after dropping the three animals off at the vet and found out she was considered absent.  Her professor told her she would have to drop the course for having three absences.  Is this college or what?  It was not going well for Lauren.

Back home, Lauren changed Bruno’s bandage and Mr. Kid took that opportunity to roll in the warm sand.  But he didn’t get back up.  Lauren waited and Kid stayed, stock still on his side.  Based upon her day so far, she figured Kid had finally died.  By the time, Lauren got to him with a halter, he hopped up and headed over to stand by Bruno’s stall like nothing had happened.  I think it was “animal be mean” to Lauren day.

By early afternoon, she was back at the vet to pick up Kona and Gia who were over their stomach ailments.  JP, apparently had been bitten by a snake or another cat, and they had to surgically doctor his leg, as long as he was under he was neutered as well.  No wonder he has been avoiding the trip to the vet.

She brought home lots of shots, ointments and antibiotics for Mickey and got him as comfortable as possible.  I went off with Kona to my first obedience class at J-Canine in Rosenberg.  I have known the owner, Joni, for years, in fact did training with her with my Doberman before.  As I walked in, she asked, why the standard poodle?  I knew she was a huge Doberman fan (as am I) and I was prepared to defend my poodle.  But she simply said, “I’ve always wanted one!”.

Lauren got Bruno out for a walk while I was gone (probably not safe) especially with how our day has gone, but Bruno did not rear or run, just stood by her side in early evening light.  Happy Monday, Lauren!  You made it!

Wind

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Six Meadow Farm sits in the middle of south Texas farmland. Planting corn has begun in the surrounding fields. On warm spring days, a constant across my front porch is the pounding wind. It has been dry and dust blows up in funnel clouds.

Lauren and Megan are still enjoying their spring break extravaganza. So far, been to the Houston Rodeo twice, spent a few days in Galveston (which neither girl knew was an island-embarrassing I know) and now are off for the weekend at a place called ‘Mud Buddies’ to play on four wheelers.

Jordyn has gone home. I took Lula, the dachshund, to the nursing home to visit mom. Mom could care less about the dog but was happy to see me. I have been to Wal-Mart. Groomed Bruno and Kid. Even got new books at the library. Yes, people still check out books.

So, what is left for me to do is outside. I need to work on my flower beds. I need to spread some grass seed in Bruno’s paddock so he will have lush fields when he finally goes out. But the wind is gusting over 35 miles per hour and I just don’t want to.

I think I will hang out in my room with my dogs until it is time to feed dinner. Some days are just meant to be like that. I will blame it on the wind.

Spring Break on the Farm

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Jim sent his love back to momma via a text message.

Jim sent his love back to momma via a text message.

momma 0313

Mom was all dolled up and wanted to send her love to Jim.  We sent a text message with the picture attached.  Quickly Jim sent her a text back with his love and a current shot of him.  Gee, 95 and 88, respectively, using all the current tools.  Crazy.  Glad to see them both looking so good!

Lauren and Megan headed back from Galveston Island today and picked up Jordyn on the way home.  The weather was beautiful and it was a great afternoon to spend on horseback.  While Megan was riding Mickey and Lauren riding Feather, Jordyn enjoyed playing ball with new dog, Kona in the arena.  I figured it was good for Feather to have a ball-playing dog running around the arena.  And I was proud of Kona as he stayed focused on the game and never offered to chase or bother the horses.  The biggest surprise was when little miniature dachshund Lula decided she wanted to chase the ball as well.

Jordyn waiting her turn to ride and playing ball with the dogs.

Jordyn waiting her turn to ride and playing ball with the dogs.

11After the girls got their rides in-posed here with Feather-it was time to change Bruno’s bandage for the first time since the return from A&M.  I had not seen the newly stitched new hurt hoof.  It looked good and was much less swollen.  Lauren got both hooves re-bandaged and took Bruno out for his first walk with her since December.

Jordyn, acting as the vet tech for Aunt Lauren!

Jordyn, acting as the vet tech for Aunt Lauren!

The re-stitched new hurt hoof-but looking good!

Last night when I was home alone, I got the great idea to take Bruno out for some fresh green grass.  I had texted my friend Caroline and told her I was taking Bruno out for a walk and if I did not get back to her in 15 minutes-call Life Flight!  Well, I did not last even five minutes.  As soon as Kid started neighing for Bruno and then Mickey picked up the chant, Bruno started cantering in place and trying to bolt away from me.  Honestly, if this 1300 pound animal had wanted to bolt he would have, and I would have been left standing (maybe) in the pretty green grass.  With my heart beating a million miles an hour, I sternly walked Bruno back to his stall as he continued to try to dance out of my grasp.  Epic failure-but at least I got him safely back to his stall.  I texted Caroline back-‘never mind’ .  She thought I had not even gone out, instead I was out and back before she even started to worry about me.

Bruno looking out over the fence with his bandaged up feet.

Bruno looking out over the fence with his bandaged up feet.

Jordyn just got the exciting news that she will be riding in the biggest horse show in Texas-Pin Oak-courtesy of Kathy and Caitlyn!!

It is so exciting and Aunt Lauren will be with her as she enters the arena. For a brief period, due to the formal nature of this horse show, Lauren thought she would have to wear a dress to lead the horse in.  Now, that would have been worth more than even Jordyn’s debut Pin Oak ride.