even if you do regret it later.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Just one bite...
Some days, the craving for a little bite of chocolate....
is just too much to resist....
even if you do regret it later.
even if you do regret it later.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
One step Forward, Two....
Been a while since I updated any of the feet posts. Here is where Lakota was 6/7/13...
and where we were 10/27/13
The photo above is showing some really great progress. The dramatically shorter toe, lower heel, tighter connection and straighter hair line are all great. Unfortunately, about the time these were taken, Lakota managed to break through the fence separating him from a massive trove of windfall apples and he came up rather ouchy with warm feet and strong digital pulses. All not-so-great things.
As a result, I think we lost a bit of ground, not a lot because we got on top of it very quickly, but the tiny sliver of concavity in his sole disappeared. Here is where he was 12/21/13...
In spite of that, there is some positive news to share. We have made some significant changes to all of the horse's diet in the form of a custom mixed mineral supplement that I have put together and we have seen dramatic improvements in just a few weeks. I think you can see it in the top 3/4 of an inch. There is some nice growth showing there that began almost to the day of the nutrition changes.
In my last update, I also mentioned using dental impression mold to stimulate frog growth and it sure does work. If you look at the two photos below, you can see what I mean. The photo on the left shows a very weak, thrushy, diseased frog that is painful to thumb pressure. Amazingly, it is actually a significant improvement compared to what it was back in April. These poor quality, painful frogs have been plaguing all of the horses and are at the heart of nearly all the hoof problems we are dealing with. They are one of the main reasons I have been working on nutrition so obsessively. The only way to have healthy frogs is to grow a healthy frog. The only way to do that is through diet and proper stimulation. Which is where the dental impression molding comes in. I hope that you can see that the frog on the right is much improved. It still has a looong way to go, but it is much stronger as is the entire back half of the foot.
7/20/13 10/27/13
12/21/13 I think that if we can ever get that very deep crevice at the back of the foot to grow in, we will finally start seeing a much more functional foot. Healthy movement is what grows a healthy foot.
and where we were 10/27/13
The photo above is showing some really great progress. The dramatically shorter toe, lower heel, tighter connection and straighter hair line are all great. Unfortunately, about the time these were taken, Lakota managed to break through the fence separating him from a massive trove of windfall apples and he came up rather ouchy with warm feet and strong digital pulses. All not-so-great things.
As a result, I think we lost a bit of ground, not a lot because we got on top of it very quickly, but the tiny sliver of concavity in his sole disappeared. Here is where he was 12/21/13...
In spite of that, there is some positive news to share. We have made some significant changes to all of the horse's diet in the form of a custom mixed mineral supplement that I have put together and we have seen dramatic improvements in just a few weeks. I think you can see it in the top 3/4 of an inch. There is some nice growth showing there that began almost to the day of the nutrition changes.
In my last update, I also mentioned using dental impression mold to stimulate frog growth and it sure does work. If you look at the two photos below, you can see what I mean. The photo on the left shows a very weak, thrushy, diseased frog that is painful to thumb pressure. Amazingly, it is actually a significant improvement compared to what it was back in April. These poor quality, painful frogs have been plaguing all of the horses and are at the heart of nearly all the hoof problems we are dealing with. They are one of the main reasons I have been working on nutrition so obsessively. The only way to have healthy frogs is to grow a healthy frog. The only way to do that is through diet and proper stimulation. Which is where the dental impression molding comes in. I hope that you can see that the frog on the right is much improved. It still has a looong way to go, but it is much stronger as is the entire back half of the foot.
7/20/13 10/27/13
12/21/13 I think that if we can ever get that very deep crevice at the back of the foot to grow in, we will finally start seeing a much more functional foot. Healthy movement is what grows a healthy foot.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The Hardest Lesson
Do you remember, a while ago, I mentioned that Ramsey had acquired a juvenile delinquent behavior of pawing at the feed room door hoping it would make breakfast appear faster? I usually deal with these kinds of things by pointedly ignoring it and only offering up the feed dish when it stops. It generally only takes a few days for even to worst case to start getting the idea.
Despite the fact that Ramsey is maybe the fastest learner I have ever worked with, he just wasn't getting this concept and it wasn't because he didn't understand. He just didn't want to stop doing it and spoiled baby that he is, couldn't get past that. He likes digging holes. The digging does seem to be a donkey thing and the crater he was making in front of my door was reaching epic proportions. His pawing was starting to turn into less a demand for faster service and more of an obsessive compulsive thing similar to weaving or stall walking. He would do especially if he got frustrated by something.
For example, Emma quit feeding him months ago, but poor baby Ramsey would very much like to still be nursing and even now, he still tries on occasion. Emma is having none of it. It has been quite fascinating to watch because the poor kid just can't understand why his mommy won't feed him anymore and he keeps trying new and different approaches, hoping one will work. He has run the gamut from sweet and wheedling to pitching temper tantrums to sneaky, stealth attacks. Nothing works. He even tried to kick Emma once. That definitely didn't work! When he just can't stand the frustration of not getting his way he runs around bucking, kicking and braying or...he digs holes.
I guess it could be worse, but this is not a habit I want to encourage or ignore. This spoiled brat behavior is understandable given his history, but even little miracle babies have to have manners. So, a couple of months ago, I introduced a new frustration into his life. At breakfast time I tie them both and make them wait until I have everything ready.
And it's not like Ramsey hasn't had tying practice before....
He's just never had to stand tied and WAIT for breakfast before. The one thing this very acepting, willing baby can't abide is being left out and he feels very left out when he is tied up, away from the action. He has now just about run the gamut here as well. Including whining, wheedling, pawing, kicking and whatever else his clever little mind can dream up.
I have to admit though, that his latest strategy of warbling at me, does get me every time. And Emma...wise soul that she is, has stood quietly watching all along and now she has figured out that the warbling cracks me up every time and is starting to join in.
Despite the fact that Ramsey is maybe the fastest learner I have ever worked with, he just wasn't getting this concept and it wasn't because he didn't understand. He just didn't want to stop doing it and spoiled baby that he is, couldn't get past that. He likes digging holes. The digging does seem to be a donkey thing and the crater he was making in front of my door was reaching epic proportions. His pawing was starting to turn into less a demand for faster service and more of an obsessive compulsive thing similar to weaving or stall walking. He would do especially if he got frustrated by something.
For example, Emma quit feeding him months ago, but poor baby Ramsey would very much like to still be nursing and even now, he still tries on occasion. Emma is having none of it. It has been quite fascinating to watch because the poor kid just can't understand why his mommy won't feed him anymore and he keeps trying new and different approaches, hoping one will work. He has run the gamut from sweet and wheedling to pitching temper tantrums to sneaky, stealth attacks. Nothing works. He even tried to kick Emma once. That definitely didn't work! When he just can't stand the frustration of not getting his way he runs around bucking, kicking and braying or...he digs holes.
I guess it could be worse, but this is not a habit I want to encourage or ignore. This spoiled brat behavior is understandable given his history, but even little miracle babies have to have manners. So, a couple of months ago, I introduced a new frustration into his life. At breakfast time I tie them both and make them wait until I have everything ready.
And it's not like Ramsey hasn't had tying practice before....
He's just never had to stand tied and WAIT for breakfast before. The one thing this very acepting, willing baby can't abide is being left out and he feels very left out when he is tied up, away from the action. He has now just about run the gamut here as well. Including whining, wheedling, pawing, kicking and whatever else his clever little mind can dream up.
I have to admit though, that his latest strategy of warbling at me, does get me every time. And Emma...wise soul that she is, has stood quietly watching all along and now she has figured out that the warbling cracks me up every time and is starting to join in.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Super Special Limited Time Offer!
I finally have a DancingDonkey calender made and available. You actually have TWO choices (I know, I know, the woman who can't abide shopping making you choose, but there is a good reason. Keep reading to find out.). The first choice is to go here or click on the picture below (which I hope works) to buy a calender directly from LULU.com. If you order before 12/10, use the promo code FREESHIP to get FREE shipping. I think this includes international shipping (for you Dougie Donk!), but I won't swear to it as I couldn't find anything on the website. Maybe someone from across the pond can try it out and let me know? This calender costs $14.99, which covers the cost of the calender and gives me a couple of dollars to apply to my second offer, which is below the picture.
The second choice is a limited edition, limited TIME, special offer. This is basically the same calender, but it will be personally signed by Ramsey himself. How cool is that?!
So, OK, in the spirit of full disclosure, I did have to help a little and this signature is a tiny bit out of date. You see, I had meant to do something like this last year, but then there was the whole near-death-experience and surgery and sleep deprivation and all that so this went by the wayside.
Because of all that, this is actually Ramsey's baby foot signature. I did a tracing of his foot way back when and then I hand carved a signature stamp....
All celebrities have personal assistants and use signature stamps right?
Anyway, here's how this works: This calender costs $20 (which includes shipping) and the extra $5 from each one is going to the Donkey Sanctuary. I know there are a lot of rescues out there who could use the money, but I am only one and can only do so much at any given time. I am doing this because I would like to help out, but what I can do alone won't amount to much. I would love to send each of you a calender just for reading this and the support you have shown me, but I can't do that either. I hope that this way, everybody wins a little bit.
I chose the Donkey Sanctuary because they have been very helpful to me personally and I believe deeply in one of their main goals, which is to provide education about the care and treatment of donkeys. From my own experiences, I know that ignorance and misunderstanding are what account for most neglect and abuse. The donkey Sanctuary is a true wealth of information and support for donkeys the world over. If you would like to help them out directly click here.
The second choice is a limited edition, limited TIME, special offer. This is basically the same calender, but it will be personally signed by Ramsey himself. How cool is that?!
So, OK, in the spirit of full disclosure, I did have to help a little and this signature is a tiny bit out of date. You see, I had meant to do something like this last year, but then there was the whole near-death-experience and surgery and sleep deprivation and all that so this went by the wayside.
Because of all that, this is actually Ramsey's baby foot signature. I did a tracing of his foot way back when and then I hand carved a signature stamp....
All celebrities have personal assistants and use signature stamps right?
Anyway, here's how this works: This calender costs $20 (which includes shipping) and the extra $5 from each one is going to the Donkey Sanctuary. I know there are a lot of rescues out there who could use the money, but I am only one and can only do so much at any given time. I am doing this because I would like to help out, but what I can do alone won't amount to much. I would love to send each of you a calender just for reading this and the support you have shown me, but I can't do that either. I hope that this way, everybody wins a little bit.
I chose the Donkey Sanctuary because they have been very helpful to me personally and I believe deeply in one of their main goals, which is to provide education about the care and treatment of donkeys. From my own experiences, I know that ignorance and misunderstanding are what account for most neglect and abuse. The donkey Sanctuary is a true wealth of information and support for donkeys the world over. If you would like to help them out directly click here.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thankful for...
A sturdy, comfy barn.
The helping hands and good company of friends...
including all of you reading this. I am humbled, amazed and very thankful for your company.
A cupboard that is never bare....
The love and trust of true family
The occasional ride with a good horse.
and a good friend.
A handy coat-rack when one is needed.
The beauty of small things...
and the ability to go out and find them.
A warm house...
Good health...
an occasional moment to relax...
and baby donkeys who always make me laugh.
I am even trying, very hard, to be grateful for snow, which is much better for little donkey feet than mud. I am not sure it is working, but I'm trying.
Truly, I am trying....
it's just going to take a lot more work:)
The helping hands and good company of friends...
including all of you reading this. I am humbled, amazed and very thankful for your company.
A cupboard that is never bare....
The love and trust of true family
The occasional ride with a good horse.
and a good friend.
A handy coat-rack when one is needed.
The beauty of small things...
and the ability to go out and find them.
A warm house...
Good health...
an occasional moment to relax...
and baby donkeys who always make me laugh.
I am even trying, very hard, to be grateful for snow, which is much better for little donkey feet than mud. I am not sure it is working, but I'm trying.
Truly, I am trying....
it's just going to take a lot more work:)
Happy Thanksgiving.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
A Definition
Winter Wonderland:
a. A fictional version of a beautiful, snowy landscape often filled with images of fun and frolic in fluffy, white snow. This Winter Wonderland exists only in fairy tales and the minds of the truly delusional.
b. Wondering, wondering, wondering if the car will actually make it home.
c. Wondering, wondering, wondering why, oh why, do I live in Winterland?
a. A fictional version of a beautiful, snowy landscape often filled with images of fun and frolic in fluffy, white snow. This Winter Wonderland exists only in fairy tales and the minds of the truly delusional.
b. Wondering, wondering, wondering if the car will actually make it home.
c. Wondering, wondering, wondering why, oh why, do I live in Winterland?
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