Sweet Summer Dreams

Ahhhh, I can just imagine racing across the snow covered plains, the wind in my hair, the ground thudding beneath my pounding hooves, my friends beside me and the wild, woolly bison scattering before us on the vast, endless, open prairie....

....or maybe soaring around the racecourse, the steeple jumps rising and falling below me, nothing but air passing beneath my hooves and flowing through my mane, keenly flying toward the next and the next, faster than the wind...

...or maybe out grazing on a cool, crisp, Fall morning; the sun so bright, the air so fresh and a little breeze playing with my hair...

...a deer pops into the field and it is a good excuse to leap and buck and run off into the wind, flying, always flying into the wind....

Then again.....maybe I'll just stay here in front of the fan and call it a day.

March Madness

I just couldn't stand it anymore.  Despite the fifteen degree temperature and howling wind I stole fifteen minutes, saddled my horse and went for a ride.  It was a very short, very cold ride but a ride nonetheless. 

Poor Tessa.  There she was, munching hay in the barn, cozy and out of the wind.  Sharing a meal with good company, not having been ridden in months, when a mad woman shows up, throws a saddle on her and three minutes later she finds herself carrying the mad woman down the driveway.  Such a good girl she is, I didn't even brush her first.  She was a bit snorty and twitchy, but made no effort to pitch the fool off her back nor argue with her crazy plans.

I know, it's not the best way to do things.  It's not called March Madness for nothing though.  It was cold, it was windy, it was asking a lot of a young horse who has not done anything all winter.  It was foolish.  It felt so good, I think I will do it again tomorrow.  I will at least brush the poor horse down first though.

A Lovely Conversation

Between hunting season, weather, work and other such interferences, it's been at least eight weeks, maybe ten, since I rode my horse.  Saturday afternoon, we had an all too brief reprieve on all fronts and I decided to take Tessa out for a much needed ride.

This is where Tessa really proves her worth.  She is only 5 years old, her training has been haphazard at best and includes an 18 month layoff after she got kicked.  She hasn't been out of the pasture in at least two months, but I threw my ill-fitting saddle (I still have not managed to resolve that little problem) on her, told the donkeys to be good, climbed aboard and headed off, just her and I, without so much a twitched ear.

 
There may be some gaps in Tessa's training, some of the finer points are still lacking and she would be clueless in an arena, but that is my fault not hers.  I hate arena work anyways.  There may be some aspects of her conformation I am not thrilled with, but she moves easy over any terrain I point her at.  She may be out of shape and overweight, which is also my fault, but you can't ask for much more out of any horse, especially a young one, than to be able to hop on at a moments notice and have a nice ride. 

Tessa is light and responsive, she may not always understand what I am asking yet, but she always tries her heart out.  In those rare, precious moments when we both get it just right, we flow through the woods without thought or hesitation. 

Riding Tessa is always a constant conversation, me asking, showing; her listening, questioning, questing, trying.  Always trying.  We had a lovely, if fairly short, ride in the woods.  We were only out for about 45 minutes as the light was failing and she is not in shape for it, but it was good while it lasted.  Tessa was certainly "up", but never out of control or unwilling to listen.  I just love the way this horse is always ready to head off down the trail, ears up, moving out, willing and eager to see what's round the next bend.  We need to find a way to do this more often.

 

Update #?

I know things are getting just a little too crazy around here when I have to go back and read my own blog posts in order to remember where I left off.  That's where we're at.  However, today is a new day and things are going a bit better.

The vet was out to see Tessa yesterday afternoon.  She could not find any foreign objects in the puncture wound and we are all a bit puzzled as to why this rather insignificant wound has caused so much trouble.  I personally believe that there is a strain of bacteria that has infected the soil in this region that is far more aggressive and resistant to treatment then normal.   I feel that Tessa's reaction and Ramsey's pedal osteitis could be related.  They are in fact only the latest  (and in Ramsey's case most severe) foot problems in a long string of problems that I am aware of in this area in the past three years.  Regardless, Tessa is better today.  She is on the same antibiotics ad anti-inflammatory as Ramsey and she seems to be responding well to them.  I am watching her VERY carefully and if she does not continue to improve I will take other action.

After dealing with Tessa yesterday, I went to Cornell to see Ramsey (and from there to work.  Is it any wonder I can't remember where I am?).  He had another set of x-rays done and they look good.  I have been thinking about this all night and I think that I should try to bring Ramsey home as soon as possible.  The vets were concerned yesterday that he might have been regressing, but the x-rays and other tests show just the opposite.  After spending quite a bit if time with him myself, I think that he is lonely and tired.  While he certainly gets a great deal of attention, he is spending almost all of his time in a 12x12 stall that he is too short to see out of.  Also, the lights are on 24 hours a day and there are people around all the time, checking him every hour.  It didn't really matter when he was so heavily medicated, but now he needs more sleep and he needs companionship.  He needs to get out of the hospital so he can heal. 

I will be speaking the Dr. Walker this evening.  Hopefully, I'll be bringing Ramsey home tomorrow.

The Bopsy Twins

Do you all need a break from relentless cuteness of baby Ramsey?  Have you been wondering what happened to the other equines on the farm?  Honest, I haven't forgotten them and they aren't being neglected too awful badly.

In fact, because of the heat, the bugs, the heat, the humidity, the heat, the drought and of course the heat, they have been quite happy to stand in their breezy, shady shed and do nothing.  I should be doing more to further Gabe's training, but what he needs now is mileage and fine tuning.  Since my schedule mostly leaves the heat of the day open for working the horses, it just isn't gonna happen until the weather breaks.  Neither of us can stand it and the heat and fly stress leads to so much frustration on both sides that it is more likely to do harm than good.  At least, that's what I keep telling myself. 

Besides, Ramsey is growing so fast and he is going to be a baby for such a short time, I have decided to say to hell with all the other "should-be's" and spend my time with him and Emma.  I think it will pay off in the long run.  The lessons Ramsey is learning now will be with him forever and I want to get it right.  Good training and good manners are the best protection an equine can have in this world.

In the meantime the Bopsy Twins are doing what they do best...

They've also heard about last weeks Olympic games and have decided to get in on the action.  They're going to compete in the Synchronized Spots classes.  What do you think, will anyone be able to beat this team?...

Baby Q&A

First, Happy Independence Day!  A little late maybe, but I've been a bit distracted:)

The grazing muzzle is working out quite well so far.  Emma, being the brilliant donkey that she is, figured out how to eat out if it in no time at all so I am feeling more comfortable about leaving them alone for a while.  Maybe tonight I will get to sleep, that would be a novelty:).   I went out last night while it wasn't so brutally hot and completely stripped and disinfected her stall and the rest of the barn, trying to get rid of any lingering odors from the birth.  There was nothing that I could smell, but I am sure she could and I think it may have contributed to her obsessive need to clean the baby.  In the wild, mares and jennets will get their babies up and away from the birthing site as soon as possible because the birthing fluids draw predators.  I think the scrubbing has helped, she seems less anxious about it today.  I guess I should have done that immediately, but I was trying to keep things as quiet as possible for them.  There just never seems to be a clear path to doing the right thing.  I am going to continue with the muzzle for a couple more days and then, hopefully, we will be able to put it away.

A couple of people have asked me what the horses think of all of this.  They have been intensely curious...

but well behaved.  I have been very careful to keep them separate for now.  I was worried that Gabe might think that the baby is an intruder and try to squash him, and he might have at first.  Now he accepts him as just another donkey, which is both good and bad.  He is mostly indifferent to Emma except for when he wants to play chase-the-donkey.  Since little junior here only weighs about 20 pounds as opposed to Gabe's 1200, I think it is best if they just visit from afar for now.

As for Tessa, she is VERY curious about the baby and I know she wouldn't hurt him.  She would, in fact, be very careful with him.  She just might try to steal him though.  Tessa has demonstrated that she has very strong maternal instincts of her own (she mothers Emma) and she would really like to have this baby.  So I think that she too needs to admire from afar....

Another frequent question has been about baby's rather unusual color and lack of any light points.  I can point directly to where that came from.  This is Emma's father and the father of her baby (if you missed the story about how this happened click here)...

I wasn't at all surprised when this baby turned up looking just like dad/granddad.  I'd have been more surprised if he was light colored.  I don't think the baby's color will change all that much, but I don't know enough about donkey coloring to say for sure.  Based on what dad looks like, I doubt it.

And some thoughts about a name...I have had a lot of great suggestions, but at the moment, I can scarcely remember them.  I need a few minutes to read through all the the wonderful comments and suggestions all of you have offered and which I greatly appreciate.  I was so upset yesterday about baby's poor, bitten tail that I hardly thought about anything else.  I also needed to get to know him a little more.  What I know now is that he has a huge personality.  He is absolutely fearless and independent (frighteningly so).  He is very energetic, a playful little devil and also extraordinarily sweet and affectionate.  He has proven beyond any doubt that donkeys are born wanting a good butt scratch and when I hit just the right spot and that tiny lip starts quivering...well, you just might swoon from the shear adorableness...

He even knows how to point out the right spot already...

And then, it's time for another power nap...

Sunday Stills - Blue

The color blue was this week's challenge.  I took these while waiting for the vet to arrive yesterday. 

 

 I know the frisbee is kinda purple, but purple doesn't exist without blue:)

 

  

Updates and Advice

I have talked with a couple of vets today, but still have not managed to get one to come out and check on Emma and her baby.  In all fairness, one of them will come out here, but she does not have the right ultrasound machine to actually give me much useful info.  By her own admission, I would be better getting someone else.  The one vet who does have the right machine has not yet returned any of my calls.

Emma seems to be having episodes of false labor, which are rare but not unheard of in equines.  So far, I am still hopeful that all is well and Emma is working towards delivering a healthy baby.  It may be that the baby is trying to move into the birthing position and because of Emma's small stature, it is triggering the false labor.  If I still can't reach the person with the magic machine in the morning, I will at least have Emma checked by the one vet willing to come out.  She can at least tell me if the baby is still OK.  

Aside from the false labor episodes, Emma acts healthy and happy.  She has a good appetite, still wants her daily scratching and brushing sessions, begs for treats and in general acts happy and content.  All of  which is why I have not yet panicked.  If it comes down to it, I will find someone to truck her to Cornell, but I am not ready to put her through that yet.  I consider it a last resort due to the stress it would cause her at this time.   

In the meantime, Tessa has offered her own advice on how to handle foaling stress.  Actually, Tessa says this is just the way one should live.  I wish I could learn how to follow this advice... 

"Keep your strength up with plenty of good food...

  
Take a nap whenever the opportunity presents itself...

Stay close to good friends...

 

And do your best to SHINE all the time"...

Spring Fever

Never let anyone ever tell you that gaited horses aren't surefooted enough for rough terrain....

Spring Fashions

We're all walking around in a cloud of loose horse hair.  Everything I own, even my "good" clothes has bits of red and white clinging to it and I find horse hair in the damnedest places.  I'd say that one of the things that marks the difference between real horse people and wannabes is that the real horse folk don't bat an eye if you hand them a sandwich that has to do a little shedding of it's own before being eaten. 

In the last few days Emma has gotten in on the action as well and has been adding lots of long, dark hairs as well as soft, downy fluff into the mix.   You won't see her in the picture though.  She had come up to get her share of attention (well OK, maybe double her share as usual), but she wasn't thrilled with the cloud of horse hair that was raining down on top of her.  She decided that she had enough all on her own, thank you very much, and made her retreat.   I'm not complaining though, I love Spring and I like seeing my "new" horse emerge each year.  Tessa is roaning quite a bit and it will be interesting to see just what color she is going to be sporting for the season.  You know how important it is to keep up with Spring fashions after all.

Return of The Swamp Thing

Tanner doesn't like hot weather and he gets overheated easily.  In the summer, I always take him hiking somewhere with water so that he can swim.  Swimming holes aren't available in March though, even with the early Spring we are haveing, they are still frozen or moving too fast.  So, during this crazy, beautiful, wonderful weather we're having, he has to make-do with whatever he can find...

Tessa and Emma have not really started shedding yet and they are feeling the heat as well.  It was 70 degrees and sunny this afternoon and to them, it may as well have been 110 degrees.  They hid out in the back of the barn and I had to sponge them both off to cool them down.  I am loving this weather and I wish it were normal, but it definitely isn't and it is hard on the animals. 

Emma seems particularly bothered by the heat, she doesn't seem to handle extreme temperature changes well.  I am not sure if this is common with donkeys, a by-product of her pregnancy or if she has a unique problem handling drastic changes in temperatures since she doesn't deal well with the cold either.  If this keeps up, I may actually have to get  a set of clippers and help the shedding process along.  Either that, or put in a swimming pool big enough for all of us.  I might just be able to afford the clippers and something tells me that Tanner is going to have to keep making-do with puddles.

A Conspiracy is Hatched

"Hey Ma, we're ready for breakfast"

"If you open this door a bit more you could just lay everything out buffet style.  It would be much less work for you, honest.  You know we're always trying to find ways to help out...."

Emma: "C'mon Tess, you're the big one, can't you get this door open?"
Tessa: "You're the smartest one Em, show me where to push..."

The Duties & Obligations Of A Pasture Ornament

Many people think that becoming a pasture ornament is a pretty cushy job, and here at least, that is undoubtedly true.  The position comes with full-time maid service, fun companions, good food and a generally happy life.  There are, however, some obligations attached to being a good pasture ornament which help secure the position.  To that end, Tessa has agreed to share some pasture-ornament pointers:

It is not only important to actually be ornamental....

One must also be kind to one's pasture mates and look out for their welfare...

 Provide guidance over rough terrain... 

Maintain a high degree of cleanliness and shine even when faced with difficult, muddy conditions...

Offer product testing for your sponsors...

  

Look out for each other....

Don't spend too much time gossiping and whispering...

Be willing to share one's rations...

And lest you think that this job is only for beauty queens, (Lord knows this is not the place for that!) feel free to run around bucking and farting on occasion...

The occasional bit of ridiculousness is OK....

Go ahead and relax, make yourself at home....

And don't worry about having the occasional Bad-Hair-Day....