Jaida and Her Foal

Well, unfortunately things did not go well for Jaida and her foal. As I mentioned in the last post, both of them had many problems and they both kept adding more each day. The foal lived for just one week, he was put down late Thursday because he was in a lot of pain - he was just a very sick little boy. Jaida was put down today. She coliced and that in combination with all her other issues meant she was in awful pain.

Both horses had the best care possible. Amy and her husband Paul were up day and night feeding the foal through his feeding tube, and caring for both horses. Heather (the vet) did an incredible job dealing with all their many issues, but it just wasn't meant to be. In their time with Amy and Paul, these horses had more love and care than many horses have in a lifetime. Jaida had a relaxing, caring retirement home for the last months of her life and the foal had the best possible care for his short life. It is so very sad to lose a horse, but it helps to know that you have done everything possible for them.

Jaida and her foal are buried side by side under the apple tree by Amy's barn.

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It's been a busy time. Carla and I were able to get in a short ride on Saturday morning (I rode Jazz - he was good!). Other than that we have not ridden. The pic on the right is Ziegy making faces because we took Jazz and not him!

I have been spending a lot of time at Amy T's barn helping with her mare and foal. You may remember I introduced you to Jaida in a previous post and asked you to think good thoughts because she had a high risk pregnancy. Well she had the foal - an adorable little boy - and she didn't bleed during delivery, but since then both mare and foal have had multiple problems. Jaida has a uterine infection which is being treated, but she also is foundering, probably due to all the stress. The foal has just had one problem on top of another and right now things are not looking good for him. He's a cutie, but he's just not responding well. Jaida is in a lot of pain from the founder and we are not too sure what her prognosis is at the moment. It's very difficult, and sad, and Amy is (obviously) having a really hard time with it all.

On a lighter note, Kathi rode Cami in the round pen last week. I brought Deja down and let her graze outside the round pen so Cami would have her buddy near - can you say "buddy sour"??? Dolly and Tapper both looked on from the pasture that surrounds the back of the round pen. Cami did a good job in the pen, Kathi was pleased with her.

Carla braided Dolly's mane on Sunday to try to keep her cooler. So far Dolly has only lost one braid - I thought she'd have them out quicker than that!

What's Happening on the Farm

It has been a busy week! Bruce was here Monday and Jazz and Ziegy both got front shoes! Now they won't be ouchy on the dirt roads!!! I showed the barn/farm to 2 prospective boarders, if they decide to move here you'll see more about them in later posts. Esther was home this week and she visited on Wednesday, then came and rode on Thursday and Friday. Thursday Esther rode Jazzy and I rode Tapper. Jazz did great! He wasn't ouchy at all and he was not afraid of anything. He responded well to his new bit and didn't seem to mind it at all. He led the whole way except one little section in the woods. We cross a stream on a log bridge and he wasn't too sure about that, so Tapper led the way and then he followed her right over. He was a VERY good boy!!!

On Friday Esther rode Ziegy, Carla rode Dolly, and I rode Tapper. They were all good. Ziegy is wonderful in the woods but there are a lot of things he is not too sure about on the road. He's great with traffic, but things on lawns, funny looking parked things (like farm implements), those kind of things make him nervous. He is just not used to them and once he has been exposed to enough things I don't think he'll have any problems. The 3 of us took turns leading and all the horses did very well. For now, Ziegy and Jazz can not go out on a ride together because they both use the same saddle. Jazz's new saddle should be here by mid-July!

Carla had a lesson on Ziegy on Thursday. I think they are a good match. Carla is calm and relaxed and that is what Ziegy needs, and Ziegy is VERY responsive and that's what Carla needs! (Sorry Dolly - we all love you anyway!)

Cami has settled in nicely and she and Deja get along fine. On Friday it was very hot and sticky and the flies were bad so I brought the hose out and sprayed toward Cami. If she didn't like it she could easily avoid it but she loved it!!! She went right in the water, even stuck her head under the spray! It must have felt good! Of course once she was all wet she HAD to have a good roll.....

There has been a lot of wild life around lately. Today it was turkeys and deer. Rosy tried to chase a ground hog today too, but I didn't let her. There have been a lot of them around, I see them all the time but I haven't been able to get a photo.

Emma visited with Rosy today at the barn. They had fun!!!

The Latest News....

Well my new horse finally has a name!!! He is "All That Jazz", aka: Jazz, Jazzy, Snazzy Jazzy, Jazz Man, Mr. Jazz, Jazzy Boy, etc., etc!!! He has settled in just fine and seems to be enjoying having big pastures to run around in and Ziegy to hang out with. Jazz and I have been working on several things. He now crossties, and lets me fly spray him. He seems to enjoy being groomed and even let me comb out his mane and tail (with the help of lots of Cowboy Magic!). He is getting better at many things, but we are still working on standing still to be saddled and mounted, and going where I want him to go at the speed I choose (he likes having his own way). I changed his bit to a full cheek snaffle with a slow twist, which helped a lot,and have since ordered a new one which should help even more, it's a double twisted wire snaffle. He seems much more responsive and easier to steer with the new one. It looks like a nasty bit, but since I ride with a loose rein it doesn't hurt him but it is there if I need it! He catches on quickly so I expect more improvement every time we work together.

Scooby has been getting around OK since he lost his shoe a couple of weeks ago. Bruce comes tomorrow and will put front shoes on Jazz, Scooby, and maybe Ziegy, and front and hind shoes on Tapper and Dolly. Deja doesn't get shoes, and Cami has her own farrier. Scooby and Jazz both have nice new leather halters, now I need to see about getting a fly mask big enough for Scooby!!!

Yesterday Carla and I went for a short ride around the property and on the road. The flies were awful and it was VERY hot and humid. I rode Tapper and Carla rode Ziegy! She and Zieg got along great and he was a really good boy! She also fell in love with his saddle - all my horses have treeless saddles - it's very comfy for both horse and rider. After the ride she took Ziegy out to hand graze for a while. He really enjoyed that! Tapper and Dolly were in the pasture by the road and Carla took Ziegy over next to them. He ignored them, all he cared about was the grass!

Deja and Cami are buddies now. I put Cami out with Deja, Tapper and Dolly, but Cami is EXTREMELY herd bound and really went nuts when we took Tapper and Dolly out to ride. Since Deja is not ridden, and if she goes out it's only for short walks or to the round pen for exercise, I thought she would be good for Cami to bond with. They are getting along great!




































Carla and I weighed and wormed everyone yesterday. We got baseline weights on Jazz (1111 lbs) and Cami (1064). Tapper weighs 1049 lbs, down about 50 from this winter. Ziegy is 1174, down about 15 lbs. Scooby is impossible to weigh, he's off the charts so we just call him 2000 lbs and that's close enough! Deja went from 916 to 861. Dolly is the success story of the year!!! She is 1598, down from 1720 this winter and 1924 when she first arrived last August!!!


































We have had a lot of rain and the grass is very high. Those of you who know me know I hate to mow!!!! But the lawn is getting out of control and the dog yard is crazy. The grass is as tall as Rosy out there. Sadie and Echo disappear! I don't know when it will get mowed. I have paddocks to rake and clean, fences to fix, lots to do and I can't do any of it while it's so wet! A few dry days in a row with temperatures below 80 would be nice!!!



















Today I put Deja and Cami out on the hill behind the barn, and next to Scooby. Cami and Scooby did a little squealing over the fence but then ignored each other. Cami wasn't too sure about Petrucchio, she had to study him for a little while before she decided he was OK. She seems to like being out with Deja and she didn't even notice when we took Dolly and Tapper out for a ride!!!











Carla and I rode over to Jean's and met up with her and Pepper. Then we rode together around Massey Rd and Dutton District before going separate ways when we reached Brockways Mill Rd. Dolly was feeling pretty pokey today for some reason, but we kept up a pretty good pace for the most part. I think we were out a little over 2 hours. We had a very nice ride ( Jean made it home safely too!). I helped Carla wash Dolly's tail and then she cleaned her up a little before turning her back out with Tapper. It's looking like we are in for more rain this afternoon and tomorrow it's supposed to pour all day (great day for the farrier to come!).