Whew! What a week!

It's been a busy week here at DHF! It started last Sunday evening, when Ziegy come in VERY lame on his right hind. I put him on bute and limited turnout, thinking maybe it was just a stone bruise since he's such a tenderfoot. It did not improve and I began to suspect it might be an abscess. I called the vet on Tuesday and she agreed with me. She had me soak his foot in epsom salts and warm water for a few days and scheduled to come see him on Friday.

In the meantime, Esther was having trouble with Doc at home. He had a lot of discharge from one nostril so Heather (vet) went out to see him. She put him on antibiotics and pain meds. On Thursday Doc had blood coming from his nostril so Heather suggested Esther bring him back here and she would look at him on Friday when she came for Ziegy. Doc arrived Friday morning, he now had pus coming from his nostril.

The good news is that Ziegy's abscess opened and he was feeling much better by Friday. Even better - it is at the top of his heel bulb and I don't have to pack/wrap it at all!!!! Ziegy is still limping a bit, but is back on regular turnout with the big group and he's very happy.

Heather scoped Doc with her cool little mini-camera on a tube and didn't find anything conclusive. She then took x-rays, quite a few because even sedated Doc didn't want to hold still! The x-rays showed some issues with his teeth. He has one with a broken root, and at least that one (and possibly several more) is infected. The infection is draining through his sinuses and that's why he has the discharge. Esther and her folks had a trip planned for this weekend - thru Tuesday - so Doc stayed here. Esther got her friend Becca to come twice a day to give him his meds, one less thing for me to deal with! Doc has had ups and downs since he's been here. It's hard to get him to eat, so I've been soaking his feed and adding peppermint, molasses, whatever works! It's a lot easier for him to chew the soaked feed with his sore teeth. Doc has decided he REALLY likes Petrucchio and he hangs out by the fence with him all day.....

Now, back to Thursday. Rosy and I headed to the barn to get ready for dinner. Before I even opened the gate I could hear galloping hoofs at a distance and coming closer. I waited a minute and Autumn appeared down past the round pen, galloping toward the barn, fully tacked up with no rider! She came right to me, she was breathing hard and VERY hot so I knew she had been running for some distance. (Turns out it was a couple of miles.) I put her in her stall and took her bridle off. Then I checked the sign-in sheet and Gail had written were she planned to ride. Rosy and I jumped in the truck and headed out to look for her but before we even got out of the driveway a car pulled in. A very nice man had stopped, picked Gail up and brought her back to the barn. She was limping and holding her right wrist. I offered to take her to the hospital but she wanted to drive herself home and have her boyfriend take her. I asked her to please call me when she knew what was wrong, and in the meantime, I'd take care of Autumn. (The pic is Autumn showing how very flexible she is!) She said Autumn had not done anything wrong, she slipped on a wet patch and fell on her right side and Gail came off. It took quite some time to cool Autumn down, and she had just a few minor cuts/scrapes on her right front and hind. Gail called the next day from the hospital where she was going in to have a plate put in her right foot/ankle!!! It was broken along with her right wrist! We are all hoping she heals soon and can come back to the farm...

On Saturday, a new boarder came in. Her name is Starlight and she belongs to Tracy (or Tracy belongs to her depending on your point of view!). Starlight is a gorgeous 7 year old, blue roan Missouri Foxtrotter. She's very sweet and has already started to make some new friends as you can see from the photo of her and Ziegy above, and Sparkie, Blackberry, and Starlight below. I am sure you'll be hearing more about her in the future. We are looking forward to riding with her and Tracy!

On Sunday, we had an invasion of turkeys. Here are just a couple out with Tapper and Dolly - one outside the fence, and one sitting on the fence above Tapper's back Also below, a really pretty mushroom growing on a tree in the pasture.....

July!

Hi Everyone! I know, I know.... it's been a long time since the last post, but summer is a busy time on the farm (actually there is never not a busy time on the farm!). We've been riding a lot - yea! We've also been trying to get a lot of work done around the farm, Esther has been around to help out but will be leaving soon, and Carla of course is always a big help!

Cousin Mary visited for a few days (George dropped her off and picked her up), and Mary got some quick lessons in barn chores! Unfortunately, she didn't get to ride on this visit - next time! - because Blackberry decided to colic, BAD! It was very scary, and we all (even the vet) thought we were going to lose her, but after a long night she pulled through and so far is doing well. Carla, Jim, and Mary were all here to help and the vet was here twice that night. I think it was seeing Jim that turned the corner for BB, soon after he arrived she gave a little toot from behind and was up and walking and feeling much better! Between that and the regular chores, Mary and I just didn't have the energy to ride.

Dolly has been having some allergy issues and was on steroids for that. That's much better now. She has also been having some itchy problems on, around, and under her tail. We are still working on that....

Esther brought her horse Doc over for a few days. We rode Thursday morning (me on Dolly, Esther on Doc) and he had his teeth done Thursday afternoon. The boys - Scooby, Scotty, and Jazz had their sheaths cleaned while the vet was here and Autumn had a recheck visit for a shoulder injury 3 weeks before. She got a clean bill of health!

Friday Gail, Carla and I rode, Gail has been taking lessons from Kate almost every week and that's made a huge difference in her riding, it was a great ride but I forgot my camera!

Saturday Carla, Esther, Esther's mom Lynn and I rode, and Sunday Carla, Esther, Jean and I rode. On Saturday, Carla and Esther decided to switch horses toward the end of the ride so Carla got to try Doc out, she liked him! It's been extremely hot and humid so we've been riding early in the day to beat the worst of the heat and bugs...

Ziegy (with Carla in pic) has been having some on and off lameness in his right hind. I don't know if he got a stone bruise or if it's something else. He's on bute right now and limited turnout, hopefully it will clear up soon.