Pony in a Pasture



Princess (who still has a swollen spot on the outside of the left hind) eatting grass in the pasture with the rest of the herd. She wants nothing to do with them. Nothing at all. One of them, who is the SWEETEST boy EVER, was trying so hard to be her friend. The whole herd was over eatting grass and Dollar (I think that's his name) looked up and saw her by herself, and walked over to her. Denali, Denali was unimpressed. I tried telling her that he was being nice, but she just turned her butt towards him, and went back to eatting some grass.





Dollar, being rejected by Ms. Denali Slew. :(  She was standing at the gate when I showed up, and standing at the gate when I left. I hope that she decided to wander around and explore. I don't think she feels really well. When I was leaving the barn she was standing at the gate nickering at me, and I of course being the mature adult that I am started to bawl. I hate having her so far from me. I know it's the right place for her, but I hate that I can't make it out everyday.  



Surprise!

My wonderful, amazing husband shocked the hell out of me last night. He had planned a surprise party for me, and I didn't have a CLUE! I usually pride myself for my ability to figure out what is going on, and usually am pretty good at figuring out what is going on.

Not this time.



Vote for me!



We met a friend of mine for dinner, and I thought something might be up, but it was so low key and normal that I figured, "nah," plus my hubby as been so busy taking care of my broken self and our broken horse that I didn't think that he would have time to buy me a card, much less plan something.

Enough about me, I'm still technically 29 until Tuesday.

The vet sent me a text message last night that Denali did well with the two horses in turn out, but during the initial excitement she took a few neurological steps. Sigh. I know it's hoping for a lot, but I would really love to have a horse that is able to be ridden. That's down the road and I'll pray for that once she's healthy. For now I am happy she's alive still.

Today I got a taste of how parents must feel when they see their kid being ignored or teased. I went out and bought grain and beet pulp and then drove out to see Ms. Slew. She was turned out in the arena with two other horses. They were pacing the wall of the arena looking out towards the pasture where the other half of their herd was. They didn't give Denali the time of day. She didn't even look at them either. Denali stood at the gate of the arena the entire time I was there. For a while the little horse with the broken neck was laying down sleeping (talk about freaking me out, I've NEVER seen a horse sleep that deep EVER.) Denali was standing there near the pen watching her sleep. I think that little horse is her buddy, but it's hard to tell.

I was feeding Denali a carrot when one of the other TB's (Seriously, all 3 of them match) came over. For the first time EVER, Denali left food and me when a horse came up. She wasn't happy about it, that's for sure.

I drove our truck over and sat and watched for about half an hour to see if she'd interact with them at all. Nope, nothing. She stood there watching the little grey mare (with the broken neck.) I felt bad leaving her today. She didn't seem very happy. I think it will be better when she is turned out into a pasture. Her front left looked a little swollen, but I'm not worried since the vet will check it tonight and wrap it if she thinks it needs wrapped.

Wednesday starts the voting for Smartpak! Don't forget

Hilarious

So if you're on Facebook and "like" Smartpak then you may or may not know that they are having a contest, "What were you thinking when you wore THAT to the barn?" The winner gets something... I don't quite remember what it is, but yesterday I figured what the hell, I'd include this photo of my 5 year old self (Note: Things haven't gotten much better, but now I wear a helmet and boots.)

I woke up today and found out I'm a finalist! I'm pretty excited, but this means I will probably drive you crazy next week when they have the actual voting. It amazes me that my parents would let me on a horse when I was little without a helmet. About .3 seconds after my parents gave me the reins to this little guy, he took off at a dead gallop into the woods. I don't remember it happening, because I was 5, but I do remember turning him around and coming back out of the woods with him. I started riding lessons not too soon after (always with a helmet.)

Also, Denali must have gotten a cell phone!! :) She sent me a text message last night and a picture of herself. The caretaker may have hurt my feelings, but I love that she's sending me pictures of my babypie.

Vet Update

Have I mentioned I love Denali's vet???

She left me a voice mail that the swelling is gone in Denali's leg, and it was probably just a contusion. She said at first she thought it was a bowed tendon (which would make sense because that's our luck) but that it looks normal again and she isn't wrapped. 

She said that my theory as to why Denali got sick, and then subsequently made such a recovery is plausible. She also said that Denali has been on Dyno Booster since arriving (which boosts the immune system.) That would make sense to me. Whatever, I'll take it.  

Tomorrow my little girl is going to be introduced to another horse. She hasn't been turned out with another another horse since last April, and even then she would chase Ophelia around with sticks. We'll see how this goes. I'm so nervous about her getting turned out.



Denali around humans (unless you're a massage therapist who doesn't listen)





The place where Denali is located is beautiful!! The pastures are perfect! They are big with 5 boards and hot wire. There is gravel by the gates and lots and lots of grass to nibble on. I know Denali is going to LOVE it. I just hope she is able to play well with others. The vet thinks that her mare is more dominate than Denali. I've been trying to explain that Denali is sweet and innocent around people,but put her in with another horse and she turns into a wolverine. She is vicious, bossy, and plain rude. That's part of what the vet wants her to learn, how to be a horse. As far as we know Denali was with her mom in Kentucky and sold as an 18 month old where she came to Seattle and was kept in a stall. She doesn't really have "horse manners" and doesn't know how to act around other horses. This will be an exciting adventure. I'm just hoping that when I show up on Saturday she's not chasing any of them around with a stick.



Denali with Horses (or if you're a massage therapist who doesn't listen)



I saw him on the Fugly Blog a few weeks ago (he's adopted now, duh! How could you pass him up??) Isn't he just the cutest thing ever! I've never seen a Thoroughbred who was colored like him, have you?  I was in love and wish that Denali needed a brother (well, I wish I won the lottery so that I could buy her a brother.)

Never Trust a Horse With Hind Legs

Ponykins Side View

There's Princess!!

Notice her front left? Sigh.... if it's not one thing it's another. Luckily, her medical chart is on her stall, so I was able to NOT drive the Vet crazy and just read it. The file said that she was swollen on Monday, but no lameness at the walk/trot. It said her left hind started out sound, but after 10 minutes of walk/trot she was lame (3/5 on what ever magical scale they use.) That made me sad, but it's only 8 months after her suspensory tear. I'm hoping that it heals.

Then I read the next part, "No neurological signs" I did a little skip and a jump. Yay!! I've been doing a lot more reading on EPM, and got a really interesting e-mail from one of my readers. It also mentioned that horses who were treated for EPM (even if "cured") should never be given a 4 way vaccine. That the body is recovering from EPM and the neurological symptoms can show up again stronger. Something like that, but regardless she's doing so SO much better!!

While I was there the caretaker came out. I introduced myself as Denali's owner and she went on and on about how much she loved Denali and how she was SO, SO sad that we were going to put her down and she didn't understand why.
Really.... Why??

Yes, she's looking great, she's sound doing better. I'm sorry you weren't there when my horse lost control over all four legs and took a nose dive into the arena footing. I'm sorry that you weren't there when we hand walked her and she seemingly had no control over her whole body. I'm sorry that you stayed up at night because you were so upset.

How do you think my husband and I felt?? Do you think that we WANTED to put Denali down? Do you think I wanted to lose sleep (and 12 pounds, thanks Denali) for weeks because I knew something was wrong? No, never. We worried, we cried, we were sick. Then we were sick when she was "fine" and the only reason she was still alive was because it snowed.

She made me feel really bad. My trainer came out with me and made me feel better. She saw Denali fall, she saw her wobble around, but still. I'm a good horse owner and she made me feel that we thought Denali was just a machine that we get rid of when she can't "perform." Oh well. I'm over it.

We groomed Denali up in the arena. I scrubbed the gunk from her face (thanks Uncle Jimmy's) and started to groom her up. I asked my trainer to old the lead rope because I didn't want to get kicked. Then she gave me the best advice ever, "I never trust a horse with hind legs." I don't know why I laughed so hard, but I did.

I brought Denali and her new "friends" a 25 pound bag of carrots. We were totally out of treats (we fed everything to her before Thanksgiving because we thought we were losing her.) I sat the bag outside the arena, fed Denali a carrot, and then walked over to say hi to the horse with the broken neck. Denali tried to lift the entire 25 pound bag of carrots up with her teeth then she noticed that I was petting another horse. SO NOT OKAY!! It was hilarious! My mare threw a FIT! She came flying over to where I was standing and threw her head into my arms. Ha, affectionate? No, but she defiantly had only child syndrome and GOD forbid if I show any other horse attention.

I hope to get out to see her on Saturday again. It took me 2 hours to get to the barn, and an 1.5 hours home. That's fine, I am just glad I still have my girl.

Welcome December

December is one of my favorite months. My birthday, my brother's birthday, Christmas, Belsnickle (at least the memories make me smile), and a 2 week break from work (and hopefully this time I will not be broken so I can enjoy it.)

One thing I haven't mentioned on here is that I have a few horses that I'm going to be riding. When I thought I was going to be losing Denali, I couldn't sleep. I would sit up at night, most of the night, and just think. My back hurt to bad to lay down, and my mind couldn't quite running. My husband and I have invested everything (emotionally and financially) in Denali, so there will be no replacing her. Not anytime soon. However, I wasn't sure I could survive not having a horse to love on.

One late night I ended up on Craigslist (where I usually peruse the poor horses who have BYB as their owners). I came across an ad for a horse for lease. The horse sounded perfect for me, and I figured I'd e-mail. What could it hurt.  The world is a small place. It turns out the ad I replied to was for the horse I ride at the Giant Warmblood Barn. The woman I work for is amazing. I truly want to be like her when I "grow up" (even though she's only a year older than I am.)

She was wonderful. We talked about leasing, and riding this particular horse. Then she mentioned Pete.   Pete is a Thoroughbred. He's HUGE. He might be the biggest TB that I've ever met. I LOVE HIM. One of the first times I worked at the barn I walked out into the pasture to collect expensive ponies when her 5 year old 18 hand (I kid you not) Dutch Warmblood came CHARGING at me. Pete came charging too, ran in front of me just as this other horse was approaching, looked at him and pinned his ears and chased him away. Pete saved me and it was love. Pete's owner is busy and doesn't get out. Pete needs ridden and is recovering from some lameness issues and needs some light work done. Pete's owner asked me to ride him, and I'm excited.

After Ms. Denali's Thanksgiving Miracle, I stopped and talked to the owner of the Giant Warmbloods. I explained that I couldn't afford to lease her sweet ponykins. Money doesn't seem to be the problem, he just needs ridden too, and right now she doesn't have a working student.

So now, I have 2 horses to ride, 1 horse to do ground work with and Denali to figure out what in the hell is going on. I wish I had better skills, and more confidence in myself as a rider. I explained to someone the other day (Pete's owner actually) that not too long ago I use to consider myself and intermediate rider. I would ride almost anything and had very little fear (but I was never stupid.) Buying an 4 year old OTTB will really make you re-evaluate your riding skills. I'm now a VERY cautious rider, and still don't know how to deal with a spooking horse. I freak. I have 0 confidence (hence the blog title.) The two horses I'm going to start riding are lesson horses, bomb proof, and I'm sure it will be good for me. Now it's just a matter of balancing work, Denali, ground work with the other mare, and then finding time to ride the other two horses. I'm not going to start riding until January, so at least I'll have a slow start.

Welcome December (be nice!)