Sunday, September 7, 2014

Careful continues to have problems with her back legs. Butte seems to help.  Back left is locking up more and more.  She is in heat so is kicking at the geldings, not good.  Everyone continues to drink pretty good.  It's so darn hot here, we are monitoring water intake day and night.  Hope is such a smart filly.  Fancy acts up a little when I lead Hope around or correct her, but that's to be expected from a good Momma.  Hope is such a good filly, not only is she adorable, she learns so fast.  It is a lot of fun working with the babies.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

While not horse rescue related, today is a very sad day at SCR.  Today we had to make the very difficult decision to have OJ, our barn dog, laid to rest.  While it is never easy to make that decision, my experience with Andy taught me an important lesson.  When Andy was colicing, at 1am Doc B said he only had 10% chance.  I was supposed to call Doc if Andy showed any sign of discomfort.  Doc had sedated him heavily and if anything was going to help him untwist his intestines it was being sedated this strong.  I woke up every half hour through the rest of the night, which I will never regret.  I checked on him faithfully.  He was up and down.  He would show some signs of hope, but it was clear the pain was too much for him.  I keep hoping the next time I came out he would be ok.  I prayed for any sign, he peed and I wanted that to say he would be ok, but his laying down and pacing told me I knew he would not recover.  Finally at 5:30 I went out, he was down.  It was light out then and I saw him covered in sweat, he looked tired, his eye told me he was done.  I called Doc.  I pet him and prayed in those next 20 minutes he would rebound.  I cut his mane for Freddie to have but could not cut a lot in case he turned around I didn't want his mane to look funny.  My mind knew he was done, my heart prayed he would come around.  Looking back he should have been laid to rest at 1am.  The 10% was for me, not really for him.  With OJ I could not keep him alive for me.  I took him on one last run with the mule, gave him one last good meal, and then said goodbye.  As hard as it is I won't keep that 10% for me ever again.  It's not fair, its selfish. I won't be selfish again!

Friday, September 5, 2014

My boy Nilo is losing weight.  He is about 21 years old and is starting to show his age a bit.  Nilo has been in my life longer than any other man or animal.  I saw Nilo be born when I was 15 years old.  I will have to have Dr. B come out in the next week or two.  I tried Soybean pellets, but they are not making a big enough difference as quickly as I would like to see.  He is such an important boy in my life I am hoping it's just him needing his teeth done and nothing bigger than that.  Penny is extremely attached to my boy, and him to her. Their bond is incredible.  I will keep everyone posted on Nilo's progress.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

As I have hard days professionally and personally; it is this rescue that get's me through.  Every morning when I go out to the barn, Dream, Red Hot, and some others always call for me.  Knowing how much they love me makes it all worth it.  I am probably closer to them than anyone.  They bring me joy and sometimes heartache, but their love makes it all worth it.  I have a special bond with each and every one of them.  It's funny how even the foster horses become part of the family so quickly.  I look at other people who use and abuse these amazing animals and just can't imagine.  There is nothing I wouldn't do for each and every one of them! Feeling overwhelmed and blessed at the same time...

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

All of the horses are doing good.  Everyone is drinking enough water, it's still pretty hot here, so water intake is monitored daily.  Anyone who isn't drinking as much as they should get's electrolytes.  Our barn dog, OJ Mayo went to the vet with an injured leg.  X rays were done and our boy has bone cancer.  He is 6 years old and a Pit bull/ Mastiff mix.  We rescued OJ after someone had stole him from under a fence scaring his back for the rest of his life.  My hotel was in pr opening and he was just a pup. OJ bonded with Kahlua after Jordan passed and they were insuperable until she passed a year ago.  OJ is unable to use his back leg.  Amputation is an option, but would be hard on him and only buy him a couple months.  We will keep him comfortable on pain meds as long as we can.  This is the hardest part of rescue, dog or horse, they are all our kids!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Careful Thought's leg is bothering her today.  She is a kicker and not only has old injuries, but recently had stitches and extensive vet care from getting her leg caught in the fence kicking at the back pasture horses, and now that she is in heat she is really going after the geldings.  Nothing a little Butte won't help, no need for the vet we always have some on hand.  All medication's cost money, but the horses welfare is of utmost importance.  Horse rescues aren't cheap to operate if done right, but the rewards they bring us are priceless. With 20 on the farm, someone is usually either on meds, a special diet or something.  We manage their care individually, no one is just a number, they are all special individuals.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Happy Holiday.  Lazy day here at the farm.  Everyone is doing well and drinking enough water with all this heat.  Something cool did happen today.  When we get new horses in they have a lot of emotional and physical damage a lot of the time.  With halo he had been thrown into a large pasture with many other horses, he eats very slow and was not the high man on the totem pole.  He had bite marks all over his entire body and was entirely too think probably a 5 on the scale.  When they get food they go after it and can't think of anything else, they are not sure when the next meal will come.  It takes them a while to realize food comes twice a day no matter what. Well today Halo walked away from his food to see the other horses.  This is huge.  It means he knows the food will be there.  Proud of my boy! Glad to know he will never be hungry or hurt again!