Just Call Me Crazy!!

Just call me crazy, because surely I must be.  Today I did the unthinkable.  The preposterous.  Today I bough a new horse.  *cough crazy cough*  No it's not your eyes - you indeed did read that correctly.  

There I was at Jason Hanson's minding my own business, watching him ride Roxy and visiting with his wife Chrissy.  When he dropped the bomb.  He mentioned he was unloading a bunch of horses he doesn't touch at an auction this coming weekend.  We had been talking about Whiskey and how my dream of breeding her was coming to a screeching halt.  And he just had to mention a brood mare.  A fairly well bred brood mare he took in on partial trade for a show horse.  

And then there I was out there looking at this mare.  And I kinda liked the look of her - a lot.  Off we went to lunch where I turned it over in my head.  Do I need another horse?  Not so much.  Can I afford to buy a horse at this point of vet bill hell?  Not really.  And then Jason pushed me over the edge.  He said I could just take her home and pay for her later.  Say what?!!  Ye gads!!  

So I am the proud new owner of a green broke brood mare by the stallion My Own League (cutting earnings here in Canada), who has some other big names on her papers including Peppy San Badger.  Jason hopped on her today.  We figured she had about 4 years off.  He had been told she had 8 months of training.  (Not true - we figure about 2 or 3.) After a minor bucking fit she settled right in.  She doesn't know much but she's willing and quiet.  Plus the baby she threw this year is fabulous - well put together and good minded.  *Her registered name is Peppys Royal Boon.*

I've left her at Jason's for him to put two weeks of miles on her and then she comes home.  I'm kind of excited.  This is going to be my horse to play with and to make my mistakes in the cutting pen on.  I know I'll end up selling at least one of the horses I have but I'll wait to make any major decision until the summer.  

One Door Opens When Another Closes

It appears a new adventure is in store for me.  One I'm not entirely sure will end up in success or of frustration induced tears.  Both of my sister-in-laws are pregnant, with one due within the week.  Once the news came out about the babies I felt deeply moved to do something special for them.  Something more than purchasing cute clothes.  Something with meaning.  

As a child my grandmother gifted us children with handmade patchwork quilts.  I wanted to do something original like that.  One of the parents at my school makes knit toques (wool hats) in cute designs like pumpkin patch or strawberry patch.  They are priced reasonably ($20) so these little hats will be one of my gifts.  I love original one of kind type things.  But I've continued to be tormented by what else I could do.  I treasure my quilt from my grandmother and I wanted something these children could have as adults and treasure.  A keepsake.

Making a phone call to some of my friends I found a lady that owns a quilting supply shop.  My friend thinks she'd be happy to make my quilts.  When I told my mom my plan her face turned into wrinkled worry.  She cautioned me to check prices first.  I assured her I would.  Then she planted the seed.  She looked at me and said with studied casualness, "You know I could teach you how to make them."  My mom in her day has been a very talented seamstress.  As a child she made many of my clothes.  My mom, however is going blind and this makes things like sewing or fine needle work a bit of a challenge these days.

With massive vet bills my finances are tighter than healthy these days.  Making my mom's suggestion very intriguing.  Is this something I could do?  My fine motor is on the questionable side courtesy the chemo side effects.  But I live in a dreary long winter region and this would make a fabulous evening project.  

I've been at a bit of a crossroads lately.  A mini midlife crisis if you will.  And doing something special, something with meaning has major appeal to me right now.  I'm a bit worried I won't have the attention span to see my project through but I'm going to try!  With the help of my mom and some quilting friends I'm stepping way, way out of my box and trying something new.  I'm going to make my little babies each a handmade quilt!  

The Bomb

Dear readers, some readers may find this post offensive, in poor taste and immature.  If this is you, please stop reading.

Growing up with three brothers has prepared me or toughened me in ways only someone with brothers can understand.  Anyone with siblings can understand the various and creative ways a brother (or I suppose sister) can come up with to torment the other people within the family.  Being the younger sister (I have two older and one younger brothers.) I was put through trial by fire.  Literally.  

Living in a testosterone flooded house often led to things that boys find hysterically funny that girls often just don't "get".  One of these things was the joy of the fart.  Why and how a noxious body smell can be hilarious I just haven't quite figured out.  I will admit to having an unnamed girlfriend who suffers from "rotten butt" and has no shame around it (bless her heart).  But for the most part, farts and girls just don't go together.  The vast majority of women I know try to keep any body sounds and smells a dirty little secret.  My brothers took great delight in doing things like pinning me to the ground and farting on me.  Torturing me with stink.  My childhood has long since passed but tonight I received a refresher.  

While outside playing with the dogs I had noticed Reba's dish had been cleaned up.  Blaming Joey, I re-fed Reba and put them up for the evening.  It was not until I was cozily ensconced on my couch that a different culprit became clear.  Or should I say smelled clear.  Tessa, who has allergies, is on a different brand of dog food than the outside dogs.  Tessa, who normally is only able to steal a bit here and there had a wicked cloud of stench following her.  

At first it was only a slight nosy twitching scent.  And then it became horrifyingly clear.  Tessa had the toots!  After a particularly virulent one I kicked her outside hoping a trip to the facilities would help clear the air.  I genuinely thought it worked as there was a blessed nostril peace of air occurring.  

Often during quiet times Tessa and I like to have a snuggle.  There she was sitting happily on my lap when the unimaginable occurred.  I felt a strange vibration on my belly.  I thought it was a little odd but didn't know what caused it until the dead rodent smell wafted upwards.  

Tessa farted on me!!

I'm still not over the trauma.  Let's just say it'll be a long time coming before I let my dog sit on my lap again.  

*shudder*

Queen of the Barnyard

Moxie is the undisputed Queen of the Barnyard.  She has taken to riding Whiskey - to the water trough, around the corral - all with a look of undisputed glee on her furry face.  You would think Whiskey would have some objections to the fur ball on her back when she is sans blanket but it doesn't seem to faze her.  

My favorite part is when the cat looks down at the dog with a clearly superior and mocking expression.  The cat seems to be saying "Don't mess with me, I've got horsepower!".  The dog meanwhile does the head tilt.  You can just see Joey wondering why the world seems so topsy turvy.  

One night I tried to pull the cat off the horse to switch blankets only to have the cat grab on.  Tonight while treating Whiskey, the cat scaled the panel beside us and leaped onto the back.  I received a classic cat dirty look when I tried to remove her.  As I rubbed the lotion into Whiskey's skin the cat sat and watched with intense tail twitching interest.  I half wondered what the horse would do if the cat pounced onto my hand.  A wreck in the making?

The cat and the horse seem to be fast friends.  The horse even watches her step when the cat is running between her legs.  Tonight trying to lead Whiskey from point A to point B was an exercise in patience as she wouldn't move until she saw the cat.  Yes, she actually moved her head, looked in the direction of the cat before taking a step.  Is the horse aware enough to "watch before she steps"?  Something to ponder on a winter's evening.

Snowy Sunday

With delightful soft white flakes gently falling, I had to make some plans for my poor bald Whiskey.  Worried about the cold and frost bite I put her in the stall *erhm, shed* yesterday.  While not heated it would protect her from the wind and wet snow.  Sam had said I could begin blanketing her as long as I alternated blankets everyday.  Lovely plan, one problem.  My winter blankets that fit Whiskey were sent into a local shop to be cleaned and repaired.  They are finished, however every time I drive into town the shop is closed.  

Doing some creative problem solving I figured out if I put my fitted wool cooler on first - it's a bit small leaving her bum hanging out - layering a cotton sheet next, putting the winter hood on and attaching it to the sheet, finishing with her summer rain sheet for all weather protection on top, she would have some warmth and snow protection.  Meaning I could release her from jail during the day and bring her back in at night.  So this morning I began my trial run.  

And rather quickly realized my extra large hood was too small!  I could not attach any of the head attachments.  Thank goodness my mom is a superstar seamstress.  Explaining my problem she has lengthened the straps so I can make it fit.  I'll already have to purchase another hood (this one will be headless) and really didn't want to buy two as it's not an item I use often.  

While Whiskey hangs out in her rustic house she's found a new friend.  When I went out this afternoon I was startled to find Moxie (the cat) sitting on her back, both of them happy as could be!  I ran back into the house to grab my camera.  When I snapped the shot Whiskey moved forward, the cat walked up her neck and leaped off the poll of her head to land on the wood support of her "stall".  I knew Whiskey was quiet but I really didn't think she was this quiet!

I've attached some pictures.  The first one is a look at one of her nasty bald patches.  The next two are of Whiskey and Moxie.  I tried to get a picture of the cat walking up the neck but my camera was too slow!

         

The Results Are In

Sam called this morning with Whiskey's biopsy results.  At this point in time I'm not entirely sure if I'm relieved or anxious.  While some things were not particularly definitive, there is enough to confidently say she has some kind of low grade allergy.  Sam explained that in dogs it's very common to see recurrent skin infections, so it stands to reason horses wouldn't be that different.  The other thing is there were trace amounts of fungus but because she had been so inflamed the tests didn't work particularly well.  The revised treatment plan is to treat her with Imaverol (not sure on the spelling there) which is often used to treat things like ringworm.  In addition, Sam will do some research into a long term treatment plans.  It may mean some messing around with drugs and steroids.  

Because Whiskey has been such a stellar horse and I had been trying to breed her I asked if this could be genetic or hereditary.  Sam said there hasn't been much in the way of research done on the topic it is likely something that can be transferred.  Being the type of person I am if there is any question of potential complications I won't breed her.  Even though she meets all the other criteria:  great disposition, athletic, trainable. 

On that note, I had stumbled across a broodmare for sale on Kijiji.  While the mare is not broke she has pretty good bloodlines.  So now I'm on the fence trying to decide if this mare would be a good purchase.  I'm not sure if I can give up my dream of breeding my own performance horse, even though I know there are tons of babies for sale and people need to have very good reasons for breeding to help reduce the glut of unwanted horses.

What do you think?

My Vet Rocks!

My vet rocks!  While I fully and completely don't appreciate having more vet bills I do appreciate the fact that I can call up the clinic, speak directly with my vet and have space made for my animal to be seen.  

On Sunday, I went out complete with latex gloves to check Whiskey's gross pustules.  And let me tell you they rank up there on the gross scale.  (I'll try to get home in daylight to catch some pics.)  When I went to pull on them huge, oozy chunks of hair came out.  Leaving behind angry looking bald patches.  Let's just say this is not normal!  Deciding not to treat her as my normally calm quiet horse was giving me the white of her eyes when I touched these things, I made an internal note to call the clinic on Monday.  

Sam, my superstar vet doesn't work Mondays but I left a message (with the receptionist) and when I didn't hear back I called the vet tech today and within 15 minutes the vet was on the phone with me.  Within 2 minutes of talking she decisively told me to bring her in when I can and they would make time for me.  So as soon as I was done work, Whiskey, Tessa and I hauled butt into the clinic.  

One glance at the nasties and Sam was grabbing a biopsy kit to get samples to send out to the lab.  There are a few concerns.  One being that Whiskey has some wacky autoimmune disorder which can manifest in skin lesions.  Another that she has a rare version of ringworm (before the cream it didn't resemble ringworm in any shape or manner).  And the final that she has an allergy to the medicated cream.  Whoooo Hoooo!  Call me lucky!  When your vet agrees that they're gross you know they're truly nasty!

We should hear back by Friday from the lab and hopefully we'll learn something definitive from them.  Sam agreed we shouldn't touch them until we know what's going on.