April 16 - A new "Journey"

has begun.

We went car shopping tonight. Bought a 2009 Dodge Journey.



Traded of my "piece of crap" Saturn Vue.

It is Dodge's cross over vehicle. It has lots of cool things...coolers in the floor of the back seat, a cooler above the glove compartment, a flashlight in the very back. A third row of seats that fold flat. It also has back seat temperature controls.

Very nice and comfortable too.

Weird weather

This is the temp changes here this week. On Monday, we were wearing
winter jackets, gloves and hats...temp was around -15 C in the morning
and got up to 0 - +4 or so. It stayed like that until Thursday when
it only dropped to around -5 and the temp raised to +9. Friday was
really nice - temps got up to +13. Then yesterday it was BEAUTIFUL.
When I was coming home from the city, the thermostat in my car read
+23!!! We were outside in t-shirts. Saw people in shorts in the
city.

It is supposed to be almost that nice today again...but tomorrow
(Monday) we are only supposed to get up to +7. How is that for swift
changes in temps.

Max is growing up

He is going to be one massive dog when he is done growing. At 5 months, he is almost as big as Maggie. Hard to believe this was that cute little pup 3 months ago.

We are working on some word commands...like "don't hurt the kitties"...as he likes to jump on the cats. "NO" is now starting to get some attention. And he still "comes" when called. So that is good...LOL

Phoenix is home - April 11

Here a couple pics of the little man now that he is home and outside.
He will be 2 weeks old on Sunday.




Please excuse the dried mud on his little body but we are just now
starting to dry up.

For a registered name we are thinking of going with either "A Major
Flame" or "Dee Major".

Lucky's vet visit - April 11

After working with Lucky for a week, and not seeing too much improvement, I figured it was time for a vet visit.

It is a tendon injury. Vet isn't sure whether it is just a simple pull or a tear of some sort. But she said she will recover - in 6 - 8 more weeks.

She told me to continue doing everything I have been except for the liniment right on the fetlock joint - but I can put it on the muscles above and the knee and even on her other front leg just to keep the muscles nice and loose and ease any strain they are having from bearing more than their share of the weight.

I asked about how to wrap and showed her what I was using and she said - wrap the quilted pads firmly...then wrap the stable wraps tight. I asked if it mattered which way to wrap as I always get confused and she said that it basically doesn't matter much as the quilted pads will keep me from causing damage to anything else.

I also asked about the bute...told her I was giving 1 cc a day in the morning. She said that is good but if she needs more I can give 1 cc at night. She said if she gets really bad, I can give up to 2.5 cc 2 x per day.

She went over her overall health with me (this, btw, was the same vet that was out last fall and did teeth and then put Semi and Copy down) so is sort of familiar with Lucky. She said Lucky was in great overall condition. Still no overt signs of arthiritis in any of her other joints...no heat or anything either. Looked at her coat and told me to give her a bath as soon as I am able as she is pretty dry skinned from her long coat and blanket wearing (this I already knew). I asked about testing for cushings and she laughed and said "look at her - don't need to test". I asked what to do and she said "just what you are already".

We talked about her feeding schedule and she said to up her grain now that I know what the foot/leg problem is...I had cut it down thinking of founder etc.

Other than that she had no concerns for Lucky's health and said that she could really see her living for a number of years.

So YIPPEE!!!

Tire kickers

What is with people. You sit and talk to them on the phone for ages it seems. Tell them all they want to know. They say the horse sounds perfect. Come out...spend at least an hour or more here. They then say they will think about the horse...and let me know in a day or two.

So here I sit waiting and waiting...and NOTHING.

FRUSTRATING

Interest in Sale Horses

YIPPEE...now that spring has arrived (a snowy one at that)...I am getting interest in my horses for sale.

Have had a few people out to look at Sonny and Ace. Others out to look at some of the mares.

Here's hoping that someone will move so I will have extra in my show budget for Hyde and Gunner.

Also have had some interest in my show saddle.

MORE SNOW

I can't believe that it is snowing again. Told to expect at least 3 inches...well we already have 7. YUCK

When will this winter ever end!!!???!!!

Update on Lucky - April 4

Went out this am at 4:30 to check on the old girl. She is NOT happy about being in the stall...talked to me the whole time I was getting her grain, hay and bute ready. Met me right at the door of the stall ready to jump out. Good thing she is well behaved.

Had the big flashlight with me and checked out the leg. The swelling has gone down considerably from the knee to half way down the cannon bone. It feels "lumpy" along the inside of the cannon bone - like a bump. It is soft and very tender so I wonder if she hit it and then with all the walking on it made it swell???

Anyways. Gave her more bute, half her grain (5 lbs), and her hay (which she had completely cleaned up from last night). Also rubbed her down with the linament again.

Her walk is a lot more even today...she is bearing more weight on the leg this morning as well.

Got home from work and went to check on her and she is much better tonight. Swelling is down to just the fetlock and just an inch above. Still fairly tender as she didn't want me squeezing it to see if I could tell where exactly it is sore.

She is also bearing full weight on it again and pacing the stall.

April news

Okay - here we go again for another big round of updates. Still way behind as you can see.

We will start with April...and hopefully will get all caught up!!!