Just Me & My Girls

Gas Rant

I just checked out smellshorsey's post on using mules because of the high cost of fuel. We have been joking about riding our horses down the road too. This weekend coming up we could go to a couple different shows, but decided to stay home because it would cost $150 to go to one show and nearly $400 to go to the other. It cost Gerald almost $130 to fill his tank. Diesel is so much more then gas. I do not see the government stepping up to try and resolve these issues. No reducing speed limits, car pool commercials, reduced taxes, nothing! I remember when they reduced speed limits and the truck drivers got together and formed a convoy in protest. Why can't the schools limit students driving to school? They did that when I was in high school. You received a permit to park if you had a job after school or a school activity that kept you off the bus. I'm tired of my tax dollars going to the school district anyways. Of $6000 over half goes to the schools in town. I guess it bothers me more because I don't have kids. The school bus is half empty and the parking lots over filling. The fuel prices are going to start keeping a lot more people home!

Wolf Teeth

Well, the vet was here and the girls got their West Nile shots and Coggins drawn. I asked the Doc to take a look at Misty's teeth because recently she's been spilling her grain, not that it has affected her weight, but just to see if she needed her teeth floated and low and behold Misty still has her wolf teeth. She's so good, but often she does get mouthy with the bit. The rest of her teeth looked good and not in need of floating, but she could stand to have her wolf teeth removed. It more than likely does interfere with the bit and I'm sure they bother her. So I guess we'll be scheduling her for that procedure. While the vet was here, we looked at Kola and there were no wolf teeth, thankfully.

Tuesday=Riding Day

Well, I went out there and rode Misty first. Quite a few times around the arena and picked up the speed to a nice little trot. Amazingly, saddled up Kola as well. Last year, only a halter and saddle and Steve leading once. She's broke and used to be a lesson horse, but after my crash in 2006, I'm a little gun shy and I've had Kola for only 2 years and Misty now for 5 years, I think. I was surprised to see her just open her mouth to the bit as I approached her with it. Hell, Misty doesn't even do that! I still had Steve lead her around this time, but next week, we'll just do our thing. Steve thought she was weird on her front legs, however, she is gaited and hasn't been ridden in forever. I think she was just lazy and not used to it, but vet is out on Thursday for coggins and remainder of shots, so I'll have her look at her. Her feet are clean and she looks good to me. I think just not used to carrying the weight and that is why we are riding weekly and if it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll be getting some exercise on the lunge line. They both were my beautiful angels and very good girls under saddle and I thank them very much for carrying my fat bumble bee ass around today. As a treat afterward, they got turned out to some pasture. Come hell or high water, the three of us will ride and get in better shape!

Strangles

This poor filly ended up with the worse case of strangles I ever saw, that lived. When she would nay it came out the holes in her face. Callie wanted to see pictures when she was really sick because she never saw a bad case. I couldn't bring myself to take them. I was weanie sitting this winter. She came in with 4 other ones that had just gotten over it. She came from a different farm then them. Evidently the breeder did not vaccinate her before sending her to the auction. It was a shame because she was the high selling weanling in a incentive fund catalog sale. She had gotten so down in weight that I could lift her. She is beautiful now. Hopefully the scars will go away in time. I'm going to use MTG on her. We started calling her Pusie or Pus Pus. I now it is awful, we did not think she was going to make it. You cannot give antibiotics or the infection goes to the organs and kills them, it has to run its course. I lost a gelding to bastard strangles, she had it too. The strain that went thru this area last year was the worst yet. My horses get vaccinated, the foals born here have an immunity that gets them thru the first 6 months to a year, part is from the mommas. After they get it, the recommendation that I have read is that you should not vaccinate for a year. We kept it in check, no other horse caught it from her. She still is draining from the one on the side of her stomach. I think it is more from having to heal from the inside out. The vet had to lance that one. She is our last reminder of the hard winter we had. I hope more people see this and vaccinate, it is a horrible sickness to deal with.

I know I'm cute!

Flash is turning into a real character. He looks like a mini clydesdale. He was born May 5th, he looks 2 months old, not 2 weeks! He is already chasing goats and dogs. Gerald has both his sisters and we are partners on this one. He will really enjoy showing this one when he grows up.