trim notes for august 2009

Rafer Johnson: trimming role model extraordinaire! Feet looked good, lots of growth this time. He went first today and then assisted with Salina and Redford.

Redford: Almost as well-behaved as Rafer, with good feet and good growth.

Salina: Noted for B. that she had abscess in July, left front, right at coronary band as per usual. However, she's going longer between the annual abscess now - first year it was April, then May, and this year July. HUGE amount of growth this time - she needed so much toe taken off it was a bit of an ordeal doing the right front, which is her stiffer knee. The donkeys stayed close for moral support!

Cody: Dubbing on rears nearly gone, which means the AlCar is working, he's not dragging hind toes, and his hooves got the best hoof award of the day. Yay!

Keil Bay: A lot of growth too, with some ragged edges due to me not being able to rasp this month. A bit fussy by the last hoof as he gazed frustrated at the goody bag.

Apache Moon: Fuss budget award goes to the pony, whose feet were typically good and he was really leaning and pulling and swishing his tail some. He had to be backed down the barn aisle at the end so there was something good to give him a treat for! We forgive him. It's the second hottest day of the year, the fly predators just went out yesterday, and right now the summer seems ENDLESS.

We are all awaiting the chill of autumn, the changing color of leaves, and the smell of woodsmoke. Thankfully tomorrow's high is 83 with rain!

600th post came and went

I had planned to do something special for the 600th post here on camera-obscura, but then forgot and skimmed right by it... and I had also planned to put a Rafer and Redford photo up this weekend but didn't get quite the right picture.

As of today we're in the midst of a little heat wave - highs near 100 - and we opted not to take the pony to today's schooling dressage show because of the heat.

When I went out yesterday, Keil Bay had something going on with his left eye, so I checked it, rinsed it with some cool clean water, and applied some antibiotic eye ointment. I also gave him a dose of Banamine, as our first vet cautioned me that eye pain can be terrible on horses. I put his clean fly mask on, brought him into the barnyard with Salina and the donkeys, and stayed out to do a few chores while I kept an eye on him.

Within about 15 minutes he had removed his mask (he never does this) and came into the barn to show me his eye, which had stopped draining, was fully open, and now had a glob of eye goop in the corner, which probably had the offending irritant trapped inside.

Whew.

I also killed several horseflies as big as hummingbirds. Fortunately when they get that big they seem to also get slow, so the horses amble up, aim the part of their body needing rescue at me, and I smack and stomp.

I also decided that as green as it is right now - the dirt paddock is no longer accurately named, the driveway into the barnyard is now completely hidden in grass, we had to mow several areas that were just getting too overgrown - I would keep Cody and Apache Moon in for a few nights with access to the paddock and arena for some limited nibbling plus some soaked hay.

Keil Bay, Salina, and the donkeys went out to the front field through the little barnyard gate, and had access to the grass paddock and one stall. Guess where they all were this morning? Two big Hanoverians and two miniature donkeys were all in the one stall, awaiting breakfast hay and re-distribution.

I'm guessing we'll be doing baths today and tomorrow, since hosing will be on the agenda anyway and they could all use a good shampooing.

Hope everyone is enduring and enjoying the month of August!

Philippe Karl's latest response to the German FN

This arrived in my box today.

It's Phillipe Karl's response to the letter the German FN wrote to him on June 15th.

brio

brio \BREE-oh\, noun:

Enthusiastic vigor; vivacity; liveliness; spirit.


This is dictionary.com's word of the day today, and it was timely for us, as it feels we have finally come back to this after a week of ... non-brio.

Kyra the Corgi had a reaction to a flea treatment, Salina was sore and finally blew her annual abscess (I'm proud that we managed this w/o the insane intervention we resorted to last year), Moomintroll is having a bout of seizures, and of course my back has been out of commission.

We're mostly on the other side of all this stuff, and last night I had assistance with tacking up, someone to hold Keil Bay's head while I mounted (probably not necessary but it felt good), and a fellow horse and rider to keep me company.

The Big Bay is not a big fan of night riding, but with the exception of a threat to spook at the dark end of the arena, he marched me around, massaging my spine with his lovely walk, and I had not the slightest bit of pain or discomfort.

After our ride, there was the tiniest bit of chill to the air if you stood still and paid close attention, a foreshadowing of autumn and a tonic to anyone getting weary of the heat and humidity. (me)

Here's to a bit of brio for all of us.

cleared to ride

As of today!

The doctor said I should still hold off chores, and that I should not groom/tack up. "Pretend you're the Queen of England for a few days. You can ride, but someone else has to get the horse ready for you."

Ha! This is likely the only time in my life I will have a groom.

I think we're just about back to normal here on the Hill.

Happy August!