accidents happen.

As I lay here in bed tonight my mind spirals out of control.

My day started perfectly. Billing, Shipping done for hubby...
NEW update on the neck is just torn muscle that will heal with time.
Then a ride out to Biltmore.

The ride was glorious... The quiet, the colors, the company! Don protected me... as I call it from an on coming van. Sweet Pea was about to have a kanipshion fit!  She was high strung from the start and was dying to run the entire ride.  I was in her mouth holding her, neck bent, but barely listening ... so... with one sprint of a run and Sweet Pea was so excited she was hard to STOP.  But I did when I heard the NOISES behind me. My riding companion for the day on Navarre... was off and barely breathing.  Alive yes, awake yes but legs moving from pain.

got both horses tied them together and had to let them go to assist my companion.  The rider came off when Navarre balled up to jump forward with more speed, or so best I can get from his description.  Those who have ridden Navarre know this is unexpected and can catch you off guard.  My riding buddy fell off with a heavy thud onto a tree knot that had fallen onto the path etc... He was riding well, sitting tall, but all this happen so quickly it just ... happened.

I asked him to stop moving, rest, breathe.
I could see his pulse in his neck.
He could see, He wasn't bleeding, I asked him to stay still... he could move everything so he propped up on the side of the path so he didn't have to use his back etc...

It was when he went to get up, realizing the horses were GONE...
He was determined to get out of there.
HE WALKED down the path...

I whistled for the horses and they either stopped or headed back towards us. YES he tried to get back on... He realized that likely was not the best idea.... so He walked out of those woods like he was marching head of a platoon and leading the way.

I got the horses settled as he stood around wanting and begging to help me.
PAIN rushed him as he got in the truck... and ... we went straight to the ER .
I rushed to get a wheel chair and mouthed for HELP! Two nurses came out and took care of him.

I know.
I thought he was a goner.
I thought he was going to have a broken back
? damn it! I figured I was going to have to call 911 and have an ATV get him out, while I knew the horses would find other horses and that too would send people looking for us.

I rushed the horses home.
I threw out hay and left.

Another alarm was my hubby was home and he was planned to leave for a little time in Nash.  Had to check on him, see if he was ok; explain to him what was going on and go back to the ER to see if Don had at least been tended to at some level.

He had a basic x ray showed two broken almost dislocated ribs.
The blood had pooled so much this too showed up on the x ray and caused more concern so another test was ordered and a good and bad result was given.  It was actually 4 ribs broken but the lung not punctured as thought.

Thank GOD he is going to make it, but the poor guy will be in so much pain for the next week and then six weeks.

Oh bad I feel does not easily go into words.

FYI... I didn't blow my diet today I had stuff with me but I was so relaxed at one moment and so worried the next I didn't get hungry.  I did make myself eat something once I got home. After going back to the barn giving the horses more water, disconnecting and draining the hose line.  Lordy I will never get to sleep tonight...

Life is good but it changes in a moment.
My love to the world.
AegF

A good day off.

It was again  a normal day but a GREAT day as well.

Don, Darrell and myself got phase one of the equine patio completed! I am so ... excited.

Today we went from... THIS

All the way to THIS.... 

View INTO the barn area... 

From in the barn...

Life is going forward... I learned SO much about laying these things by hand, and almost got it really going on fast by the end of phase one.

NOW I have to save my money again, purchase 6 more pallets of pavers and get started on phase two.

In the mean time! I plan to get my new hose extender that is going to be industrial strength

Close up and cover the insilation box for the water hose. 

Create an insulated LID for the horse water, as well as an insulated box for it!

Not to forget I have to put up the forest fence again.

Put up a fire wood shed! 

Get some trees cut down and out of the way (put onto the west wall )

My "diet" went out the door today as I was with the guys all day. 

cream in my coffee...  a muffin (regular) for breakfast... and yes... a SANDWICH for (1\2 of one) for lunch.  I gave the other half to the hubby... 

Pumpkin seeds for dinner (Jerry had carved a pumpkin for his mother)  

All is as it should be.... and I'm happy.

Signing off, want to get in some good sleep so I can ride in the morning... 

My love to the world 

AegF 

great energy....

Today was another day with great energy.
I have NO idea why or where all this is coming from, as once again the only change I have made in my life is the vegan diet to get this weight off!  While I believe I have lost 5 pounds in three weeks I have to say I tend to weigh differently from morning to night etc... So I say I have lost this amount because I am weighing myself after my morning coffee, after going to the barn... and after my shower while I am dripping wet.  SO ...

I have lost inches... lots of inches... and the energy is CRAZY!
I have had more and more trouble sleeping through the years.  I thought it was my hormones getting out of wack, my husband snoring like a freight train, and getting older!   Recently the husband has complained about MY snoring! but even last night when he woke me up more than 4 times I was able to get back to sleep (I have never been able to do that)   BUT this could have been a fluke for only last night.

Having said all of that my knee pain is not as much as it was three weeks ago.  I say this as MORE about the little bit of weight I have lost and not as related to the diet change itself.

These are ONLY MY results, nothing scientific here! only me, one person doing what I can when I can and how I can to get my weight off my bad leg, keep my life going forward in a way I am comfortable with, and I am NOT preaching or telling anyone else what they need to be doing.

I had an apple with almond butter and hemp for breakfast.
I had beets in orange and ginger, an avocado, and cauliflower in curry for lunch...
I had a banana with peanut butter and hemp for a snack later in the day...
and tonight I didn't crave a dinner so... that was my day... coffee with coconut milk when I got to work! (can't do that all the time it is too sweet of a creamer for me)

I had so much energy this morning I laid yet another few bricks before going to work!

I know it may not look like a lot to most but this takes a little concentration, although I have to admit I am starting to get the hang of some of it! 

I also took pictures of the trees just outside my zen spot to be... 

This fall is just amazing this year.... I am enjoying it very much.  

Yes horse friends these are maples and bamboo.  I have not yet decided what to do about the maples as they are above the barn and the leaves could blow into the fence below.  NOT sure but keeping an eye on the situation!  

I also had to stop and take a photo of the sun set tonight... it was breath taking! 

Life is good and getting better. 

I am moving around well, having energy to stay up and type out my day... and enjoying the mornings again. 

My love to the world 

aegF

They are out! She said...

After 1:30 am but something woke me up.  it's a sound I know I heard something!
I sat up!
There it is! What in the world?
I then saw the flashing lights.  White, not red, I nudge at Jerry.
I get out of bed.  Flashing, and a faint horn sound. I peek out of the shades... Jerry there is a car in our driveway honking a horn and flashing its light.

I backed away desperately trying to find clothing, hell, at that point a towel would do.  No sounds below in the house, the birds are not freaking out. What could be going on?  Everything rushing though my sleepy but shaken mind.  Oh they are backing out! he said.  Wait no they aren't

Forget it I was either saying to myself or him.  He turned on the light.  I 'm naked in the brightness, but thanks to his help I found my robe. I tied it around me as I walked down the stairs, turned on the porch light and a woman comes into light as I step out on the porch completely at the mercy of strangers.   They are out! she said as a man shows in the light, they are across the red fence grazing but we saw them and.... but we didn't want to knock on the door.    Sadly a well learned neighbor from the recently nationally known  IDIOT who shot a poor woman for asking for help in the middle of the night.  I half way understood in the fog of my brain being still more than 1/2 asleep.

Five minutes... I said... I'm asleep and I have nothing on.  Five I'll be right there!

It was the horses! I screamed to my almost deaf husband as I turned back on the bedroom light and rustled for anything to wear.  They are OUT! why didn't they call? Likely they did but my phone is down stairs, (he can't sleep with it in our room..) Pants, and a T not yet folded and put into the wardrobe!  Keys.... get a gate key as I rushed down the stairs.  What has he done now ... as I grabbed the keys and headed down the basement stairs.

In the car... going beyond limits... I start to wake up.  Oh you would grab a navy tee dark barn leggings and no socks or anything else for that matter.  I get behind a large SUV as I get near my last turn.  almost 2 am and it was fate he slowed me down.  I was after all driving like a mother to a dying child.  In my mind anytime they are out it is dangerous, but in the dark, on a curvy road where dogs are in the house this time of night someone would hit and kill Sweet Pea by accident.  She is the darker of the two.  Crap... will I ever made it to the barn?

I get to the barn ... the May's are beyond the arch of the curve, lights on facing up the mountain. I drive into my plot of land, back the car far enough away from the gate, leave the lights on and it running, unlock the gate and start with my silly but effective call.  Sure enough ONE verbal call and I could see Navarre in the light, walking his slow pace back to the property behind the Mays running car.  I call and get louder with each call, they are out of my light but I can hear his shoes on the pavement.  They come back home, run up to the barn as I call out again and again.  They Mays are so sweet they yell out to me I yell my thanks in return.  My calls my thanks are likely to have been heard all the way to main street from a top our little mountain, but I am SO thankful they took the time to sit patiently, honk timidly, and wait for someone to respond from their car.  I'll get your number next I see you out! she said just before they drove off.   I walked to the electric box and turned it off so I could run another line or find where it is broken.

I owe them! is all I can say.  Thank God for good neighbors! Thank goodness they listen when I tell them where I live off the mountain.

Now... finding how they got out before they leave the barn yard again.   Strangely enough that was VERY simple.  A gate I never use, A gate I do not keep a lock on was wide open.  NO chain? gone? no string at the bottom, for my second security.  I gave the horses their reward ... for breaking out or coming home only they know for which ... but I gave them extra hay all the same.  No feed!

I ran my fingers over each horse as they ate their hay.  I listened to their gut sounds.  Both are tight as a drum but Sweet Pea has all four gut sounds easily heard, so I hugged her and went on to him.  I could only hear three gut sounds but gave him hay anyway.   I'll have to check him again later... well in just a few hours... I'll be back at the barn my 7 am to check on him.  Then I HOPE to call a friend and meet them for breakfast as they are camping VERY near this crazy night!

Almost 3 am and I would love to go back to sleep? Like that will ever happen!

Laughing at life.
Appreciative of good neighbors.
Giving thanks for my silly calls.
Dying for sleep!

My love to the world.
AegF

Exhausting efforts of a woman

While this is about me, it is about SO MUCH MORE.



Up by 5 so I can get my last few things in place, get Pirates' Lair work done, put 100 gallons of water in my container and get out of here by 7 am.    Life is always good on paper but not so good with taking off a spray nozzle with arthritic hands.   Finally having accomplished my task the water was flowing over by the time I got done with the billing and shipping for the day.  I got out of the house and to the barn by 8 (I think).



I gathered 5 days of supplements and the horses got off the mountain by 9 and realized (while loading) I had no shavings for the ride other than my emergency supply I didn't want to use.  So we headed over to the nearest farm store that was barely on our way but the only one NOT 8 miles a wrong direction.



Life is good when you are not clocking into someone elses schedule, what ever decision you make only effects you; and the ripple effect is your own doing.  Life is also good when you step up into a decent size truck as it gives you more visibility than the tiny little cars and thus can give you a sense of power as well.  It was a horrible day to leave,  rain and fog so thick you couldn't see very far ahead most of the time.  We were lucky the rain stopped just before I got to Knoxville Tennessee.



I always get gas as I go through Knoxville, especially when driving the truck, this time I made the mistake of stopping at the wrong TA station. It was a right hand exit in the middle of town, I pulled up and there were no gas pumps for cars  (at all) I go inside and ask where the car diesel pumps are and they have none.  Oh you have to go to the other place, they said!  It's just across the highway! ? Highway? or Interstate? across the bridge!So it is across both, in essence I was going to make a complete figure 8 the only problem was it was a 5 lane highway I had to get back out on and no red light to assist with traffic control.  I sat there trying to get out and finally had to go right and find a place to turn around.  I got to the other truck stop on the other side of the interstate, pulled in and there were two eighteen wheelers dumping fuel.  1. not only do you NEVER fill up a diesel with freshly dumped fuel, as it only churns up all the debre in the storage tank; but these trucks were blocking the pull through lanes  2. I couldn't back up with people behind me with my long bed and a little trailer in tow.  So I had to find yet another place to stop and TRY to get diesel.  What is the big deal?  Well for some reason there are times I get diesel and the card stops at $100.00 for security reasons.  So I'd rather not take that chance while driving if I don't have to, so I just fill up more frequently when I drive the truck!   I finally found another gas station a few miles down the interstate there was only ONE pump that had diesel and there was a car in front of it... just sitting there... too far away to be getting anything from the pumps but clearly in the only pump I could use.  I had to get out open the doors for the horses and we sat and waited for a long time.  Finally a couple came out and got out of the way! I got my 20 gallons and we were on our way to Nashville.  Passing my first choice exit with a wonderful TA exit 369 where I got out my wax pen and wrote the exit number on the top left corner of my windshield so I never go through this again.  Finally on our way again, sun shining and horses with ice in their water buckets, hay and most of the windows open.

It was such a pleasant drive from Knoxville, and like normal there is a specific spot that for some reason even being an hour out of Nashville I feel like I am close enough to call it home. So...  I decided I would stop by and see my mother in law once I got to Nashville and mark that one off my list.  I arrived in one piece, back into her drive and realized; my emergency break would not hold my rig it was so heavy.  So I put a twist into the park and took my time to say hi to both she and the pudgy dog, that is so fat she can't wag her tail!   I took Briley Parkway over to I-24 and got off at the Joelton exit.  I made it to the old driveway that appeared barely wide enough for my trailer, but we crawled at the slowest pace pulling into my cousins back lot as planned over two weeks ago when I called and got permission.   I got in about 3:30 their local time, and let us not forget... I had gained an hour!



Joelton is rolling hill layout, and it proved to be difficult to find a spot where I would not be worried to leave the trailer if I couldn't make it up the hill around the curve and down into the property to my little spot.  I backed up close to the drive around the back of the pond and settled the horses to eat and drink as I walked the rest of the drive and scouted out a place to put our camp site.



The road was remarkably in great shape, layered in smooth multicolored creek gravel as I walked up the old drive, noticing all the changes that had occurred.  It was in much worse shape when I lived on the property almost 20 years ago.  Amazed at the conditions,excited that my truck and trailer may in fact make it up the old lane; it was an easy walk.  I enjoyed passing Uncle Vernon's (Dicky's now) old gate, Uncle Charles' (now Aunt Wilda's and Tony's) and finally came into Paw Paws gate.  As I reached for the chain, smooth in my hand,  I saw the old nail it fastened onto and a small rush ran though my being, a small crack in the hard exterior I had developed over time having not realized its existence until now.  It was the same old nail that had been there all my life and likely many before me, the chain glistened in the light from oil residue, not synthetic, not motor, not bearing grease, but smooth and shiny from the many hands of generations past and present that used and still use it almost daily.

Yes lots had changed; there was more trash, there was more rubbish to be hauled off for metal values, there were things laying around I didn't want to guess about.  There was a half ass electric fence I had to detach and throw out of the way, but I progressed down the hill making a mental note of the terrain.  A second gate area no longer with a hanging gate but instead thrown aside barbed wire strand now tangled in a fence row.


Very little real grass or viable fodder in the place, mostly weeds, but it would do for a free nights stay the next few days.  The ground was dry and appeared to be solid enough for the truck and trailer.  

As I started back up the hill having decided it was perfect for my entire rig,  I got to notice more about the old place and was happy to be on family land.  As I came into view of the only houses at the beginning of the drive,  Suzanne was there on her four wheeler coming off her property and into the old farm lane, so I waved! with no change in pace she came and got me.  Cigarette in mouth, steering, as she made it up the little rise and at me.  I got into her four wheeler without even asking.  Oh do you mind if I ride ? I said... having sat down and let out a big sigh..before realizing it. No I've been looking for you she said.  Our conversation was all indirect of my safety.  But she clearly wanted and offered for me to stay near the pond if she could persuade me to do so.  I was welcome to use her pool, fill up my water container, or really it was anything I needed just call.  I didn't have her number so I called her house phone as she called it out to me and our contact information was complete for both of our records.



With directions on how to get out of her lot, I slowly pulled down the lane and onto my little plot of land.  I circled and circled and finally found the perfect little spot that would allow some shade in the heat of the day and much shade from then on the evening.  I got the horses out leaving their halters on them but leads thrown over their backs, I started to pull the t-stands out of the bed of the truck.  I didn't even get the first one out and I could see the horses running out of site and into the tree line, down a path that was not there in my day.  The fear of the unknown (how long was that path, and where did it lead too) startled me.  In the crazy heat I walked as fast as I could without breaking into a jog, because if I got my hands on them with a fast heart rate they would never trust me to come back to the camp site.  I finally got sight of them, did my silly stop... slow down and look at me sound; and with all the luck in the world Sweet Pea stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look at me.  I got them and quickly put a bell on Navarre so I could hear them moving around or hear him at night if need be.

With the horses within ear shot, I got my first four fence post out and propped up against the truck.  I look the first one down a little slope but pretty close to a newly erected fence that had not existed in my day and now cut me off from the rest of my property.  Puzzling to say the least, but ONE strand was strung as having electricity so I figured I would tap into it instead of getting out my portable solar charger.   I had the post in place, got the ramming device and figured it would take only 7 or 8 pounds to get the thing all the way in.  Not today, Not going to happen! I figured I was hitting a rock, I tried another little spot, I could not believe it.  Putting these things in normally takes me about 60 second to ram it in 6 or 7 times but it took me over Thirty minutes to get ONE t type fence post into the ground and not even the full bib was in the ground. Oh my!  I had to stop.  I quickly had to come up with another plan, as I had originally planned on adding some post each day and extending their pen more and more, once again ... life always looks better on paper! As I started in on another post I realized with all my ramming, slamming, and puffing from physical and mental exhaustion;  there was no bell sound.



As I looked around again,  this time I saw the white blur way up the pasture being curious about the cattle.  So curious Navarre started challenging them as I walked towards him.  I could not believe my eyes, he was acting like a cow pony darting from side to side wanting to engage the cattle.  But they were getting further and further away as I was walked, huffing and puffing from everything I was trying to do.   They were well over into Tony's place before I could get my hands on them, as it was Sweet Pea once again who came back to me.



Lauren called she was going to Rivergate and would be back later.  Later I still wasn't finished with my post, Yes I had one side done with t stands, electric ribbon tape, but the other seems hours away from a final acceptance. There was so much that had to be completed to allow me rest, but she sent me a text and had food for me.  Like me... Lauren hates electricity and thus could not make it into the pastures, so I rushed to pad and bridal Navarre, helmet for me and I took off for the high gate; riding Navarre and Sweet Pea freely in tow like a new born foal.  it was Asian take-out!   What a treat, an unexpected treat!  It has been so long sense anyone has thought of me so sweetly and taken care of me for no reason with nothing expected in return I was shocked by the gesture.    Food in left hand, riding back down the hill to our little spot, Sweet Pea decides not to follow us, but yells, calls out, and then rushed at us as if fearful of her life; having been left  alone on unfamiliar high ground.  I had to put the food aside, finish my task at hand.   Having tied Navarre to the left side of the trailer (which was theoretically IN the pen I was building) Sweet Pea stayed closer.  I finished my fence, hung my tarp and threw down a sleeping foam and finally sat down for a perfect dinner I had never expected to have.  It was a perfect way to start the camping trip.



I took one little picture and posted it...

It was a perfect view, a perfect evening, and nothing but reading and resting planned for the remainder of the night.   

My phone buzzed about 10:30.  

It said... you awake? 

I typed ... barely

     Your practically in my back yard. Mind if J.L and I come over?

I typed... no come on over! 

Having said to family... come on over;  another small crack in my hard exterior ran to the core of my being, realizing how I limit myself, my social activities by going to sleep by 7 or 8 pm each night. So my second and third visitor showed up, phone light in tow and we stood and chatted.  My cousin being shocked I would rough it on the ground.  No tent etc...   This entire conversation was funny to me, because I was camping NOT GLAMPING!!!!!   We told his daughter stories about his having a horse but me being the only one to ride it, and how allergic he is to horses.  I enjoyed our little exchange of past days, growing up next to each other; my mother in the middle and a sibling on each side, his father (my Uncle) was past our house on the dead end road named after our family.  Having mentioned the allergy, when as we said our goodbyes I didn't hug him!  I watched as the lights disappeared down the path I didn't know; and heard them stop on their return trip and repair the gate they had knocked of its hinge on their in trip.   He texted me thank you... as soon as he got home.  As his allergies had attacked him on his mile back to the house and he had to rush to get medication for it as soon as he hit the door.

I didn't sleep that first night, the awkwardness of silence being deafening with crickets, owls, coyotes, cattle and horses all making their own noise and the thick heavy ring of Navarre's weighty brass bell on his halter.   I got up several times and tied Navarre, worried he was eating too much too quickly. I honestly think he has no FULL light in his brain.  He never stops eating! But Sweet Pea will take in the scenery, stop eating and rest.  Up and down with Navarre,  it was a cool night, about 58 degrees, long sleeve top, breathable rain coat,and a blanket kept me warm on the ground.  The next day was going to be busy... such a full schedule I had to refuse one appointment. 

I've done all I can to get the word out, that Navarre is up for share.  I've posted on Facebook, I've posted it on this blog, I've even joined some share pages in order to get the word out a little more.  Today I had a conversation with some who hope to share the word for me again.  BUT if all fails I'll end up posting him on Craigs List by May... I surely hope not as I want to meet the person I share him with, I want to know what they expect of him, what I can expect from them and how they are going to help Navarre to be active.

This is not about me at this point, it is about keeping Navarre active and giving him the time he needs for activaties... ?

Lets see...
I'm paying the bills,
I'm paying for the feed, vet, farrier, and even his teeth... but I just need someone to ride him, give him love help to feed them 2 or 3 nights a weeks etc...

I DO expect them to understand and keep him off ANY grass, I DO EXPECT that they understand that he can NOT have any treats that are sugar, that contain sugar, or would convert to sugar... NO SUGAR...

no grass,
no apples, carrotts, treat etc...

life sounds hard for him but he has a better life with me than most... EXCEPT he needs to be ridden.

I can't ride, as I have hurt my back, I can't ride as I have to work too much, I can't ride as I have no time left working 60 hours a week.

I need someone to Love on and Ride WR Prince Navarre!
Please share if you know ANYONE that would have a good seat, and gentle hands...

828 707 7607.... call me! ASAP!!!!

You know I do EVERYTHING I can for my horses...
I've said it before but I am now posting on this site...

I WANT TO SHARE MY VANNER with someone! Yes! I said it publicly...

Here is the deal. 
He stays at my place!
I pay for his feed, suppliments.
I pay for his standard shoes, standard vet checkups ...


This is what I want...
I want someone to love on him...
I want someone to start to walk him.. do some ground work with him... and yes eventually ride him.
I want to share him with someone because this would be great for someone who can't afford a horse AND it would be good for Navarre!

I can't let someone just get on... and ride... he is not in good enough shape to just jump on...

But he is a beautiful horse, diserves more attention, and needs to be ridden.

I'm serious...
YES there are more details... but we can discuss them... nothing that big... but I want help, I want to share and he is such a good little boy!

So ANYONE interested... give me a call.
828 707 7607
Amber Goins...

Monday...

I was trying to take a state exam... (I failed) what's new?  I'll get it done though... I am not one to give up BUT I am personally mentally challenged when it comes to test.  I'll take a verbal exam any day but I hate computers and test!   Enough about me...

I am going to the barn in a moment and I have had to make a decision about Navarre and his feet.  Why?   Because Rain is due in two day for the next THREE days and everything I have done will go to waste if I don't get this feeling better for him in the next 48 hours... SO...

While I have been keeping it dry... My next step is OFF LABEL! NOT something many vets ... will suggest you do... BUT I've got to get this going... I called several people for help and found one that will help me in a moment. 

I can say as soon as Bill and I drove up Navarre was jumping off all four and having a good time in the crisp air.  He would not have done this as of last week! So we are doing some good even if it still looks really bad. 

My plan..
Pick out the feet as normal...

DONE... REAR... ON...

As you can see it is beautifully dry IN the frog and on the bulb.  BUT it is seriously deep too... so I am going to put an antibiotic in all the HOLES! and pack it again.  What am I using?   A basic penicillin in sesame oil as good and as basic as it gets. 

Where does someone get something like this over the counter? EASY it is a basic mastitis tube... Used for cattle and their teats. Use the DRY label... GO DRY or TOMORROW are normally how they are marked... It will also say the milk but not be used for 72 hours ... etc...
The tip of the tube is small and soft enough to go into the teat of a cow, so it is the perfect form to go into the small areas and soft tissues being damaged by thrush.

Once I got the feet picked... brushed... I started putting the antibiotics in ANY CREVICE I could find.  In doing so I found a hole ONE INCH DEEP...

You can barely see the syringe at the top middle... but what you don't realize is it is ONE INCH into the hoof!  This is exactly what I keep talking about and why you can't see from the photo above this one that this whole is even there or that it could possibly be bad.  I am sure having found this one hole in such bad shape there are likely many more any every direction off all the wholes we can see.  So I am using an excessive amount of the contents as I want it FORCED throughout the hoof as much as possible without moving my syringe around and again not pressuring soft dissue so not to cause any damage.  Allow the liquid to do it's job.

I had not once packed this hole, it goes straight down and when I did pack it lightly tonight I had to use ONE side of the hemostats so I didn't make it any larger.  There are two schools of thought on holes and a hoof.  Used to be Vets dug out things and left it exposed.  I tend to use a TINY drill / dremmell ... and break the surface (of an abscess etc) and leave it as covered as possible so it does not get infected.  Either way... keep it as clean as possible.  So I did not pack the whole to its depths I only covered the opening so debre doesn't get in easily.

This is going to take months to grow out.. and our wet season is upon us... So ... Using the antibiotic now is likely my best choice ... Like anything else though once you start antibiotics you have to use up 7 days of it unless otherwise stated... as you have to clean it out and make sure you kill of anything after that would develop resistance. 

I have had to do this with Navarre two other times in his life, but my choice to do so was all the more clear after finding such DEEP crevices in this foot my first day with the antibiotics...

I packed it with clean cotton

I will unpack it in the morning... and repack it with thrush buster...
then tomorrow night I will do the antibiotics again... for the next week rain snow sleet or shine...
Our plan is still to unpack and clean twice a day... using antibiotics only at night, when he is less likely to be running around or digging in the mud.

Doing all I can!
Hope your horse does good if you have any of these issues.

My love to the world
AegF

I love the feed back I get from blogging! All the photos in this post are found on bing... however I could not find the source to give credit! Please know these are NOT mine do not associate them with my name... I did not take them, own them, only found them in search.    They are also NOT of my horse but used as examples for discussion.

Why?
Because this gives me a way to share information I have collected over years of having or being around horses.  And having learned from some great people... I think we should all pass on what we have, but again... we all have to keep an open mind, not take ANY ONE PERSON as a source or mistaken anyone for a VET when they are not... and I AM NOT A VET! I just do a lot of research...

Sunday Morning the cotton was nice, dry, and still mostly clean!   Life is good!

 

PLEASE NOTE ... I got this photo from... bing photos and could not find the source...

below is the diagram info...

I also found another I like MUCH MORE;  Another Barefoot BUT more concavity that I like in a horse! It is posted down further below...

I could NOT find the information on this one... but you can match from above...

I like this foot below a lot more as it has more of a natural curve (concavity)  in the bottom of the hoof, something I strive for in each of my horses. 

I did however get a comment from a barefoot lover who said I was doing my horse a dis-service by having shoes on him, him having no bar in the foot, and a shoe that was too tight!   Again ... I so appreciate all this!      Because ...     when in fact ... I have only recently put shoes back on this little boy! And the infection is the result of not having shoes that caused him to walk more on the soft tissues of the foot, the toe to grow beyond LONG and the fact he is still getting over an abscess that started just between the bar and the frog growing into the heal...

So yes I can see what was trying to be said, what we has horse people / and humans in general don't do is think about what else could have been going on. 

1.    I try to take the shoes off my horses every winter.  I have however decided NOT to do so for WR Prince Navarre this year as it has taken me 8 months to get his feet back in order AND then the abscess came about and I am still dealing with it! BUT my mare will go without shoes as soon as our wet season sets in...    I love a barefoot horse as well!      No big deal... but his weight, his angles and his feet never fair well when he doesn't have shoes.  I will however take all four off my little girl who is much more suited to barefoot although is a breed that rarely fairs as well as she.  I have to say she has the best feet for a Saddle bred that I have ever seen!

SO... Bars (on the closest picture above are #7) are cut down when the hoof is trimmed and cut more to the concavity of the foot, as the concavity supports the coffin bone, hoof wall, etc... remember a curve/ circle or arch has more tensile strength than a flat board/ square etc...  Normally we only trim the bars down not out like we did this time!(the abscess was on the edge of the bar; more like the collateral groove)...   Bars and Frog support and create the suspension of the foot.  So the bar is like that extra set of wheels tucked up on a dump truck... till he has a really heavy load, otherwise the frog and wall support the normal load.  

If I don't use shoes my little boy gets a very flared hoof with a long toe leaning back on his bulbs... This one foot with the abscess did exactly that.  Normally I keep a carbon fiber and resin poured in Navarre's front feet due to his weight and likely hood of foundering at any given time.  He gets visual veins in his hooves if he is not supported. (founders easily)  He is not a great horse to have as far as his... muscles, diet or feet so most I do is VERY preventative... otherwise he would need to be put down.

Navarre is a different case... so lets not judge all my decisions on one side of the issues!

Like I said... everyone has to make decisions about their kids based on their own information.  the point it to always be open to new things... I've tried barefoot... and I love barefoot... it just doesn't work for mine or my horses lifestyles right now, maybe later!

like a said an open mind is the key to children and animals...
Good luck everyone..
My love to the world...
AegF

What's the big deal?  So what's so worry some about this foot thing?  Why are you so worried it's just thrush?   Well get your horse out of the mud and put him in a stall! 


These are all things I am getting from the general public.  And truly I appreciate the bouncing of information, questions, and yes even the comments.

Let's make this one clear!  My horses are in a mud lot ... (as stated in almost every post) ONLY because Navarre has PPSM... in laymen terms it is ALMOST like us having diabetes but even worse add a muscular degenerative disorder into the mix and you ALMOST have an idea of what I deal with.    To JUST keep him alive he can never have apples, carrots, treats... much less GRASS.  So he has to stay on a dry lot.  a DRY lot turns into a mud lot when you get over 22inches of rain on average... BUT I have a 24x24 barn that is raised with DRY medical ready dry stall mats of which is open to my horses 24 / 7   Not only that I have another area of mats thrown down not attached ... but 4x6 mats 4 across and 5 deep... so another 20x24  out into the open sky not covered... not to forget the SHOWER MATS... that are before the non attached stall mats outside... just so the shower mats help knock mud out of their shoes etc... before they get onto or into dry area...

So all in all I've got a good 44 feet of stall mats open that are generally dry unless it is raining hard and further out at some points... So I do what I can!   and yes as life goes on... and IF the economy ever gets better I will.  a) purchase more mats b.) put them down permanently as in the barn as I can afford too.  c)  yes eventually I would LOVE to have the level areas bricked ... ? but life is not that easy right now so we do what we can!   Just like everyone else!

Thrush ...
It is going to occur at some point of having a horse. 
Normally ... You can control it by picking out the hooves, if not once twice a day.  I have two horses and while My mare is easily controlled with picking my gelding is not.  There are several factors.

IF my mare gets thrush it is normally in her front feet.  You know the feet that get the most usage, carry 2/3rd of the weight thus they get more of a pounding, packing, and suffer when conditions are wet. 

My little boy (gelding) is FAT! although I try to control his weight. 
He has LOTS of hair... so much I have to shave it from his coronet band in order for it to stay healthy, and too keep hair from the frog of his feet. 
His hair is another issue entirely BUT adds to a fungal issue which is what THRUSH is...

It is a fungus that thrives with OUT oxygen... so the best thing you can do it AIR IT OUT!
What ever means necessary keep the foot DRY at all cost! 

Thrush is not a big deal when controlled... but when it gets OUT of Control it will EAT THROUGH the hoof into the soft tissues and lame your horse.  ? sorta like a plantar wart that grows INTO the foot to the bone in your heal.  Or think of walking on a stone all day no matter what type of shoes you wear!   It is painful and can destroy a horse if it gets too bad.

Navarre had HORRIBLE thrush when he was a baby, he was stalled and I was not there to clean it twice a day.  The barn manager tended to him and allowed wet shavings in the stall as where I would not? BUT we each keep our children differently, and those with more than one know they are all different no matter how you want to keep them... SO... keep an open mind!  I have dealt with this with him already three times in his short 5 years... but I now have a plan of action which is what I was trying to share...

1. clean foot... HIGH PRESSURE WATER IF you have it... I don't  ( I have only gravity feed water)
so I pick, brush, and then I pour hydrogen peroxide into any openings in the foot, and allow it to sit on the hoof around the frog etc...

2. I allow that foot to dry... dry well...

3. Like today I had Navarre tied up for over an hour just to tend to his feet.  Yes I was doing other things with him... brushing his body, mane and tail... but those things could take all day.  I also have a short lesson and left him tied up!

While I waited for his feet to dry... I did drip some lavender and tea tree oil into the holes but mostly on the healthy soft tissues of the foot.  Yes may sound crazy but ... lavender, rosemary, and tea tree oils are natural antibacterials... cheap ... and are not going to hurt the horse.  The entire secret is NOT to damage any soft tissue... so rubbing the healthy with anti... properties can't hurt! besides doing so only increases the circulation to the area... thus helping the situation anyway!   If your going to do something you may as well do it well. 

4. This morning I packed the area very carefully and very easily with my hemostats everyone should have a some... WHY ? the tip is rounded the teeth are on the inside and make it easy to get the packing out.... WHAT do I use a packing? cotton balls!   Yep that cheap and that simple....

Some people pack with thrush powder... I like this stuff! but I find it is even easier for a beginner to pack too tightly so packing with a soaked cotton strip with thrush buster is best for beginners.  ONLY because if you pack too tightly the cotton is more likely to fall apart not pack the powder more like clay, and the powder gets wet over time and is hard to get out if you do not have good water pressure to force it out! Not to forget some of these holes are not going to allow something to move around enough to come back out unless pulled out the same way it went in! thus my cotton balls instead of powders...

5. At night... I went back to the barn... picked his feet AND pulled out the cotton I had packed... then I put thrush buster liquid IN the wholes... got clean cotton again and REPACKED it for the night.  Good thing is... cotton was almost perfectly clean  when I pulled it out, so the hydrogen peroxide had done it's job... and he wasn't just digging in mud with his feet today.    Tomorrow morning may be a different story, after all it will be a heavy dew in the morning. 

ok so this is his front left foot... Frnt ON...

Above is my horse....

ok... now this is what I do NOT want it to end up like!...

Below is Horrible case... but always possible....

So What's the big deal????

This stuff is more damaging on the INSIDE than what you see on the OUTSIDE... so while Thrush is not that big of a deal it opens the soft tissues to damage like a Canker...

While some think this is the heal of the horse it has actually grown up the heal into the bulbs... and beyond! 

ER visit, due to horse. NOT ME!

Not me, but even worse.....

My wonderful neighbor that loves Sweet Pea, but rides Navarre because he is the safer horse! got a taste of being a real horse woman today.

? We were out having fun, riding and seeing the mountain sides.

The day was PERFECT!


We put the horses in the trailer and went down the road. Crossed a side- less wooden bridge... * a big deal for both young rider and young horses.


Lily is SO good at this! She gives it no thought any more and Navarre just follows her signals...

We went up a gravel drive and followed the flags from a race earlier in the day back and around to the barn.


We were just about to meet up with David ... more people is always a good thing.


Horses love to stay together, I just wanted to make sure to allow Navarre and which ever horse David brought to smell each other and get it in their head who was going to be over whom so we could have an uneventful ride...

Sweet Lily ended up ? well OFF the horse on the ground in a moments notice... as it always happens. All I saw was Navarre's head all the way down, and her HIT the ground BOUNCING her poor little head HARD. I rushed off my horse over to her, ask her not to move, I was calling Mommy.

I called her mother, had her stay still till Brenda got there so WE could evaluate what we wanted to do.
NOW just note I would have called  911 BEFORE Brenda had I had ANY idea I need too.

Having said that! the "Judy" came out in me... Called Brenda, I really need you to come get Lily, she has had an accident, she is ok, but has ... landed and I am not moving her till you get here.

In the mean time I'm asking the poor thing a million questions,

Calling Brenda AGAIN... Have you left the house, bring ICE... swollen lip, bleeding,

Called David up the road, ask him to come help me. ? I am after all with someone else's child.
Brenda shows up, having been only down the road at the grocery store... frozen peas in hand... napkin... Such a wonderfully prepared mother.
Lily is ? fine gets up and walks to the car. ? I'm still worried but it does not appear anything is broken.  I was worried about her shoulder etc...

FROM WHAT I HEAR..
They got home , and at some point Brenda could not find her teeth!
I'm in panic over the phone when I hear this... She's 11 it's adult teeth... I can't breathe waiting for the next thing out of Brenda's mouth.
Brenda takes her to the ER...  Picture on FACEBOOK
Teeth are loose but will be ok. They were embedded in the lip!
LIP? THREE stitches, along with collecting SEVERAL horse stories from all the nurses and doctors in the ER, and pain medication for next few days.

From what we can figure... Navarre raised his head into hers and probably bucked
Last time Sweet Pea did that to me I had two black eyes and a knot on my head.  But I've never seen teeth disappear like hers did!

NOW all to Lily's GOOD nature, she says she was never in any dire pain.
I am told she told the doctors she will get back on the horse.
?
OGM

Thank GOD I never had kids! I worry enough with every one else's!
Oh just look how good she looks on him!
They were so cute together!

Navarre and his PPSM

While I didn't believe a horse with PPSM would degrade as quickly as I had been told, it is with every letter, every breath, every day VERY true. 

We had worked up to over 40 miles on weekends 20 miles every other day 16 on a normal day.  Having given Navarre and Sweet Pea a week off due to fungus... Navarre can barely do a 8 mile round trip.  

It is amazing to me how this PPSM issue has greatly effected his physical abilities.  Once in shape, a horse is solid; or so I had always been told, experienced, and lived by.  No longer true with this horrible disease. 

While I did not push him so hard that he tied up upon our return (thank goodness), I did pull my neck out of wack, right arm, and I am as achey as can be because I was holding back Sweet pea the entire time so we could walk home at Navarre's pace.  She on the other hand was ready to run home in an easy sprint having such a short ride.  Thus she walked home looking like a dressage horse jumping from hoof to hoof , with wonderful air time,  as Navarre could hardly breath, and was dragging his feet. 

My reason for bringing it up is  Oct is leaf time around here, when most bikers are cruising for color, and the area makes its money from all the leaf watchers... So I have always known Oct will be a hard time for my training Navarre, BUT this is going to be VERY hard considering just one day off can set him back so far.  

Wish me luck! as this sickly horse is the cornerstone of my trip! Sweet Pea is afraid of her own shadow and much too dangerous to do the trip with only her, and I refuse to use any other horse! much less leave Navarres medical attention to someone else for such a long time. 

Oh I need a new plan! 

Oh I need an assistant! 

Oh how I desperately need someone to ride him, but far too many people are too afraid to ride alone. 

Darn! 

Amber 

the Questions I get..

What is making Navarre better?
     If I knew EXACTLY I would bottle it and sell it!
My thing is I've changed only two things in the last few weeks.

1. His Electrolytes... I had ordered some per vets recommendations .. but it was on back order. I got several other electrolytes to use in the mean time... ONE made Navarre noticeably worse, the other worked great!  Navarre will take the one the vet likes in his feed BUT will not drink it in his water.

     I keep ONE large plain water container... and one bath tub with Electrolytes.  So I offer both at all times.

2. I am trying to get him on a hard ride everyday.  This is very noticeable the very next day... if not ridden or ponied UP the mountain he is more stiff the next day with or without medications.

3. We did put him on muscle relaxing medication while I was gone.  We also gave him Banamine for gut cramps.  He was starting to tie up just before I left.

so looks like the hard ride is my first thing...
the right electrolytes my second
and muscle relaxers are my third.. I am hoping to  get him off of these ASAP!

Well, lets see.

Sense last I have really posted, I've given myself a black eye, planted lots of food, stocked the barn for the next months hay!  ( I hope it last a month, given it's going down to freezing again tonight!)

I have such a to do list I ... it should be in hard bound instead of so many separate pieces of paper!   Basicly I have a need to plant something every night for the next month ... in order to get my garden in the ground.  having said that! If I get a day off I could probably knock it out in 12 hours.

I did get corn, peas potatoes,asparagus, and more lettuce in the ground yesterday! Already up are the broccoli, brusselsprouts, green cabbage, red cabbage, Asian cabbage, thymes, sages of many kinds, chives, garlic, shallots, and cilantro.  So we shall see how everything else comes along.

oh yea! the black eye thing, stupid, but I was pulling on my hot water hose trying to wind it as large as possible, when the end came up a little faster, and a little lighter than I expected... popping up and hitting me in the eye.  Thank goodness the silly thing hit the bone around my eye as I was trying to close my eye and react to object flying at my face.  I ended up with a beautiful black eye that eventually faded into the best eye shadow I'd ever had! encouraging me to do my shadow differently from now on.  So lessons learned.  Watch what you are doing! and hey as the rest goes south... take the eyeshadow north! ha ha ha...

Got 50 bails of hay to the barn, had it not turned into freezing cold again I would have expected these to last me a while but... having shaved the horses, packed the blankets, I'm paying for my preparedness... with my hay rations.  DARN! I was doing so good!

BUT the shave paid off with Navarre! He rides longer without all that hair! no huffing or puffing, no sweating 1/2 mile down the road.  It was great!   I got to get out with the horses, ride with a helper around the estate, and RELAX for a while.

We got so much done after our ride.  We cleared the hay from around my water container, put stepping stones in the kitchen garden at the entrance, cleaned hay stall and filled it with hay,feed, and FLY control!

oh well... hope to take pictures soon.  I'm just on the move so much I dare not carry the camera with me yet! once I get my new schedule down pat... I'll consider it more!

Till then... Much love to you all
Amber.

My weekend...

no I have not been posting pictures as of late, but life is a little full at the moment!

With over 70 degrees here Navarre starts to sweat early in the morning, so it was time to shave off all that hair.
These are the during pictures... as I have YET to find the time OR an assistant to assist me with trimming his legs.

Whats the big deal? well LOOK at all that hair on his legs... is your horse THIS hairy?

My poor ragged child... My mother NEVER allowed my hair to look so bad, SO OFF it goes!

Yep! Mane and all.  WHY? because just look at it! Just before I moved the kids to my barn, he litterally ripped out a full braid of mane.  so it's taken this long for it to grow out 6 inches.  SO ALL THE REST HAS GOT TO BE EVENED OFF to the same length.

BRAID his hair everyone told me... NO he's not that kind of horse I'd say... But it is the only way to save a mane that long.  OK.. so I tried it! Sure enough I WAS RIGHT... He is NOT that kind of horse. HE rubbed, pulled, and had the hair gone down to the roots in a day!  

ALWAYS listen to your own voice... WHY I listened to the crowd I have no idea! LESSON learned.

ONE good strip up the neck!   After all I didn't want to ROACH his mane!

ONE good look at Jerry!   DUDE! DAD! aren't you going to help me out here?

a hint to all you people with blue eyed horses... I did NOT cut the forelock above his eyes... he needs some type of natural protection.

as far as ME in the photo... wind and HAIR in my face.... I was doing the best I could.  Besides better in my face than his, so... life goes on and the work must be done.

I can almost feel a breeze on my skin! AHHHHH

Rare 2nd post let the horses out.

I knew with the sun as bright as it is, the wind blowing hard... 30-40mph !  The horses would want to RUN, so I let them out on the pasture

Sure enough... Snap shots of what I saw  Remember none of them are good, but snap shots are never planned, and they were moving SOooooo fast the camera on MOVEMENT could not catch up.

Running with her eyes closed... I call it her BLISS shot!

Navarre LOVES rearing, bucking and changing directions... I call this his Lean Angle

AIR TIME! 

And finally Navarre looked at me as if to say   WHAT? 

Before you read further... I AM FINE...

I am fine.  I am like anyone else we all take a fall sooner or later.

See I was having fun!   That is what the day was suppose to be about.  So one goal was accomplished even if for a short moment.

BUT everyone needs to remember the type of person I am ... had the situation turned out bad... this is how I want to be remembered.  A person that lived life... not one that wished she had a life.

Having said that! I am writing about this situation second hand, I still have no memories of what happened from my own version of this story.

I do remember bits and pieces.

I my work day was completed yesterday, I even stopped work on the estate early so I could get to the riding ring just to play around while the girls got ready for a show this weekend.

So I got to Annie's farm just before 4pm.  I didn't realize the girls were coming from another barn, but I was within sight distance of the ring.  Katherine drove up, and I tacked Navarre back up after spraying him down twice ( having left off one (a good) saddle blanket on the fence I was hoping to get on my walk back up the road... to exercise myself as you will see in the pictures I have gained weight again... tiz life)

Nancy was in the ring.  I was just riding Navarre ( Jerry had just shown up to take pictures so I could correct my seat, arms, legs etc... in other words to see how bad I was riding.) Navarre...  wanted to eat, then when the girls got there he wanted to be social... I don't think I ever allowed the horses to sniff each other? but that is all I remember!

Long story short? I fell off... in my mind I think I fell off.  although physically... I know I fell off.  Must not have been a big fall as Jerry would have said something,  Although he said I did upset everyone by getting back on the horse.... Which sounds like me... or  PawPaw?  you fall you get up! Quickly!   Besides the horse is too young to get me off and  me not get back on, as he would only do it again learning he could get me off and get relief from pressures of me telling him what to do.    But all I remember is Not knowing how I got to the ring, Why I was down there, or What the $&*(&^ I was doing. 

So I got off told everyone I was confused, and HOW I was confused.  I knew names to those I had known names before, I knew Jerry's phone number to call him, but ... I still have no idea of a play by play of what I did wrong with the horse. And don't get me wrong... I know I did things wrong, you can see my seat is off my shoulders are not back properly my good leg is twisted OUT, although bare back always looks worse than with the dressage saddle.  In other words I know I am at major fault with what ever else I did.

No my head didn't hurt, No my body didn't hurt YESTERDAY...

I did stay up later than normal, I did wake up and make myself stay awake answer questions from my dear husband, He woke me up before he went to sleep.   THIS MORNING... I can hardly bend over, and my head is touchy if I slosh it in the pasture four wheeling to the barn. But I am other wise fine. 

I can only assume ASS U ME that as many times as my head has hit the pavement/rock, road, dirt, gates... etc... Like a boxer it will only get worse as I get older.

Proof of my getting back on?

And such a beautiful Square Hault... AFTER I get my act together he may look even better than he does here!

OK now this is my bad leg in this picture and no matter what I do the knee is going to make the foot twist out, I would NEVER be able to show!  but I enjoy riding all the same.

Navarre

Navarre this morning... I'll post again later if I can get done with work in time.  this is AFTER I played with the photo... just having fun with a simple program.

Beautiful, Amazing, AND an Accomplishment

Wednesday the 16th I rushed to get my work done, so I could leave town, and surprise my daddy at his retirement party… How many times in your life do you get to retire? (Unless you’re a rock star or Garth Brooks???? )

I spent the night with a girlfriend, Tabitha; loved being around animals I don’t have any more. She has 4 cats and a dog, I enjoyed two of the five sleeping with me!. Got up a decent time and took care of issues with my truck, went to a pastry/coffee shop and worked by remote off the notebook computer so work was settled, got Bloodworth settled and headed to the party. It was wonderful how much food, and how many people were there to harass/or bid farewell to my dad! He is such a kidder many are not sure how to take him. At any rate the party was good, Dad seemed happy and that was all that mattered to me.

I got some other things settled … getting Henry his LATE birthday gift and I literally headed back for home straight from the Party. And Giving Olivia hers early!

I RUSHED home as fast as I could because there was a winter storm headed our way and you never know how bad they can be due to our elevation. As my luck runs… I somehow hit the face to my radio and it ended up in a bag I gave my sister Betsy for the kids… So I had nothing to keep me awake on the road and I … am NOT a person that can stay awake after dark. After driving as long as I could, I had to get a hotel room, I had barely made it to the other side of Knoxville when I realized my driving was not up to par! Too many people were passing me.

Well I got up! Waited for a decent hour to call Mother and let her know I was fine, as I was on the phone with her the first of the rain drops fell. Not 5 minutes after getting off the phone with Mother, it was sleet, and not 10 minutes after it was snow! Now while normally this doesn’t bother me at all, but I didn’t have any weight in the back of my long bed and to top it off! I didn’t have my winter package in the truck either!

What is a winter package! For all my years of driving, I have had a tin can, a candle, matches, wool socks, and a blanket in my car or truck. Here I was having been dressed like a girl for the last 24 hours in High heals, hose, and no gloves! I did have a pare of house shoes but … they are the flip flop kind! So here I was driving up, down, and around mountains with no boots, no socks, a throw for a coat. I was passing rock facings left and right but couldn’t get out of the truck to throw boulders into the bed of the truck BECAUSE I didn’t have any shoes of socks!!!!!!! Stilettos don’t get it in MY world!!!!

I did finally make it home, but had to RUSH out to the barn with NO babysitter, only my dear friend Joe to take care of them, and I can’t abuse him! I wouldn’t appreciate that, so…. I try to be fair. The snow was getting a little worse, traffic in Asheville was at a crawl of 25 mph… the roads to the barn were already the average Joelton snow, covered in about 3 inches of snow, BUT I MADE IT TO THE BARN, I quickly put the horses out, stripped the stalls and put it ALL in the bed of my truck! Had to rush to the house, get work done due to the holiday! And rush back to the barn… the whole / THE ONLY reason I came home was because I was running out of hay! I did not have enough to make it through the weekend. So I planned to get to the barn, but more manure in the bed of the truck and go for hay first thing Saturday morning as the feed stores close by noon.

Longer story… I got stuck! VERY stuck! Up beyond the wheels of my truck stuck! So what! I walked to the barn took care of the kids and walked to the end of the road, asked Jerry to come get me and made it home safe!

In my walk to and from I have to tell you! It was BEAUTIFUL! It was the quiet style of life I enjoy. I passed several people, of whom I am not sure would want to be named online… I was met first by the dog, but soon came its beautiful family walking at least two miles down the road… as they often do. But the father carried a newborn on his chest, a toddler on his back, Uncle carried yet another toddler on his back, and mother was pleasantly behind them. Another family mother, daughter and son in law and another dog, all walked to their cabin, like me taking pictures along the way. It was just so beautiful you couldn’t help but to be happy! So what if my truck was in the ditch… walking talking and enjoying other people is something most of us are in too much of a rush to do. I met so many people on my walks, LOVELY people, I also was welcomed with a HOT cup of coffee once a day from my dear Joe! Thank you Joe!

I figured I would call AAA first thing Saturday and ask for assistance! I did… we scheduled a 12:30 apt, by 1:30 I called, not upset due to the weather, got another appointment time, it came and passed, a third was set it too came and passed so I walked out again. During all this time alone in the cold I was thinking about how my family was probably all together in a warm house. But I somehow wished my family were out with me to see how beautiful, hear how quiet, such lovely people, it was perfect somehow and I just wanted to share it with them… but… By 9pm AAA finally called and canceled on me! Ending the beauty of the snow, ice and necessities on hold mind set “Our trucks are too expensive to take up a road like that” that upset me! The fact I could have hired some bubba to get my truck out, and I got strung along all day, NO HAY, no truck, and nothing accomplished for the day what the heck it was a delight to have such a day, so I’ll figure out the details for tomorrow.

Today; Sunday… I resorted to myself once again… I borrowed a sled! I asked for hay , I pulled the hay as far as I could up the MOUNTAIN, I quit! ONLY because I had already set my mind on using this very situation to get Navarre to pull his weight for the fist time in his life! Sure enough, I walked up the mountain, got the little boy, walked him down the mountain, stopped at my truck, got a rope and some bungee cords and set out to take care of my animals.

Now having that mind set I have to tell you; I met so many people on the road the last few days it was just as enjoyable as it was work, Greg … was dropped off to walk up the mountain, and he helped me instead of going his own way. Truth be told, he pulled the bail of hay up the hard part that was clear pavement, making the weight heavier instead of a simple glide. He insisted on helping me out, this was truly one of the nicest things anyone has done for me in LONG time, Thank you so much! . With his help Navarre got used to the noise the sled made behind him, we then hitched the sled to Navarre and had the horse pull it the rest of the way. When we got the really steep part of the walk I asked Greg if he would like to have a ride? I was glad to ease his walk a little after all his hard work. We stopped at the Fletcher barn to get more hay! David was nice and offered to take two bails up to the barn. After barely making it to bottom of the drive way.. Which is only steeper than the road itself, I loaded the other two bails onto the sled and Navarre carried them the rest of the way. I did it; I didn’t have to beg for help, I jerry rigged the horse equipment, but the point is I got it done, Greg and David helped me so much but also allowed me a sense of accomplishment for my self. LIFE IS GOOD!

There are some things that just feel so good. Knowing I can do what ever I want in 10-12 inches of snow, it takes me longer, but I can do it! It Feels good! Grant you, I have a hard time getting out of a chair my body hurts so bad from walking in snow so deep, try walking 3 miles in snow up to your knees!!!! See what your cheeks feel like! I didn’t know those muscles were still there! I lost that young tight thing when I was 32! Now it’s a normal rear end of a 40 something year old… and hurts like one tonight….

Other vehicles got stuck around my truck, and some kids pulled them all out, even sending someone to get my keys and deliver my truck home. So the end of the saga… after a hot shower, my truck is home, my horses have hay, and I decided to sit and write about it.

Merry Christmas everyone!