On the mend...

Oh, I'm getting very, very noncommittal with this journal. And it's not because I've nothing to say, heaven knows I'm not short on words or the expression of what's on my mind. No. The problem lately is time. Time can, will and does slip away. I really shouldn't say it's a problem because I'm not wasting time. I will confess to one thing...being obsessed with my horse. It's funny but there are times when I'm standing next to him, leaning against his rotund side with my arms resting on his back as he munches busily on his hay...and I'll take in a deep breath, letting the essence of the horsey smell linger momentarily...I smile. This is my horse. Finally, I've realized a dream. And I almost have to pinch myself. But I don't, I just rest my head against his ribs and listen to the rhythmic sound of his teeth grinding happily away on his forage.

Duke is responding so well to the treatment. Last Friday I took him for a little walk in one of the indoor arena's at the facility. He was so glad to get out of his area and stretch his legs, but I could tell what he really wanted to do was find a nice clean place in the dirt so he could roll around. For a brief moment I almost let him, but decided against it for safety's sake since he might get tangled up in the halter or lead rope, and then might panic. So instead we walked, nice and slow. He was a bit excited but I kept moving his feet. Then, Sunday morning Sam and I took him for another walk in that same indoor arena, and in the arena is a round pen, about 40 feet in diameter. I walked him into the round pen, slipped off his halter and watched as the spark lit in a fiery frolic of horse and hooves. I quickly stepped outside the round pen and watched him be a horse again. Kicking, bucking, running, snorting...and free. He threw dirt on Sam and me but we didn't care. Duke is back to being Duke again. :) Within seconds he was kneeling, then flopping onto his belly before pushing himself over onto his back. Sam laughed and said, "Duke, you're too fat to roll over." And for a few seconds it seemed that he was...but then I watched with a huge grin as Duke's momentum froze momentarily, his front leg curled against his stomach and his back legs sticking straight up toward the roof, kicking and twisting...and then he rolled completely over. He was so happy he rolled several times before getting back to his feet, and then taking off running around the perimeter of the pen. And then, a couple of minutes later he settled down and stood quietly as I reentered the round pen, slipped his halter back on and we continued on our walk. I really enjoyed that, and look forward to the next walk I plan to take him on tomorrow night.

He was such a trooper during the treatment. He didn't fight us when we had to give him the bute. And as for soaking his hooves in the ice water, he absolutely amazed me and everyone else at the stable. Every evening Sam and I would bring a large bag of ice, and gently ask Duke to step into the tub we purchased for this purpose. At first he didn't quite understand what we wanted him to do, and he'd step out of the tub after a few minutes. But then he figured it out. It must have felt good to him, because he'd stand in that tub of freezing ice water for a half an hour. Every now and then he'd shift his weight and try to step out, but I'd press against his shoulder and he'd stop. One of the other horse owners who has the stall next to Duke's stood with us during a session and couldn't believe he stood so patiently and quietly for so long. At one point she remarked that her next horse is definitely going to be a Morgan. :)

And, in the next few days we're expecting two foals to hit the ground. One of the mares at the stable, named Texas, is due any day. And so is one of the mares owned by my friends who have the Morgan farm. They are expecting Martina to give birth either tonight or the next. Then next month another mare of theirs, Coalette, is expecting her second foal. When it happens is anyone's guess, but I will get photo's of Texas' baby because her stall and run is just across the hall from Duke's. Exciting times are ahead.

And best of all, my 30 day waiting period is almost over. Saturday, June 21st is the day I'll finally be able to take Duke for a little ride. I've watched him when he sees other horses being rode just outside his area. He always watches the other horse and rider intently, and whinneys. Then he'll look at me, and back at the horse and rider again. Last time I watched him, toward the end I could swear he let out a deep sigh. Duke thrives on interaction, and I think on some level he misses that. My friend Barb took a lot of photos the day we picked up Duke and I finally got copies of those pics from her. She got several really good ones.


Duke giving me a good sniff and a quick nuzzle.

Looking good enough to grace a magazine cover.

In the moment...big smile inside and out.

At Duke's new home, he's making new friends...

Duke's lady friend, Painted Lady.

Another friend, a two year old jenny mule.

Does this tail make my butt look big?

No feet...no horse

Well, my first week as a horse owner took a difficult turn yesterday. Last night during feeding I noticed Duke favoring his front leg and I was beside myself trying to understand why. He was sound when I purchased him on Saturday, everything was fine. What happened? And how could it have happened so quickly. Lots of things crossed my mind, and I feared the worse. Last night I cried. Every horse owner understands four simple words...no feet, no horse.

 

First thing this morning I contacted a local vet, the best horse doctor in the region. I had already planned to have him do a 'new horse' exam this weekend. I met up with him this afternoon and he confirmed my worse fear, Duke had a minor case of laminitis. Unfortunately, Duke is an 'at risk' horse for laminitis according to the vet for several reasons. Fortunately, we caught it early enough that the prognosis for full recovery is very good. What puts Duke at risk is first his weight, he needs to lose 100 pounds. Second, he had a severe bout with it three years ago, which his prior owner fully disclosed to me long before I decided to purchase Duke. I've done a great deal of reading about laminitis since learning of Duke's history, and everything I read gave me hope that while it could recur again, it is preventable through careful diet management. And third, he's large boned. But it was neither of these reasons that brought it about this time. The vet believes stress is the reason this time; the stress of a new home and new owners. While Duke has outwardly taken the change in stride, internally it was another story. Horses are like that, especially a horse like Duke. I've watched him carefully every day for signs of stress, but he never exhibited any outward signs.

 

It was frustrating, to say the least. Duke can't have alfalfa hay because of the high concentration of protein in alfalfa (which caused the bout three years ago), so I searched everywhere to find him grass hay (it's in short supply). His prior owner also fed him sweet feed and beet pulp to supplement his grass only diet. But I've heard some unfavorable views on sweet feed and so after consulting my other horsey friends, decided against the sweet feed and pulp. The vet agreed Duke doesn't need the extra bulk at this time. In the end, one of the last things he said was he's never seen a horse with such a great disposition (even in the pain he was in) and my decision to purchase him was the right one. We have a friend who also recently purchased a horse (a quarter horse) and the same vet rejected the first three horses he considered buying. This vet will tell it straight and honest, he knows how much is at stake with these horses and their people.

 

So, from here treatment consists of: reducing Duke's daily food intake from 20 pounds down to 10 pounds (he's not going to be happy about that!), administering a dose of horsey aspirin twice daily, soaking his feet in ice cold water every day and 30 days stall rest. No riding, no exercise. So, photos of me riding Duke will have to wait.

 

It's been quite a week.

 

As for the new job, it's been hectic too. But in different ways. New job, new people...Duke's not the only one feeling the stress of adjusting to change. But it's going very well. It's a nice change not feeling constantly overwhelmed.

 

Tuesday, before the lameness reared it's ugly head, Sam took photos of me and Duke after I played with him in the round pen. During a break in lounging, Duke and I posed for one shot and somehow we both managed to close our eyes at the precise second Sam pressed the shutter. Like minds Duke and I....like minds.

 

 

  

One...two...three...close your eyes!

 

Hey, I see other horses over there! Let's go check 'em out!

 

Eyes open and forward this time. Notice the one ear turned toward me, a sign that his attention is focused on me.

 

 

 

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Tags: laminitis, equine, treatment

What is it about girls and horses...

Introducing...Diamond B Duke

The first meeting

Meeting Duke for the first time and leading him out of his corral while my friend Barb (Elvira's mom) takes our picture. Looks like Duke's posing for the camera, doesn't it?

Duke struting his stuff. Getting warmed up by Keith, the seller.

 
Our first ride.

He has the sweetest face and the kindest eyes. They are so unusual in that they are a very light brown, rather than dark brown.  And he's just gorgeous. Still has a bit of his winter coat to shed (it's the darker brownish black you see on his neck and body). Duke is getting settled in and adjusting to many changes. It was difficult taking him away from his home and after a couple of delays he was loaded and we were on our way. It was hot, 97 degrees and I worried about him, but he seemed to take it all in stride, and now he's home with me. He's all mine.  :)

More to come...time to get rested for my new job tomorrow!

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Tags: Morgan horse, first horse

Change...there are changes afoot

Yesterday was a weird day. Surreal, but not different. It could have been, perhaps should have been, but through it all it was just like any other day. The one exception is that yesterday was my final day at the job I've held for the past twelve years.

May has been a month of changes.

It was bitter sweet and a difficult decision to make, one that Sam's been urging me to make for at least ten years. And it was time.

So today begins a new day, and another new chapter of my life. I am currently not employed, but that will end Monday morning when I stroll into the office of my new job. It's a major change for me, from fiscal officer to administrative assistant, but I was ready to step back from the over whelming demands and pressure cooker I've worked in since 1996. I'm so excited about this new opportunity that presented itself to me last month, now I'll be the right hand of the operations manager for a company that helps people put their lives back together. Great changes. Oh yeah...life is good.

And then there's tomorrow. My search for a horse has brought me to a happy trail, he he. At this time tomorrow I'll be on the road to the Yakima area, with horse trailer in tow, to bring home the new brown eyed boy in my life. His name is Diamond B Duke and he's a 13 year old bay Morgan gelding with a soft eye and a huge heart. I've been in constant contact with his owner, whom I was put in touch with last month after looking at a beautiful 10 year old black Morgan mare (whom I didn't take, see layout below). On the drive to the mountainsabove the community of Kamiah a friend told me about Duke, just in case the Morgan mare we were about to look at didn't work out for me. Well, she didn't and once home I got a query off to Duke's owner, introduced myself and one month later I'm one day closer to making my life long dream a reality. I may seem calm in my writing, but believe me I'm jumping for joy all over the place. Duke's owner, like many horse owners, screened me very carefully and throughout the process I could see he loves his horses and wants them to only go to a loving home. He closed one of his last messages to me by saying, "This makes my heart glad that he is going with you. It sounds like a perfect match."

Pictures, and Duke's layout, will follow, after I bring him home. :) I'm sooooooooooooo happppppyyyyyy. Last month, Sam purchased a beautiful horse trailer for my birthday present...the one I really wanted. He's such a great guy, and a wonderful person. I'm so lucky to have him in my life. :)

It's a 2006 Trails West 2 horse slant load with sealed tack room. Hard to believe it was used, the previous owner only used it three times before she realized she couldn't afford it.

Horse compartment.

And, if you love horses, you'll love watching this. Click on the link below.

Tags: career change, decision, Morgan, horse

And they're at the homestretch...

 

First, I want to send a warm thank you to Sam (gaboatman) for his caring email during my recovery from surgery earlier this month. And for reminding me that I do have a place to turn. Thank you Sam for your support and friendship, and to those of you who sent wishes for my speedy recovery. My shoulder surgery was on Monday, March 3 and everything went as planned. I'll spare you all the boring details but do want you to know I was pretty out of it that first week. I must admit I really enjoyed the one week off from work and it was made even better when Sam (my husband...not gaboatman) stayed home to take care of me the first two days. The only down side was I got a bit spoiled being waited on but I really enjoyed it. A lot. Maybe too much. ;) I'm on the mend now, free of that restrictive arm sling (ugh!) and making progress in physical therapy three times a week...which unfortunately has created a problem neither I nor my physical therapist could have seen coming. All this intense work brought on a painful case of tennis elbow. And that's the last thing my shoulder needs right now. So it's lots of ice packs and anti-inflammatories for me until we get on top of this new, annoying development. Am I frustrated...just a weee bit. On the bright side, I have horsey news. :) On a whim last Friday I contacted one of the local boarding facilities to see what is currently available; turns out they had one of the best stalls (with a large run) available if I wanted it. The icing on the cake is the fact that last January when I inquired about these stalls I was told none were available and there was a three year waiting list to get one. Soooo what happened? You know, I didn't ask. I just paid the lady for March and April and called it mine.  Yee-haw!!! And that brings me to another new turn in my horse world. Turns out Norma may, or may not be coming home with me...time will tell. She has quite the motor in her, too much for my current riding ability and is basically more horse than I can handle. Ray is working everyday to soften her and get her to relax and he says she is responding, but there is still some concern. So in light of all this, I've been scouting Morgan horse ads in search of another horse. I have found three others, two mares and a gelding, but none are located here in town. This weekend the plan is to visit the closest one. I haven't totally given up on Norma, and just two weeks ago I needed a horsey fix so I took up my grooming supplies and paid her a visit. Ray was gone so it was just me and Norma, spending time together and getting used to each other, just in case. Norma and me. Either way, I'm ready. I've got all my tack and tools...now I just need the horse. Be it Norma or another, I am sooooo ready for this. Oh yeah, and I need a horse trailer. A two horse slant load bumper pull with front dressing room. Gotta have one of those too. Someone recently told me the horse was the least expensive part and I was a bit skeptical. I'm not anymore. The search continues. "Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and, once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed". -Ralph Waldo Emerson   20561

 

 

Spur of the moment

I visited with my doctor last week and he immediately referred me to the orthopaedic surgeon; business must be slow at the surgeon's office because I got my consult within two days. Saw my GP on Wednesday and had an appointment with the surgeon Friday morning. That was remarkably fast! Last time I had to wait about three weeks for my first consult, back in 2003.  No, this isn't the first time I've had trouble with my shoulder, the last two times it was the right shoulder. In 2003 I went in for a frozen shoulder (fixed by physical therapy) and in 2001 my deltoidcaused me some grief (also fixed by physical therapy). So, they know me pretty well at the physical therapist office.  Okay, I'm rambling.

Back to the present. There are three issues with my left shoulder that need fixed. First, the shoulder is frozen...duh, second I've got some bone spurs that need removed, and third, the end of my shoulder blade (acromion) is hooked (where straight is the norm) and needs to be reshaped. The surgeon wants to get me in ASAP but first my health insurance provider has to approve the surgery, which they did today. Tomorrow I'll know my surgery date. Doc says I'll be in a sling for about two weeks and in physical therapy for about six weeks. And then I'm done. I asked if the bone spurs would come back, and he said no...not on the left side. But, maybe on the right. Then again, it may never flare up. That's what I'm hoping for. 

The good news is that by mid-April I'll be healed up enough to ride again...just in time for my birthday. I wonder if Sam knows what he's getting me for my birthday. :) Monday I had the opportunity to go to Walla Walla to look at horse trailers. My friends who own the Morgan farm wanted to purchase a 4 horse trailer and they were going with Ray, the gentleman from whom I'm buying my horse. I didn't find a trailer, but my friends did. 

Ida-Ho Norma and me, February 2008

Mortana Pat with Ray Ellsworth up.

UVM Promise, 1977

So, about this horse of mine. She comes from excellent Morgan bloodlines and Ray's had her since she was foaled. Her name is Ida-Ho Norma...maybe not the prettiest name, kinda plain...but what she lacks in a name she makes up for with looks. I have pics her grand sire, Mortana Pat (also owned by Ray) and her great grand sire UVM Promise. Norma is her registered name, but horses often have another name, a stable name. I haven't come up with that...yet. And yes, she's just as beautiful as they are. You'll see.  :)  Her sire is Desiderata Alderon (Desiderata is one of my fav poems) and her dam is Ida-Ho Mary Lue (who just happens to be a full sister to Mirzay.

For those of you wondering what happened to my tag offers, I've put them on hold. After having problems with PSP, I uninstalled the program, but now I'm having trouble reinstalling it. So, I took this as a message to step back, slow down and take a break for a bit.

Thing is, I'm coming out of a really bad state. In short, for the past five years I was dancing on the edge of workplace burn out...and depression.  Last year, last summer, circumstances put me over that edge, and I rapidly found myself overwhelmed...sometimes with even the simplest task, like watering my plants, or writing in this journal. And even flexing my creative arm became painful...just another demand. When I spoke to my doc about this, I summarized it simply when I told him, "I feel like I've lost my joy." 

My work requires a high sensitivity to details, is hyper stressful and recently I've learned professionals within the economic development field are prone to burn out, generally within three years. I've been in economic development for almost twelve years.  My workplace is unprepared to help me through this, but my boss is trying to understand. Problem is there are a lot of demands on her as well and several of us can see her heading toward burn out too; she's been with the organization for six years but only the director for less than two. 

I've learned there is a downside to being passionate about your work. This is especially true when sacrifices are made for the common good, and little is given or acknowledged in return. At the request of my boss, I took a couple of weeks off in October, my first two whole weeks in over nine years.

I've learned a week vacation here and there every few months won't accomplish the balance I need to decompress from the demands of work. 

I've learned a lot about limitations and boundaries, and maybe it's time to change employers. So, I'm keeping my options open and my ear to the ground for a new path to take. 

And I think I'm going to give Norma a nice simple stable name. I'm thinking...Joy. 

"My treasures do not clink together or glitter, they gleam in the sun and neigh in the night."

Over my shoulder

Hello my friends,

I know...it's been a very long time since my last entry...over a month.  Eeee gads, how did that happen? Well, there is a complicated reason, which I'll get to later, in another entry, and there is an easy reason. I'll tackle the easy one now.

One word. Horses. I feel like a little girl again and I've renewed my love...ummm, okay, obsession...with horses. I haven't felt this giddy in years, and it feels so very good. I feel alive again! This obsession of mine must not be too excessive, because Sam isn't sick of seeing and hearing horses...yet.  :) Oddly enough he's even getting into it. A few weeks ago he came home and immediately told me about a two horse trailer he'd seen for sale. This is fantastic, and so not like it was when I was a horse crazy child; I drove my family, especially my older sister Lyn, absolutely crazy. Seriously, I did. And I don't think they ever got over it, tee hee. I know I didn't...but the dream of owning a horse just wasn't practical and so I tucked that dream away...deep into the recesses of my soul and left it in a restful slumber until such time in the future when circumstances were more favorable.

Finally, that time is here.

And since I've decided to awaken my long slumbering childhood dream, I've realized I am starting from square one and there is much work to do. The horse, of course (which I've found, btw), a trailer to tow the horse (for trail rides at the cabin, and maybe more), saddles, bridles, hay (currently $150/ton thanks to the hay shortage...ouch), a place to store all the hay, hoof care, stabling...oye! At least we already have a heavy duty pick-up to pull the horse trailer. I'm sooooo excited!!!!! At night I find myself dreaming of hoof falls and four beat gaits, swishing tails and kind eyes. So, that's where I disappeared to this past month..I've been researching everything horse related.

The horse I found is a 16 year dark bay Morgan mare and she is gorgeous. I have a photo of her with her current owner but the sale won't happen until later this spring for two reasons. First, my left should is messed up and I must get it fixed before I do anymore riding, and second the mare hasn't been rode much lately and the owner/trainer wants to spend time working with her before handing her over to me.  I've been undergoing physical therapy for my left shoulder since before Thanksgiving; it's really causing me immense distress. It started as a little annoying pain in early August and escalated into an inflamed rotator cuff. There's talk of either surgery which I'd rather avoid, or manipulating the shoulder under a local anethesia in order to tear through the scar tissue that is restricting my range of motion. Progress with physical therapy has plateaued and the pain is getting worse each week...sometimes it takes forever to get dressed in the morning. I'll know more in the next few weeks what will happen after I see my doctor next week and then get my first consult with the ortho surgeon.  And so, I wait...

In the mean time, I HAVE to share this video I found. What you are about to see is a young woman named Stacy Westfall doing bridleless reining. She is fantastic, amazing and such an inspiration to me. The flying lead changes are smooth, flawless, and send the crowd into a awestruck frenzy. WOW!

 

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