Been 10 days since I posted!

I am still alive and kicking. Last Friday night (Dec 21st) I went and drove my friends carriage for a Christmas light tour for 3 hours. It was real nice, weather was perfect and I made some extra Christmas money. Saturday night I drove for her again and regretted it Sunday morning. It was soooo cold and I got so sick and as of today, haven't completely gotten over it. I couldn't believe the folks that made the reservations didn't cancel. Oh well, it's over and I just know I can't do that again. I was on vacation Christmas week and was sick, that sucked!

As for Christmas, we had a nice one. My daughter got everything she wanted. During Christmas she likes being an only child. She gets extra spoiled! I got what I wanted and more. I got my camera docking station to print pictures and such, clothes, horsey stuff, dvds, and more. So I had a good one. My Chihuahua, Tigger, had a good Christmas. She got a new purse thingy that I can carry her in when we go places. It is one of the nicer ones. (she loves an type of kennel or crate and will get very excited if she sees one) so of course she loved her gift. Plus she got a new bone, collar, and toy. Yes, I buy my animals Christmas gifts. My bulldog Libby got a new bed and a big bag of bones and Summer got a bunch of treats and a new halter and lead rope (like she needed another one).

My parents came over Christmas day. I was dreading it for they have been threatening divorce for the past several weeks. At my age I am okay with it. Whatever it takes for them to quit fighting. After dinner, we watched my favorite video, Jeff Dunham's Spark of Insanity. Both my parents laughed so hard. My mom laughed so hard she was crying. They went out the next day and bought it. It was good to see them laughing. I just pray that whatever they decide to do will bring peace into the family.

I lunged Summer last night and saw a few head nods. But with her being barefoot, I expected it. So I need to get a farrier out this weekend and get shoes put back on her. She is happy and spunky and I believe has enjoyed her month off. I hope she has, because we start working this coming weekend if she has shoes back on. Even if she doesn't have shoes, my vet told me to ride her anyway but to just keep her off rocky areas.

Also a quick note on being a one horse owner. I am loving it!!! It is so easy to come out and clean one pen. If I just want to feed and leave, it doesn't take 20 minutes, I am in and out in less than 5 minutes now. I get to see Hank and Chompers every day and I can still play with them if I want, so I think it was a win-win situation for all.

Well, that was my week, hope your's was a blessed one too.

Vet came today...

Well, the diagnosis was good!!!! She checked all her joints, tendons, did flexion tests, hoof tests and I got a good workout this morning by making Summer do all that trotting out and back. The hoof tests is what bothered Summer. Dr. T believes that Summer has deep stone bruises due to her soft soles. She told me to immediately put shoes back on her and start riding her now to keep her stifles in shape. She does have a weak stifle on the left hind and Dr. T said I was doing a good job on keeping it limber. I will be changing her supplements tho to Cosequin, it is more expensive but does not have MSM or Yucca like the ActivEX does.

Anyway, I feel like my prayers were answered on Summer's diagnosis this morning. My vet bill was a whopping 65 bucks. Whew, I was expecting the worse by 300 to 500 dollars. Plus I spent $26 on a canister of powered bute. That stuff is nice to have around if your horse gets hurt.

I also feel blessed to have a vet like Dr. T, she is honest and reasonably priced. She does'nt gouge her prices and dislikes those vets that do. I wish her and her family a blessed holiday season.

Tammy (who is relieved today) and Summer the wonder horse.

A good evening...

I belong to a gaited horse forum group. I have been a member for over 2 years now I think. They are a wonderful group. Last night we did our secret santa gift opening and my SS was Dorothy (babeandmacsmom) and I got some cool throw pillows, a beautiful lead rope and a very nice t-shirt that pictures a rider, horse and dog and it reads Loyal Companions. She hit the nail on the head with that one, Summer is my best friend.

I also opened my birthday gifts from my secret pal, (yes, we do that too, we are a close knit group) and I got two devotional books, a crystal angel, and other goodies. My SP is too good to me. Tonight we are gathering again to open SP Christmas and the year end reveal of who our SP was. This should be fun!

I learned today that the lady I was a SS for, loved her gifts. She asked for new brushes and a set of rhythm beads. Well lucky for her, I make rhythm beads. So she got a set of new Oster brushes and a new grooming tote and the rhythm beads in the colors she requested. She was so happy. I believe she is a nurse and said she was called in last night and didn't get to join us on the chat. But I am so happy she liked her gift. I like receiving, (don't we all) but I LOVE giving. Especially if I can afford to give what the receiver wants.

Well, tomorrow is "V" day. Vet day for Summer. I pray that she finds out what is wrong with her quickly and it is fixable.

Later gator!

Summer is still limping... : *(

I got to check her good last night and it is still there, that nasty little head nod horse owners don't like seeing.

There is no outward injuries, no heat that I can feel and no heat in her hooves to indicate fever. She is only doing it when lunged in a counter clock wise lunge. I called my vet today, she will be out Friday morning. Thank God I get paid that day. I swear, horses always know when it is your payday. Another thing I am thankful for is, I am doing some part time work for my friend who owns a carriage company this Friday and Saturday night. I am praying that my vet bill won't be too outragious and that extra income will allow me to finish my Christmas shopping. That was what I was hoping to do with my paycheck this weekend, but poop happens. I just pray that it is not something drastically serious with Summer. She is such a good mare and I don't know what I would do if this lameness issue was permanent.

TTFN

New home, sick and Summer

Well, Chompers has a new home and my friend June is a giddy as a school girl. I know he will have a good home with her.

I have been feeling sick on and off. Sinus' are giving me fits.

I tried lungeing Summer last night to see if I could see a limp. I thought I saw something then she would start acting silly and not settle enough for me to get a good look. I will take her to the indoor lighted arena tonight and give her a serious lungeing and see if I can see anything there. If I am still unsure I will just have to call my vet.

Sadly, one down...

Well, I sold Hank back to his previous owner. I think she was a little glad to get him back. I did a lot of work with him while I had him and he may now be a little more ready for her to drive. He is driveable, but he was high strung and needed more work than she had time for. With these shorter days, I found myself not having enough time for him either. I came to the realization that he is more horse than I want to get in a cart behind (I like them laid back like Summer). He may only be a 44" pony, but pulling a buggy or cart, he has the power of a full sized horse. Most folks don't know that. He is so upset when I come out to feed Summer and Chompers and then I don't feed him, but he will get used to it. It breaks my heart, but I have to do what is best for all.

Chompers is still with me for now. His previous owner is very sick right now, so I am not going to bug her. My friend June wants him real bad. If Nancy agrees, I will give Chompers to June as a Christmas gift. I wouldn't just give my horses to anyone, and if I trust her, I am sure Nancy will. But it is up to Nancy if she wants him back. With June (she is retired and has more time to work with him than I do) he would get out all the time and worked and played with, which is what he needs. He is a little stallion with A LOT of energy.

But to be honest, not having Hank is a little weight lifted off of my shoulders. I need the extra $$ in case Summer gets sick or if any emergency rises. I know I always seem to wait for the worst but I just always want to be ready if it shows its ugly head. Yes, I have seen what "the worst" looks like, it is horribly ugly! (smile) Plus I was having some serious back issues yesterday (I have a bad back) and if I am down to one horse, that is much easier for someone to take care of than if I had three.

Better get back to work,
TTFN

Summer seems to be feeling better...

I took her to the round pen to check for the head nod of a horse in pain. You know, the one she presented in front of Doc Carter at this last weekends ride. I couldn't get her to settle down long enough to check her. She ran, trotted, bucked and reared. She was so full of herself. I did think I counted three head nods, but being that she is barefoot right now, if she hits a rock or stick, her feet will be tender and her head will nod/bob. I will try to check again tonight. (for you non-horsey folks, certain head nods or bobs, can show a horsey person that the horse might be in pain)

Keep her in your prayers that it is gone though.

TTFN

Executive decision...time to cut back.

Well, I have made the decision to sell Hank back to the lady I bought him from (she told me if I ever sold him she wanted him back) and give Chompers back to my friend Nancy if she wants him back.

I am tired. I am tired of taking care of so many horses. Hank needs more attention than I can give and Chompers went from running loose on 2 acres of coastal to being penned up and hardly ever getting to run. That is not fair to them. Summer is my girl. She is like having several horses rolled into one. She is a "do it all" horse, so why do I need these other two. Just because they are smaller doesn't make them cheaper. The only two things that make them cheaper than Summer is they eat less and they don't require shoes, other than that, their stall fees are the same as Summer's and the vet bill cost the same as Summer's. I feel bad for doing this but I won't feel bad when it only comes to taking care of Summer. And, I will like have the extra $$ to spend else where.

Later...

Long weekend...

Well, the ride is over and Summer didn't get to compete. (sad face : *( )

Adriane got to ride Summer Friday morning with another friend of mine on her TW, and they had a wonderful ride. She came back into camp all smiles. She groomed her so beautifully, went to check her in and the judge said grade 1 lame. WHAT??!!?? I totally believe the vet, he is good. But why is she lame? After all day of trying to figure it out, (I won't go into details), we figure it is the farrier (horseshoer). The ride farrier, pulled all her shoes for me and I am going to give her a month off with no shoes. Let her hooves rest. Let them expand to where they are more natural and comfortable.

Now let me tell you how the lameness scores work, QS (questionable sound), Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3. Grade 3 horses are pulled from the ride immediately.

I pulled Summer before she even started the ride Saturday morning. I pulled her Friday around 4ish. She is worth more to me than that ride is. I was not going to chance on her getting worse because I want a .50 cent ribbon. There was one lady who's horse checked in grade 2 lame and she still rode out Saturday morning. Of course she pulled Sunday morning cause he was a little worse, WELL DUH! I tell you, I have no respect for her horsemanship abilities. I couldn't imagine asking a hurting horse to carry me 15 to 20 miles for a ribbon. Once again, I will repeat myself, NOT WORTH IT! The vet judge thanked me Friday night for pulling Summer. I now know he respects my horsemanship abilities and knows what Summer means to me. He even made a comment Sunday at awards and said he knew there were some good horsemen when they wouldn't let their horses even start the ride because of pain or lameness issues. I know he was talking about me and another woman for pulling her horse cause it had sore withers and she wouldn't ride either. And she even drove all the way from New Mexico! Good for her for loving her horse like that.

Other than that, the ride was a success. All the riders were happy, ate good food, received good gifts and seemed to have just a wonderful time. And for that, all the tiring behind the scenes work, was worth it.

I plan on Summer competing at the two rides in March, so I pray that her lameness issues are due to a bad farrier and that it's nothing internal. If it is internal, I will have my vet out and we will start the search.

TTFN