10/25/2024
20+ years with horses, 20+ years! I've been stepped on, thrown off, kicked, bit, and have lost precious angels to age. I have bought and rescued my own horses, but leave it up to the horses belonging to my DAUGHTERS to try and kill me this week. Either by heart attack or trampling.
For the first time we had to trailer our first horse in for an emergency Wednesday night. Poor Dusty, my oldest daughters 25yr old Quarter Horse come down with an infection in her leg after an overexcited and accidental kick from one of our ponies while meeting Ghost. My 4yr Old Rescue Mammoth Jack. Pure accident, small cut, bam! Infection. $600 out the door.
Last night the youngest daughters 19yr old Standardbred, Willow accidentally got her halter stuck in the barn. We don't normally leave them on, but have as she is a rescue and needs held often to be tended for various reasons. Leave it to her to find the only bolt after being here for over a week. Poor Ghost who is beside her was frantic and trying his poor heart out to help get her unstuck. They bonded at the Kill Pen. Immediate action was taken and she was hooked for only a few minutes, but a few minutes long enough to cut up her jaw and chin pretty good. More wound cleaning, more antiseptic and some pain meds. Poor girl was so patient and gentle while I got her untangled and tended to her face after getting her halter removed. No more of that in the barn! I will be watching her closely and cleaning her several times a day to keep out infection. This morning during turn out Ghost was still over excited and worried about his friend which caused an early morning, in the dark riot that involved twisting, turning, being stepped on, lots of cursing and struggling to unclip a halter while trying to control a 1100lb animal.
20+ yrs of horses, and my daughters horses are gonna be the death of me. Everyone is fine, everyone is settled but mom is sore, wore out broke and for the first time asked herself why she does this. Looking out into our pasture and seeing everyone grazing happily, I'm reminded why. Horses teach you how to love unconditionally, how to see the light in the darkness, that you can do things you never thought possible. That even in quietness, there is peace and a feeling of belonging. I have had horses heal my heart in ways people never could. I have had horses be there when I just wanted to give up and that's why I do this. It's not always easy, sometimes it's right out scary and at the end of their road your heart breaks for the loss of them. However, I wouldn't have it any other way.
So here's to the morning coffee, aspirin and the mud and horse hair clinging to my clothes.