Aventures Happen to OTHER People

[dancinghorse]

First the good news. Sort of. Taminy has an abscess which caused a fever and a systemic infection. Vet thinks bite of some sort. Bloodwork is pending. Meanwhile he's home with antibiotics (and hefty vet bill). He seems better, though still pretty scraggly.

So I've spent two hours on the road today, running him back and forth. I actually wrote A Paragraph in there somewhere. I'm amazed.

Just after I heard from the vet that he was ready for pickup, as I was getting ready to go, I saw a horse butt outside the dining-room window. The barn is on the other side of the house. Ranlikehell out the door to find the entire herd in the back yard. I had not fastened a gate properly at lunch and they had gone walkabout. Pook was still in his paddock, thank god--having screaming hysterics.

Then I got to catch them. Capria and keed were easy, I just grabbed her and he followed. The rest of them decided to have some fun. They headed for the road--with Gaudia in the lead, tail high. I deferred the heart attack until later, managed to coax Carrma to me, then a very high and snorty Camilla. The Girlz bless them, followed her in.

Wherein followed one of the delights of desert horse escapes: Cactus Spines. The grownups are all wise to cactus and didn't run into any. The Girlz, however...

Gaudia had cholla spines (an inch long, with hooks) all up and down one leg. Ephiny had cholla chunks in one hindleg and spines in all four legs. I snagged Gaudia first. She's a tough one--hypersensitive like dad, and not a My Lipizzan, which means she doesn't just give me what I ask, she has to think about it. Plus she's just a kid, therefore less civilized than she will be later.

It got athletic for a bit there. Luckily she's past the kicking stage, and mostly past the lying down on top of you stage, and she's too sensible to throw herself over backwards. She did eventually decide that I was helping her, and finally stood still so I could pick the damned things out. She may still have some in there--it will be another fun day tomorrow when I go to check.

Ephiny, thank god, is a My Lipizzan, and has a much quieter mind. She showed me her kicking foot once, to let me know this wasn't the most pleasant experience in the world, then stood steady for me to pick out spines. She's awfully good for a Terrible Two. (And yes, I've seen how she is with someone who is Not The Chosen Human--she makes Gaudia look like a pussycat. That's the difference between the Lipp who has chosen you and the Lipp who hasn't. Very luckily, in this case. Ephiny is big. And strong. And very, very smart.)

Then they all got hosed off, which they thought was Just Fine. And I went in and washed up and drove to town again to pick up the cat. Still ahead: horse dinner, the inevitable Pages, and evening dog, cat, and horse chores.

Life on the farm.

Comments

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

I guess that's sort-of good news re Taminy. At least you know it's not going to be a problem to get him to take his medicine. :}

And EEEEEEEEP re the horse wanderings, and aftermath thereof. Good lord.

[janni.livejournal.com]

Oww! I've had cholla spines leap through a thick pair of jeans. Oww!

[casacorona.livejournal.com]

Oh god. I'm glad about Taminy. I'm sorry about the great Escape, though! I know what that's like, God knows. Thank god that the girlz will follow Carrma and Camilla!

You know this, but olive oil on the legs, to smooth out the remaining cactus spines. They'll be fine, though, and now Ephiny and Gaudia will avoid cactus when they meet it.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

You sound so calm. Having temporarily lost a toddler in a department store, I have a vague idea of what runs through one's mind at times like these. But, perhaps dressage riders are supposed to always stay collected?

[christymarx.livejournal.com]

Great Goddess, that was stress you didn't need. Glad they all got in okay. I hope poor old Taminy gets better fast.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Way, way too much excitement for the day--glad no one was seriously hurt, and sending good thoughts for the T! (And Lips are so sharp, is there real hope they'll learn from this?)

They don't remember about cholla, necessarily

[lynnesite.livejournal.com]

At least, my Ember will respond to a verbal cue "that's cholla" but not necessarily notice it herself. Apple Cider Vinegar is the rinse of choice for endurance riders. Olive oil, that's new to me, use both, and they'll smell like salad dressing. Basic gear on board always includes hemostats for cholla removal.

When Ember was a little snot she and herd got out and headed for the busy highway. Her breeder's M-I-L, sr. citizen, was the only one home. She ran after the herd with a halter and called them. Only Ember turned around and came (she didn't have a barn name then) and the others followed, M-I-L has never forgotten that story.

Thanks for the My Lippizan clarification. I will be more aware about my darling and interaction with others.

[starfall42.livejournal.com]

Ow ow ow. Yes, I remember cholla. Glad it wasn't any worse. And watch where you step in the house -- Taminay may have found a scorpion.

I have my pictures from the UK now online.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Trust me, it's the calm of tightly controlled hysteria. Can't let the horses see I'm going crazy, or they'll really take off.

Cackle! about dressage riders and collection. Like horses, like riders. Yep. Uh-huh. Or, to put it another way, Never Let Them See Your Fear.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Thanks everybody. (Great piccies from London, Alan!) They all seem in decent shape this morning, though I'll do a cactus check on the Wild Child later.

The cat seems better as well. He's hiding again, but he came out when I called, and he ate a tiny bit of tuna last night. He'll get more later.

Re: They don't remember about cholla, necessarily

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Well. Put it this way. . There were six horses on the loose. Only the babies, whose first Great Escape it was, got chollaed. The rest didn't have a single sticker anywhere--and they were having a grand old time out there in cactus country.

Thanks for the My Lippizan clarification. I will be more aware about my darling and interaction with others.

She'll always do things for you that she won't do for anyone else, because you're the One True Human. With time, education, and socialization, she can learn to be gracious to others, but each new person has to earn respect individually.

It's fascinating for me to see in Gaudia what it's like for others to deal with Pook. He's always been bonded, and it's second nature for both of us to understand what we're thinking. Gaudia loves me, we're dear friends, but sometimes we're not quite in synch--then she's a bit difficult. It takes a little longer to talk her into things as a result.

Whereas Ephiny can be an absolute bear for others, but for me she's the sweetest, most gracious person imaginable. We have our moments, and she can be a stinker, but all I have to do is stand steady and she settles right down. When she's mature she'll be wonderful--I'm really looking forward to raising babies with her. (More Pooklets! Wheeeee!)

[house-draven.livejournal.com]

Ye gods! So glad you got everyone rounded up and safely home again, despite Adventures With Cacti!

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Thenkyew. I just picked out some more spines from the Girlz. Gaudia was reasonably well behaved, all things considered. Ephiny just stood there, asked if I was done, then wandered off to the rest of her lunch. Go Ephiny!

[house-draven.livejournal.com]

What very good babies you have! I've had to pick cacti from the dogs, and they were pretty good about it, but their skin was looser, too.

I do so love hearing your reports about your day at the farm!