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Post by Vida on Mar 10, 2003 0:30:42 GMT -5
Hopefully all is well with all. Didn't seem to catch any major dilemmas in the most recent posts.
Signed up Vance for a clinic in April which should be fun seeing I've only ridden him a couple of times. Maybe it will motivate to me to get my butt out in that cold and work with him so I don't embarass myself too much.
Hubby and I have been argueing about putting Augie down. He's against it but I feel Augie should have improved more by this stage so I think it's time to call it a day for him. The Spring and Summer will be really tough for him as the bugs feast on him continuously unless he's totally slathered in repellent every couple of hours which can't be good for him. Am thinking of throwing him a little party so his friends that he's made can bring him mega treats and say bye. Will keep you posted as to what happens. Or maybe he'll perk up again as he always does when I make an appointment for him to be euthanized.
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Post by Linda on Mar 10, 2003 1:26:16 GMT -5
Hi Vida!!!!! Do remember my bug netting that I string under my mare to keep the mosquitos off her chest and belly. She recommends it highly. I can send you pictures if you want. Cashel also has "bug armor" to protect the rest of the horse. >www.cashelcompany.com<. I don't like pouring the repellant on either--I find this to be a good compromise (and actually cheaper in the long run.)
I do understand your concern for Augie's well-being. You have worked very hard to improve his quality of life.
Thanks for stopping by! You are greatly missed.
Linda
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Post by Skye Pilot on Mar 10, 2003 6:49:28 GMT -5
Good to here from you Vida. We have all been thinking about you and missing you.
Sorry Augie isn't doing better. Poor little guy. This winter has probably been really hard on him. Give him a hug from me.
Good to hear Vance is in a clinic, which one? Would love to come down and take a peek at the clinic if we get rid of the darn cold weather so I can leave for a fews hours without feeling worried or guilty!
How is Eagle? Would love to know if you found someone to lease Eagle. Just to encourage you... Red (his soulmate) and I have been jumping this winter. So it can be done.. just takes a LONG time... good luck with Eagle!!! Also, Red is top dog with his pasture buddies of 15. I thought I would never see Red as top dog!!! My boy is growing up on me!
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Post by adcooper on Mar 10, 2003 7:30:17 GMT -5
Hi, Vida. Sounds like you have much to keep you busy! Good luck in the clinic--that should be a lot of fun. And I hope Augie makes it clear enough for both you and your husband that the decision is plain, one way or the other. You'll do it right, I know you will.
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Post by CC on Mar 10, 2003 8:37:56 GMT -5
Hi Vida!
Good to see you!! Glad to hear Vance is doing well. What kind of clinic are you doing??
Sorry about Augie, but you've done everything for him. Keep us updated on him.
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Post by Vida on Mar 10, 2003 9:39:58 GMT -5
Thanks you guys.
Linda, netting won't work with Augie unless I cover his whole body. Don't forget he has that pink skin and is pure white - the bugs attack him all over, specifically eyes, inner thighs, between the front legs, sheath, feet, you name it! His hair is super fine in the summer. He's enjoyed the winter as he has this woolly mammoth coat thing going on. His coat is so thick, soft and shiney, probably because he's the only one around here that gets brushed once or twice a day. The little bugger was really perky this morning - he must know I'm really close to calling the vet!
The clinic I'll be doing is catering to a group I'm with which is the Equine Ladies club. It's a fun group of older women that adore their horses. Most are slow poke trail riders, then there are a couple that do endurance, sherriff's passe and what not. People are writing down what they want to work on and those issues will be addressed at the clinic in Watervliet. Not sure how good the clinician is but if I don't like her, I can always just ride around in circles and expose the horse to being in a different environment.
Sue, keep at the jumping. Eagle and Red are so alike and Eagle loves to jump and is super focused over rails and quiet as a mouse. He's actually the only horse I feel comfortable jumping in the last 10 years or so as he's just really good at it and makes up for me with the distances. I just have to sit there while he figures it out for me and does his thing. If I leave him alone, he sails beautifully over everything but if I interfere, we knock rails! Unfortunately jumping is not my passion, dressage is, but dressage is not his thing! I haven't jumped him since I blew my back last year. Even when the jumps are set up in the arena, I often see him out the window going over them on his own. Vance skids and then goes around them but occasionally takes one too if he can't make the skid without crashing! My girlfriend who rides Eagle well wants to lease him and do cross country with him. He excells in that type of stuff so we'll see if she's as committed as she says. My intuition tells me she won't come through so I still have the word out that he's for lease. I so don't want to sell him as he's such a treasure to have around. His ground manners are impeccable, he's over the top playful and friendly but polite about it and never hurts you, just a real sweatheart. But he also hates not having a job so if I find the right person, I'll let him go.
Isn't amazing when we pay lots of attention to a horse that they usually end up top of the herd. Eagle and Vance swap all of the time as it depends on who's been getting the most attention. These horses are amazing creatures.
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Post by Einstein on Mar 10, 2003 10:41:40 GMT -5
Vida, good to hear from ya! I'm glad it is going so well with Vance!
Did you ever do any blood work or a UA on Augie? Just wondering if there was a diagnosis or anything to be done. Poor kid, I'm pulling for him.
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Post by Lynne on Mar 10, 2003 16:49:06 GMT -5
Hey Vida! Its great to see you. We really have been missing you if you can't tell! I'm sorry to hear that Auggie is doing poorly again. Like I said, I understand the up and down ride with a case like that. I know that you'll make the right decision no matter what but that doens't make it any easier.
Glad to hear things are going so well with Vance. The clinic sounds like a lot of fun. Sometimes I think it would be neat to do that sort of thing with a group of friends and have it be a little more laid back and less pressure.
How's your motivation competition going? I have been worthless in this weather but finally got out there to work with the horses yesterday and I am DYING to get started again!
Good to see you.
Lynne
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Post by Vida on Mar 10, 2003 20:51:28 GMT -5
Haven't done anything for a long time with the motivation thing as the ground is so slick with ice. We had a thaw one day last week, ran out and worked two horses. Then it snowed again the next day, then froze again, then rained and froze and now it's just a slick skating rink out there. Even the dog wiped out yesterday which was pretty funny as he slid for quite awhile but the horses seem to be doing pretty good and still somehow manage a daily run on the ice but they don't do sharp turns when it's this bad. They're so funny as if they're going too fast, they head to one of the two areas where there's alot of built up hay and do their stops there. They're calling for a warm up in the next few days so I can't wait to get out there again. My place is going to stink to high heaven as all the frozen peepees and poopies warm up!
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Post by chrisnstar on Mar 11, 2003 8:56:02 GMT -5
Welcome back, Vida!!! Glad Vance is doing so well.. so sorry about Augie, but you did all you could for him. I had a badly foundered horse whom I kept alive too long... looking back at it, I wish I had put him down sooner... he did a lot of suffering because I wasn't ready to let go...
chris
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Post by Katmease on Mar 11, 2003 22:24:50 GMT -5
Glad to hear from you; we've missed you! On the other hand, sorry to hear about Augie. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. We're with you in our thoughts.
Take care!
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