Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Horse chiro helps KD

After a couple wakeups in the night I awoke at 7:15 then let H out who laid in the sun. I started the coffee, went an gave KD her meds and clean both stalls and soon S woke and we had a cup in bed. Mom was up and got a cup and relaxed in the living room. I made Dad a smoothie which Mom took along when she was off to pick him up at 9 and then take him to his oral surgeon consult in the city. S did some hot tub troubleshooting in his housecoat while I headed back to the barn to take KD out for water and visit friend in the sunshine. I also took Roo out and put her mask on then moved horses around while KD was tied at waterer. Switch had her mask removed and she and Roo went in the house paddock which has shorter grass.

I took Biebs back in to go in other stall next to KD but he was more interested in chewing on the new frame and pooping in stall. I took pictures of KD’S feet for another farrier. S was out and working on setting up the sprinkler in the arena as that might be a great place with soft footing to stay in. I let Biebs out and caught Pepper and put in the stall after tranqing KD.


S brought the quad in with wagon so I could continue my poop scooping morning then he hooked to the harrows and started working the ground up as the sprinkler worked to keep the dust down. Biebs thought eating the wooden ramp was a good idea so I ran and got hot sauce and applied. Try that buddy. I then went back and mixed up 30 Tylenol in hot water to give to KD, did you know horses could have it? Before coming in for lunch and a beer I scooped all the dog poop… it is a poop scooping kinda day.


Leftovers for lunch and the news with S kicking back in big brown for a rest. We both headed out at 1 with S jumping on the lawn mower and I watering my garden and moving all the cords and hoses out of his way. I took KD out for water and and a walk then clear coated Britt’s mounting block before sweeping barn floor and cleaning stalls again. S had a bucket full on skid steer so waited for me to scoop the wet shavings thanks to Pepper.. like a $9 pee soaking most of the fresh bedding. Then he dumped in the pit.

He also did more hot tub chemical trials thru the day and finished harrowing the arena that I had moved the sprinkler around to other areas. It looks good and is definitively not dusty anymore. He finished edges with hand watering as I refilled stall water bucket and moved water around the hot tab grass area which is burning up already. Mom and Dad stopped to see KD on their way home from the dentist and had a short visit. I took KD out for water and a walk then reluctantly back to her stall. Pepper had some free time out eating grass then I sequestered him back too.

this tree is so pretty I have to take pictures as I pass it, they wont last long!

S and I enjoyed a cold beverage on the deck then he hooked up the horse trailer for tonight. I fed horses his watermelon rinds and fed H and made new bowls for her before we came in before 4:30 to 1- relax in big brown and 2 - type the blog. We ate leftover roast dinner before 6 hockey game and had time for a half hour soak in the hot tub (S took his phone to watch game in tub) before I rinsed and dressed. S stayed in a bit longer then treated the tub and back to the hockey game. I took Pepper out and caught Switch. I walked both girls in the lovely wind free sunny night until B arrived before 7:30. 


look at all the blossoms


We loaded KD, Switch and Cooper and headed off to Murray for 8 pm appointment. He found issues all over KD and hopefully it relieved many of them. Switch had her usual poll and other adjustment and once loaded we were back at the ranch by 8:30. Mom was back and visiting with Sheldon. B and I unloaded and did meds. I got out a new hay net and Switch's new boots. I cut out the pads to fit only to find they were too big ;( dam it. 


B finished up feeding horses and last few things and headed home at 9:30. I jumped in the shower then bed to finish the Queen of the South series which S watched with me so now he knows the ending he doesnt need to watch :). Be darned if I didn't get dozy watching the last episode but got a second wind that required a sleeping pill at 2 am.

Monday, May 30, 2022

Misty start to a Monday and another vet visit


I woke at 7:30 to a misty windy day. H wanted out soon after so let her out then to kennel and back to bed for a bit to text with B then out to check and give KD meds. 


KD video update and below her way of relieving stress

Harley was fed next then time for a cup of coffee I started on my way to barn earlier. I put a frozen roast in the crock pot for supper. A bit of computer work with S and Mom joining me after 9.

Rain spit a bit with actual rain when I walked out to take off Roo and Switch’s masks. I tried to put Bird’s rain sheet on but she was not wanting it. The rain did not last long but it did drizzle for a bit longer. Sheldon and I laid out his bison barn wood frame. Mom had a bath before she was off to visit Dad at 11:30. S took the boards to the barn to cut and laid it out again before lunch.

We had lunch then headed to town for a meeting with the manager at dad’s place. Sheldon ran to pick up shavings for the stalls. Mom and I and the 2 staff came up with some new ideas. Before leaving I popped up to say hi to Dad quick then out to the awaiting truck limo. Our next stop was to get Cooper then B requested more kneeling pads so stopped at 2 $ stores to find them. Then we headed home as almost 3 and the vet is coming to do chiro and acupuncture. S chatted with a fellow while I went to check on KD, take her for a short walk, clean her stall then catch Pepper and Bird. 

The vet arrived around 3:30 and got busy working on those 2. Once Pepper was done I took him out and brought in roo. As her needles and tens machine worked their magic, Dr Jordan did acupuncture on KD which she said was impressed as many horses don’t allow face needles. She did and had 8 in each foot. Sheldon worked on putting chicken wire in the feed stall as I moved everything out and added shavings.



Can you see Pepper behind her?

KD has acupuncture needles in her head, Jordan says most horses will not tolerate them so she is doing amazing



each foot has 8 needles front and back, all are hard to see being copper on her ginger hair



here is a full body video that might be easier to see

Once the horses treatments were done I took Roo out and left Pepper tied to keep KD company. Then we came in after Jordan was off at 6 for a cold beverage. I peeled potatoes and boiled while S watched the hockey game and replied to emails. I ran out and gave KD a med quick. We were just sitting down to eat with B joining us at her usual 7:15. The roast was so yummy.


this is a grafted tree we plunked in after it died off on part and low and behold it took off and just look at the blooms


morning walk video


new window wire/frame

After eating I put Switch’s mask on then B and I went out to cut new pads for KD and Roo who was sore on her one front. KD got taken out to the waterer in the sunshine to see her friends then back to her stall. B Gave more meds and took her toe back after fixing Roo’s too. S came out at intermission and sawed the wood for the window frame and screwed in place then back to the game. Mom was back and came to check KD then to the house.  Roo will be the first to stay in the “feed” stall and keep KD company. She was quite pleased to do so but will see tomorrow. B and I closed all up then moved on to feeding horses and moving them to the center paddock. B stopped for a quick visit then was off for home at10. S washed up pots and pans while watching game then he and I went for a soak and Mom to bed. I checked horses before coming in to shower. S added chemicals then we both crawled into bed. I made us a protein yogurt bowl, then wrote the blog while he perused the internet and fell asleep. I had to watch a bit of QOTS before lights out.

Sunday, May 29, 2022

KD care day

Usual start to our day with a sleep in till 9. B was out before lunch and off to check horses. She brought KD and Pep into the arena to see if the sand felt better on KD's feet but no real change. She had brought a product called magic cushion to try on KD's feet along with spongy kneeling pads to cut into boot cushions. S pressure washed the hot tub filters then joined us in the shop putting a new chain on the west man door that snapped in the wind earlier this year. 

assessment video

First B tried ice boots (shopping bags) on her feet which she was not a fan of.




KD not an ice fan video

Then the pads were cut to fit in boots



The gooey magic cushion was spread on...


newspaper applied next to be a barrier between the sticky goo and the rest. It was then wrapped with vet wrap then a duct tape boot applied. Then the boot with the foam pad put on. She was then put in the small paddock with Pepper.

We came in for a late lunch putting a pizza in. S also had a bowl of chili too. B ran to town to get more horse supplies. Shaina facetimed from the Illingworth's in the UK to catch us up on her trip and future trip to Ibiza Tuesday. Sheldon headed to big brown and fell asleep during her visit. Once back B said a quick hello to Shaina then went to check KD finding her laying down behind the shop. I said goodbye and headed out to help her get KD up (I think she was a bit cast in a swale that did not help), redo a back foot packing, take off all boots and put larger ones on front. B had been talking to a fellow vet who will come check her out ASAP.


the dramatic lay down video



reassuring video for Shaina after an hour of being up

B then fed the other 2 as I stained the sign she is having me make for a wedding gift and Sheldon went out to shoot gophers. B rode Roo in round pen as I watered the garden waiting for the vet. Dave arrived for moral support for B.



the thunderchild crab is in full bloom!

Vet Ashley arrived after 5; She assessed KD, blocked her front legs and took x-rays and concluded she has laminitis. Her boots were put back on with the pads we made from foam kneeling pads and a DMSO jug was ran. As it was halfway Britt got called into colic surgery. Mom had arrived after the vet and popped out to see progress so she held KD for 15 minutes after her jug while I put Switch's mask on and fed Cooper. Dave headed out to put Roo's mask on but after Ashley left I saw him having trouble so headed out and helped him get it on her.


checking pulses and for heat, blocking her feet in with meds then x-rays which I was aproned up too as holder.


wraps went on her front legs and below is her IV jug of DMSO which I cleverly jimmy rigged thru the beam.

Back at the house I made popcorn and we all visited before Mom went to bed after 9. I went to check on an unhappy KD and scooped her stall. Dave and Cooper headed home after I was back to the house. S headed to bed too as did I to watch QOTS and was just drifting off when Britt was back before 10 from her call out. She was giving KD ace which is a tranquilizer when I went out. After she was all settled in we shut out the lights and left her for the night. I had made B a stew bowl to go and off she went hopefully to get a good nights sleep. THANKS B for all your dedicated horse care! XOXO

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Off to the the races


check out the helicopter limo service Shaina got from Blair I! and her view below

Unfortunately I woke at 4 and could not sleep; I tried podcasts and relaxation breathing and eventually fell asleep around 6:30. My beauty sleep is sorely lacking LOL I then woke at 8 and answered Shaina who messaged in the night. She will not be coming home tomorrow but rather extending her trip till June 8th. I was then up to feed H make myself a coffee and let the prince sleep while I got a blog post published and worked on some more. Once he was up around 9:30 it was 3 phone calls back to back that kept him busy. I did housework and computer work then went and took of Roo and KD's masks.

The gal and her helper crew arrived before 11 as we finished up calls. They got the hutch loaded and on their way. I moved on to watering my garden and pots, planting peas then it was leftover lunch for us. B and Coop were out at 12:30 and at 1 we headed off to the races on a beautiful sunny day. I did drop a stack of boxes and packing paper at the gate on the way out for a gal to pick up.

This year for the Moore's event they had a room booked upstairs. We watched and S bet from there until they served a delicious bacon wrapped tenderloin meal. Then all headed outside to the cordoned off area to watch up close and personal. There were 2- $100K races (one was the Moore's event) and be darned if the same driver did not win both but sadly it was not Dave. 


Dr Jordan on the big screen talking about their $100K stake race


new found cocktail watching from up in the room





Once the races ended we headed for home but seeing now the sun was out we looped thru town and stopped at the ball diamond to watch Asher's game. Mom and Dad arrived after us but it was a short lived game catching about an hour then being called by 10 runs up after 4 innings and not for Strathmore.

Back at the ranch Britt had hosed KD's legs. I helped her put diaper/poultice pads and boots on her to help with sore feet. B then rode Roo and I came in to make a smoothie for "supper" seeing we had it earlier. S had to add a cabbage roll with it too. Then he and I went to soak in the tub with B heading home around 9.