My pointless musings over todays COTH happenings... (and thank you)

[InWhyCee]

At last, a happy, forward-thinking post! I just picked up some Sweet Lumps and Stud Muffins for my school horses to go with their carrots, even though there are days when I think they don’t necessarily deserve them.

I had to pause at your request to “think about how lucky our own horses are that they have loving owners to care for them (with the means to take care of them).” “Means” don’t equal “care” in every case… I knew people growing up who had the means at their disposal but seemed to think their horses needed no more care than the stable cat. And then there are cases like Unbridled or Dubai Millenium, where all the care and means in the world were not enough. You always need common (horse) sense and, sometimes, fate to smile on you.

[redhorse05]

Good topic, guys. I’ve been having a downer of a week and my horse is having a ‘bad’ spell again. Since the wobbles diagnosis, now there’s a name for when he’s feeling kinda funky. And this week is one of those times. So no stress break rides for me lately.

But I do go brush him and play with him and his filly ‘sister’ every day after work, course they are AT work but I don’t get up to do my thing till I’m off. It’s such a stress reliever to have him pick up the treat bag from the trunk when he thinks he needs one. And brush him till he shines. He makes me smile just with that goofy twist of his head when he begs over the wall or blows in my hair when I do the buckets. Both my dogs have therapy dog titles, if they offered it for horses, Joey would be first in line.

~Odin

[Cactuskate]

Why ETBW, I believe you must be the cloned sister of dear Martha of the Kingdom of KMart !!

And deary, those nails look so lovely too. How do you do it all???

What pray tell have you homemade for the little Goblins this year? Something fashioned from those horse manes you have pulled, or maybe a pillow stuffed with body clippings from Maddie? I’m sure Winglet would love a new pillow at his home away from home. Hmmmm?

“The older I get, the better I used to be, but who the heck cares!”

[Canter]

… but we must also remember that we all make mistakes with regards to the animals that we all love so much. Pray that we can always learn from those mistakes and that no harm comes from them.

I still feel terrible about a cat I used to own who developed liver disease. I still beat myself up over whether she would have survived if I had taken her to the vets sooner - there were no symptoms of illness - except for one until she jaundiced. See, the minute she cut back eating her usual amount of food I should have known something was up - but geeze, my dog never eats the same amount 2 days in a row … so now, I rely on my instincts, even if I’m just being paranoid. For the record, my vet said it wouldn’t have made a difference - we’re talking a couple of days here, but I still feel awful about it. So we live and learn. But the learn is just as important as the live part IMHO.

[Miniwelsh]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by gwen:
Ryan…welcome back!!! Alot has happened with the whole Seger and M-J thing…It’s over in off-course…Go hug your horse!!!

Barb <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You are a sweetie. I;m glad you are hear with us.

My new puppy has been at the vet’s office for one thing after another these past few months. All have been false alarms and overreaction on my part. I am thankful that I have the means to care for my animals and to make sure they get the proper diet and veterinary care (in fact, their visits to the doctor are much more frequent than mine

There was a time in my life when I was young, single and very very broke. My animals ate before I did. and they paid me back with love every day.

Behind every good woman lies a trail of men

[Snidgie5]

This topic is a good one. Today is the sad anniversary of my Bud-bud’s death three years ago. He died from complications due to an enterolith. Had we known about this years before he could have been saved, but we did not find out about it until it was too late. The part that is so sad is that there were many signs that we (we meaning, myself, my vets, my trainer, everyone) attributed to other things. We thought for some time he might have ulcers, and I did what my vet told me to do, gave him Mylanta. Once I learned of the Enterolith (which wasn’t until after he had been put to sleep) I realized that giving my horse Mylanta had caused the enterolith to grow. I had actually been killing my horse while I thought I was caring for him. My reason for sharing this story is not to make you think we didn’t try everything to take care of Bud. It was quite the opposite. We did everything for him except the one thing that would have worked. Yes, now I know what to look for, but at the time I did not nor did my vets. I miss Bud-bud terribly but do not blame myself for what happened. I know we did everything we could at the time for him. My point in all this rambling is that sometimes things can be overlooked, and this does not necessarily mean that it was neglect. Sometimes things are just more complicated than they seem, and horses cannot always tell us when we are wrong.

[Heidi]

Every once in a while (i.e. monthly), Hans muses about moving to a farm. Until and unless we get to the point that we’re paying board for multiple horses; and unless and until we can hire someone to maintain daily care for the horses, he’ll live a frustrated existence.

As much as I love horses and the horses that we’ve had, I fully recognize that I do not know enough nor have the time to invest in ensuring that they’re well taken care of. And given my tendency to regard our horses as yet another one of my children, god forbid that my ignorance gets in the way of their health and welfare.

Frankly, I marvel at all of you who so ably, gladly, and responsibly take care of your own horses. I can’t do it; in fact, truth be told, I don’t want to do it. Kudos to all of you who assume such responsibility with joy and concern.

[gwen]

We ALL make mistakes about our horses weather it be feeding, training…ANYTHING! Some horses colic because WE change their feed. That makes us feel bad…but that is how we LEARN!!! Always ask questions if we don’t know what to do!! I admit, I changed my horses sweet feed one day…and he coliced…I learned and he was fine…I sat with him for 24 hours straight…one day, I tried turning him out with another horse and he got kicked and needed a few stitches…That was about 5 years ago…but honestly, everyone here has the most awesome advice…I wish these boards were here then!!

Barb

[Cactuskate]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by InWhyCee:

I had to pause at your request to “think about how lucky our own horses are that they have loving owners to care for them (with the means to take care of them).” “Means” don’t equal “care” in every case… I knew people growing up who had the means at their disposal but seemed to think their horses needed no more care than the stable cat. And then there are cases like Unbridled or Dubai Millenium, where all the care and means in the world were not enough. You always need common (horse) sense and, sometimes, fate to smile on you.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

And sometimes the most important yet difficult moment is having the “sense” to know when you cannot afford to care for them and in “their” best interest you find a place for them.

Ignorance is the only excuse for someone that truly has the means but chooses not to care. Selfishness is the reason one without means would continue to pretend to care.

“The older I get, the better I used to be, but who the heck cares!”

[vineyridge]

I went down to the barn and groomed Duncan until it got too dark to see. Started pulling his foot long mane, and actually got about a foot done. He was saintly and ever so shiny when I put him back in with his supper.

Horse grooming and horse care = relaxation and inner peace.

[Everythingbutwings]

Now I know what I should have been doing with the sectional sofa stuffing sized amounts of Maddie’s mane from this summers mane pulling!

Cactuskate - don’t blow the Winglet’s Home Made by Mommys’ hands Christmas Surprise. I think I can go rake up enough to stuff his stocking!

He did so love Halloween, I have been waiting 18 years to jump out and say “TRICK!”

[InWhyCee]

Cactuskate… no argument there! But I won’t make another slam on this board (at least not today) until someone gives me good reason to do so; this is all getting a tad nasty, IMHO.

[ErinB]

Oh Lordy, I missed something big didn’t I? I HATE school.

Uhh, reading the infamous thread now. 'Scuse me a moment ladies.

Erin
~Stressed is Desserts written backwards…Concidence? I think not!~

[Jo]

Yeehaw, I love your new pony! He’s purteeeeee!!!

[gwen]

Ryan…welcome back!!! Alot has happened with the whole Seger and M-J thing…It’s over in off-course…Go hug your horse!!!

Barb