If it’s any consolation (and it’s pretty unlikely), there’s always someone in the horsey world who suffers from a worse fate than you - and conveniently enough, you usually don’t have to look very far.
One of my best friends underwent surgery and radiation therapy for cancer two years ago; during the course of her treatment, she maintained her strength and composure by repeating daily, “okay, gotta keep it together for the Royal Winter Fair”, as her 5 year-old WB had qualified first for a prestigious class. Two days before his class, he pulled up inexplicably lame and was scratched. And just to sledgehammer the nail in the karma coffin, her beloved GP jumper was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour on his leg and underwent chemo simultaneously with his ‘mom’.
Certainly not to slight your frustrations and Hammie’s, ahem, charms, but perhaps it’s worth noting that, sht happens. Within the horse world, of course, that sht tends to happen more frequently.
Here’s to Hammie’s speedy recovery and your saintly patience.
Oh please, divulge how you were able to train said Hamster to do this. We will take notes, I promise. 
