Horses & Other Interests
Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. [Begin]
Four weeks post surgery
Finishing week 2 of at-home stall rest
Vet: No coastal hay!
Us, to horses: Have some nice timothy.
Rodney: Nom. Nom.
Milton: Pffffft.
There will come a time when we will insist. Now is not that time.
Us, to Milton: Have some nice alfalfa.
Onwards!
Katherine
Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. [Begin]
28 days post surgery
Second week of at-home stall rest
House acted up last week. Truck acted up this week. House trouble fixed with rental of the proper tools. Truck trouble seems to have resolved itself. (!?!? 🤞). I can’t figure out if this is bad luck, or good luck, or just life.
And of course, Milton, who had terrible, invasive surgery but then was a model patient. (🤞). Bad luck? Good luck? Life?
Onwards!
Katherine
Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. [Begin]
27 days post surgery
Second week of at-home stall rest
Hay continues to go in. Poop continues to come out.
Yay, poop! 💩
Looking Ahead
SNEAK PEEK! You’ve asked, so we will offer MEDALS as one of your award choices for the 2023 Tevis Cup Virtual Ride event. Entries will post in early March with your 100 days to complete 100 miles starting April 19, 2023. Watch here for updates!”
Facebook: Tevis Cup Virtual Ride, Public Group
Looks to be a hanging medal in the fashion of the iconic belt buckle. Nice balance between including the virtual riders in the tradition while leaving the actual buckles for the IRL ride.
This year’s event will begin April 19th. allowing entrants 100 days to complete the distance – finishing up under the same moon as the date of the actual Tevis Cup Ride on July 29th.
The Tevis Cup: Virtual Tevis 2023
Barring complications, Milton is cleared for light work on 4/13. Are we ready to do 100 miles at a slow walk? Yes we are!
🤞🤞🤞💩💩💩👍👍👍
Milton will not be the only post-surgical patient to have hit the trail. ” ‘So we walked. One quarter mile at a time.’ Two Paths Farm: Just a Little Farther…“. [The Repost, Deuce Completes The Virtual Tevis 2020]
In Other News
Thoughts on SF History class from another student, Cosmic Codex: Science fiction: A genre with a mission, Brian Scott Pauls, 26 January 2023. I believe you can read/listen to it without subscribing. If the link is not direct, click “No Thanks” on the landing page and chose the title from the table of contents. [Blanket Adjustment, announcement of class]
Onwards!
Katherine
Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. [Begin]
26 days post surgery
Second week of at-home stall rest
Rodney’s Routine
The original plan was to have Rodney in at night to keep Milton company.
When we bought the property, the barn had four small stalls with a center aisle. We turned two stalls into one stall and the rest of the space into an open-sided area that the horses use for a run-in shed. Roof, one wall is the stall, two walls of wood fencing, and one open side. For Southern summers, one wants as much breeze as possible.
When Mathilda needed to be kept up, we built two sets of two slats (four total) to close off the open side, photo.
To get ready for Milton, we dug out the remaining slats and replaced the others. You have to slide out two slats every time you want to get a horse through. You wouldn’t want this as a permanent feature, but for a while, it’s okay.
Milton would have the stall. Rodney would be closed into the run-in at night. During the day, we would open the side and let him come and go as he pleased.
That was the plan anyway.
Milton doesn’t want Rodney to leave. Rodney doesn’t want to go.
Seriously. Greg stands with Milton. I open the gate. Rodney stands there and looks at us.
Partly, when people are around to watch over Milton, that means people are around who might break out in cookies or hay. If we left the the run-in open for an extended period, he might might wander off to graze. Maybe.
I give even odds or better that Rodney wouldn’t leave, even if he had the option.
He really doesn’t want to leave Milton. If I take him out, I have to insist. If I let him go, he runs back. If I go too far, Milton screams. In a recent test, Rodney got as far as the ring and Milton started bucking in the stall. That was fun. If we take them out together, Rodney wants to play.
I don’t know if this will be sustainable for the duration. For now, Rodney is on the same stall rest as Milton, albeit with slightly more space. Yesterday morning, Rodney & I went for a short walk back and forth within sight of the barn.
As long as Rodney is good with it, we are doing whatever is needful to keep Milton happy and calm.
Onwards!
Katherine
Recuperation History & Calendar
To Date
[When Weekends Go Wrong]
[When The Poop Emoji Is Your Favorite, Patient Report #1] Day one thru Tues 10 Jan
[Welcome Home, Patient Report #2] Wed 11 Jan thru Mon 16 Jan
[Adventures in Horse Care, Patient Report #3] Tues 17 Jan thru Mon 23 Jan
Veterinary Orders, provided no complications in previous months
Feb 13, graduates to small paddock
March 13, pasture privileges restored
April 13, light work begins
Milton Recap
25 days post surgery
Second week of at-home stall rest
Milton has been good about being confined to a stall. We’ve all heard stories about stall rest turning previously mild-mannered horses in horse-shaped kites. This may be in our future. So far, so chill. Milton hangs out, eats hay, and bites at Rodney through the mesh.
Milton and his minion go for two 10-minute outings each day, per veterinary orders of 15-20 minutes total. This seems a ridiculously short amount of time, but Milton is tired afterwards. Healing is hard work.
Milton gets upset is when Rodney is out of sight. Fortunately, Rodney is being very good about staying in to keep Milton company.
Reflections
New plan.
Since the beginning of the year, I have been putting up daily patient reports on a separate page. Meanwhile, I continued to post here. I have been basically writing a second daily blog. Double posting didn’t worry me. I do love the sound of my own typing.
However, I underestimated how much energy Milton’s rehab would take. Mental as well as physical. Or perhaps we are all running a few gallons low right now. Ex Urbe: Self-Care & Healthy Work Habits for the Pandemic
I looked at my post shedule for the upcoming weeks, saw holes everywhere, and thought, I got nothing.
It wouldn’t be all that hard to figure something out. I’ve managed so far.
Maybe it’s time to simplify.
From now on, until we – the barn we, I have no idea about the global we – regain status quo ante, I am bringing the Milton Updates over here and dispensing with, well, pretty much anything else. The separate Milton Update page has been removed.
That’s why the banquet post was on Monday when I just got done saying saddle seat would be on Thursdays. And it will go back to being on Thursdays, once we resume our regular broadcast. Stall rest chronicle or not, I wasn’t about to let ribbons go unremarked! [ASHAA, How Wednesday Became Thursday]
In Other News
Signed up for GBH: History of Drinking Chocolates (Virtual), next month. Join the party! Let us be entertained and drink chocolate together!
Onwards!
Katherine
[When Weekends Go Wrong] Milton’s medical tribulations begin
[When The Poop Emoji Is Your Favorite, Patient Report #1] Day one thru Tues 10 Jan
[Welcome Home, Patient Report #2] Wed 11 Jan thru Mon 16 Jan
Tuesday 17 Jan
Now that Milton is home (yay!), I will still try to update every day. However, missing a day now and then should not be cause for alarm. Either there is nothing to add because the whole point of the next two months is for nothing exciting to happen. You hear that Milton? Or I omit a day due to waiting until the end of the day and then falling asleep. Because this sh*t is exhausting. Even when nothing happens. Seriously Milton, are you listening? No drama!
Short hand walk around run-in area.
(Note. This was back when Milton Updates were a separate page. Not any more. Begin)
Wednesday 18 Jan
With a horse on stall rest, theses are our Daily Tasks.
15-20 minutes of handwalking, maximum
More stall cleaning than usual
Feed hay in several snacks to spread out the entertainment
Minor wound care
That’s it. Otherwise, wait and watch. When there is this level of crisis, one expects to have to DO something. Not complaining. It’s just weird.
Morning. Short handwalk outside! Lots of stopping and staring.
I keep having to remind self that vet said handwalks were for Milton’s mental benefit. It is not an exercise regimen. If he wants to graze – or stare – instead of walk, that’s his choice.
Evening. Opened gate to give Rodney time off from babysitting. Not interested in leaving where hay & cookies where happening. Took him for a walk. Cut it short bc Milton got agitated. Took Milton for a short walk. Went fine. Better to be the leaver than the leavee.
Thursday 19 Jan
Last night, I was stressing that Rodney’s duties as babysitter might mean he ends up on stall rest as much as Milton. A) Milton’s minder said it would be a week to 10 days at most. At some point Milton has to get over himself. (Color me dubious.) B) Recalled the many (many!) times Rodney noped out of turn-out after breakfast. He really is a stall lovin’ horse. C) This morning, took Rodney for a walk to the corner. Had to drag him. Must. Not. Leave. My. Wingman. Milton screamed, despite a snootful of alfalfa to keep him occupied. And finally D) Greg took Milton for a short walk/graze. Milton had no problem leaving his wingman. Rodney had no problem being in the stall eating the rest of the alfalfa.
Evening. Same program, except I walked Rodney to the ring & let him go, giving him the option to stroll about &/or graze. He cantered back to the barn. Okay then, not gonna feel bad about keeping you up as Milton’s emotional support horse.
Friday 20 Jan
Took Milton for morning airing. Left Rodney in stall with doors open. He chose to leave the stall and come along at liberty as escort. It was cute.
10 minutes seems short, but he’s tired after.
Evening walk, with dog escort instead of horse. Rodney stood at stall door waiting for Milton to come back. He’s taking his companion role seriously. Milton doing great. Incision looks good. Needs weight, but he’ll be happy to work on that.
Saturday 21 Jan
Morning walk. Milton’s escort chose to cavort. Milton was very good about not joining in. Rodney’s rations have been reduced.
No evening airing due to activity in the cow pasture.
Sunday 22 Jan
AM. Rodney has a slightly puffy right ankle. Either from yesterday’s antics or from not moving the rest of the time. Seriously, the poop pile forms 6 feet behind the hay pile. Took both for a walk. Rodney felt like he would have been goofy if given the chance. Milton walked and grazed and mostly ignored him. After, Rodney was given an open gate and he chose to graze on the patio for a few minutes. Milton kept an eye out and ate hay. Rodney returned of his own volition. Ankle down a bit. Good boys.
How did Milton’s stall rest become all about Rodney?
PM. Walk. Put Rodney out & closed off access to barn. Be at liberty! Go Graze! You do you! He stood outside and looked in. He walked back and forth. We let him in a few minutes later when he started to get frantic. This is why we can you a dork!
Monday 23 Jan
Week two of phase one.
From left, large, medium (mini), & small flake shavings for stall bedding. Bought one of each to see which Milton & his minions prefer.
Sent photos of Milton’s incision to vet. Looks as expected. Tele-vet medicine. Photos not included. You’re welcome.
Onwards!
Katherine
Awareness of the outside world. ASHA: Funds. Link is to the national association. Awards were from the state association, hence the additional “A”.
~~~
ASHAA Academy Adult Equitation – 4th of 5
ASHAA Academy Adult Showmanship – 5th of 5
February 2022. “You know, if I do two of the three local, summer shows, I could probably climb onto the tag end of the year-end awards.” [Crux]
Mission accomplished.
Photo by Courtney Huguley
Question for the audience. Are year-end awards a good idea? Aye. Motivation, vide me in 2022. Recognition, you can get a big, fluffy ribbon without owning a big, fancy horse. A dress-up occasion to brighten up the middle of January. Nay. The potential for overuse of horses and burnout of riders. All the shows have exactly the same classes. Movement between divisions gets done between seasons. Thoughts?
My ASHAA Shows for 2022
[Mid-South Spring Premiere]
[SSF Summer Show]
[Heathermoor Farm Summer Show]
Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 