Virtual Brush Box

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Ninth week post surgery
Two weeks at clinic DONE
Four weeks of at-home stall rest DONE
Two weeks of paddock rest DONE
Starting week 3 of four weeks of paddock rest
Still to go, four weeks pasture rest

Fans?

In February?!

Had to turn on the stall fan. Not quite as bad as it sounds. Stall is better at keeping inhabitant warm in winter than cool in summer – glad we are not doing this in July – and Milton will start sweating on days that don’t seem all that hot to me. Milton is not the heat-loving lizard that Rodney is. Or that I am.

Still.

This has me concerned about summer, which already gets ridiculously hot.

Plus, once it is hot enough for fans, then flies and fleas are not far behind. #animallife

Onwards!
Katherine

My step-niece went on a camel ride in Dubai. Photo credits, all but one by Kelly Mellon.

Notice the hand in the lower left of the ears photo. I asked about tack. She said, “Yes, there was a ‘saddle’ but I’m not sure if that’s what you call it. Just a firm handle really to hang onto for dear life! Especially when they stand up and sit down, it’s needed!”

I assumed that the snoot guards were due to the camel reputation as a snarky bastards. Kelly was told the muzzles were to keep the camels from eating the bushes.

Taken by Kelly’s tour guide, S., with Get Your Guide: Al Khayma Desert Camp.

No reins! For the dude in the back, not even a person leading your camel. That would make me nervous.

Thank you Kelly! Vicarious travel for the win!

Kelly online. Instagram, @thisisnotafacade: Dubai pics. Blog, This Is Not A Facade. Mentioned previously [Pondering The Past, Wondering If It Ever Even Happened]

All photos supplied by Kelly. I added watermarks & borders. I blurred the faces of the other riders, since I haven’t talked to them, and I overcompensate on privacy issues.

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Finishing week 8 post surgery
Finishing week 2 of paddock rest

Everyone doing well.

Same shit, different day. When we are dealing with two horses pooping inside 23 hours of the day, I’m being accurate when I say shit. So. Much. Shit.

A few days ago, Milton wanted to be helpful. He put his belly on display so that his minion could check the progress without having to bend over. So, yeah, he’s feeling good.

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Week 8 post surgery
Week 2 of paddock rest

What is up with blog horses?

We’ve already heard about Charlie’s abscess and how he doesn’t like to be stuck inside. “He’s a good dog, but….. a little bit of a terrorist on stall rest.” FCE: mud – 1; emma – 0. [1 Feb]

Dylan has an injured right hind, Ctrl+hAlt+Del: Stall Rest Continues….

Quaid is objecting to confinement & small paddock turnout, Journey with a Dancing Horse: About That Light at the End of the Tunnel.

Tristan just got home from surgery. I see stall rest in his future. Bel Joeor: Keratoma Surgery Updates: Returning Home & Rehab.

Wishing healing to the horses and fortitude for their owners.

To prove that it’s not all bad news out there.

“That is the exact moment I learned I had achieved my first score toward my Gold medal.” Contact: Man in the Arena. This is the kind person who contributed the saddle seat vs dressage posts. [Part I, Part II]

“Flora’s training, experience, and attitude are all exceptional and training level is clearly super easy for her, so I guess it probably isn’t that surprising we won.” That Horse Force: An English Weekend at Pine Top. Finding the amazing horse, THF: The Merry-Go-Round Life of Horses.

Wishing for posts like this someday. Meanwhile, I’m glad nice things are happening to somebody.

Onwards!
Katherine

Because in an alternate, non-colic timeline, Friday posts are about photography. While taking photos of the dogs, I had an inadvertent educational session concerning my phone. I dislike inadvertent educational sessions. [Rubber Ducky Day 2020, process notes]

Did you know that camera phones have focus lock?

Mine does.

Did you know that focus lock shows up as a big yellow circle on the screen?

I do now.

The dog dude of the family washed both dogs while I documented the process, which is a fancy way of saying I took photos while he did all of the work. So my mind was on taking photos quickly and staying out of the way. I noticed that the photos were dark but I figured, ‘Meh, we’re indoors. It’s gonna be a little dark. I don’t want to take time to check how the photos are turning out. What it that yellow circle doing over there?’

GONG!

Got rid of focus lock. Room was plenty bright. Missed most of Jasmine’s bath. Phooey.

[The Dogs Have A Spa Day]

Onwards!
Katherine

Bath time! Rose is dubious.

A separate room.

Everything you could want, at waist level, with warm water.

Your ride is here.

A clean Jasmine

Jasmine had citrus for degreasing and Espree for whitening. Rose had the same with a dash of oatmeal.

Soapy Rose.

Rinsing Rose.

Drying Jasmine.

More drying, Rose this time.

Industrial grade hair trap.

A pedicure and we are good to go.

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Week 8 post surgery
Week 2 of paddock rest

Horse is injured. Feed more! He needs strength! He needs to gain back the weight he lost!

Horse is confined. Feed less! Extra calories will bubble out his ears! Limit the stall frolics!

Onwards!
Katherine