Last week, we decided there was no choice but to put poor Cutter down. He was our 28 year old gelding that we took in this March. I literally could climb on him with a halter and lead rope and ride wherever. He was a gentleman, and easy to work with. He was suppose to be for our niece Taylor and Tristan to ride and anyone else who came over to ride. When I brought Cutter home, we kept him in a stall with his own paddock to let him adjust to his new surroundings. He paced and paced, only time he stopped was when he was eating. So, we put him out with the mares. He did ok, but still the pacing. Moved him in with Palmer and Bella. That arrangement didn't work. So, back to the mares he went. The pacing continued and his weight dropped drastically. We adjusted his grain ration and added a weight builder supplement, 6 flakes of hay PLUS all the grass he could eat. Still his weight dropped and still the pacing. Our vet prescribed a relaxer to stop the pacing hoping that would help him gain the weight back. Seemed to help at first, but the side effects made him loose even more weight. So, we stopped that.. He never went back to pacing, but he became so skinny we called Dr. Keller’s office again. There just wasn’t any more to be done for him. So, sadly we had to put Cutter down on Thursday. This is the third horse that I have had to put down and it just does NOT get any easier. But I am praying his spirit is in heaven and someone is loving on him and riding him and he is happy again.
Thankfully, Thursday also brought some good news. Lemon Drop had an ultrasound and was confirmed pregnant! This was my first ultrasound on a horse. Interesting experience to say the least… I put her in a stall, our vet sedated her, put a hay bale behind her back legs (JUST in case she decided to kick…) and waited for the meds to kick in… Didn’t take long. I was thrilled cause they did a screen freeze and I got to see the 20 day along embryo. That was soooo cool! Lemon Drop was calm, cool and the best little lady. She is so much fun to work with! Thus the rejoicing! She, Airiah, Nevar and Shadow are all in the big section of the pasture now. Airiah has always been the “Queen Bee” of Hardenberg. She set Palmer and Bella straight as soon as she arrived and has never relinquished her position. To say she isn't one for sharing her grain is putting it nicely. So, I didn't really think it would be a problem to leave her in with Lemon Drop (LD doesn't get grain) when I gave Airiah her grain this morning. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I came around the side of the garden shed and saw Airiah allowing Lemon Drop to eat the grain Airiah had spilled out of her bin. So, I guess my pretty ladies are now best friends! YEAH!!! But sadly, that is just one more step now in the morning chores.
So, on to the lots of manual labor... As you probably know, we (mostly Will that is...) have been repurposing our old dairy barn into a horse barn. It has NOT been the easiest feat to accomplish. When we moved here 2.5 years ago, the barn was about 2-3' deep of "stuff" covering the floor. Will managed to get most of that cleaned up the first 6 months we were here. I was pregnant and then caring for a newborn at the time, so I wasn't much help. We went from 2 makeshift "stalls" to now having four really nice stalls!! Three have lime flooring with rubber mats on top. Still have some finishing work to do, but they are usable! The fourth one has an attached paddock that we need to break up the concrete floor and put lime in. This one is our "maternity stall". It has really been a process. I am pretty thrilled that we (again... Will really) have gotten as much done as we have with both of us working full time, 2 small kids, etc, etc. So, that is one of the reasons you haven't heard from me much lately. Plus, we have been outside every night until 9pm, soaking up as much summer as we can.
Will and I decided that we are going to bred Isabella's Song (a.k.a. Bella) to Evan (from Horsemeister.com). Really can't wait to see what this amazing foal is going to look like. So, YEAH another beautiful baby to look forward to.
Keep your eyes on the website. Some changes should be coming soon. Should be exciting!!
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