Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Turning the Corner


We’ve seen the light at the end of the tunnel at last. Siete is doing better. I haven’t posted anything for the last few days because it was so depressing. Today, thanks to Arlene from Grey Horse Matters and her wonderful daughter and my farrier, John, the little horse is walking better.

Last night, I thought about how nervous and stressed I was about holding Siete today while the farrier dug out her back hoof abscess. After our painful experience with the vet, I didn’t want to also cause Siete to hate the farrier. I remembered a favorite line of one of my mentors: “If you need help, you must ask for it.” So, I called Arlene, and being a great friend, she and Jacquie came to the rescue. First, I must say that Jacquie has a really magical effect on my horses. They both really like her.

What was amazing was that Siete was so transfixed by the way that Jacquie was tickling her nose that she relaxed to the point that she almost fell asleep while John was trimming her feet. I was prepared to just be able to do the one hoof with the abscess and have him come back to do the others when she wasn’t so sore. As soon as he opened it up and drained it, she was able to stand comfortably and let him do his job on the other three feet.

Jacquie also kindly brought me a poultice called Animalintex which I’m using in a medicine boot on Siete’s foot, and she had another boot that was too small for their horses that she gave me. So, now with two boots, my life is significantly simpler.

I must also thank LJB at the Horsey Therapist for her good suggestions. She told me to add cinnamon to cut the bitterness of the doxy. While Siete still refuses to eat the pills coated with it, she does let me squirt the cinnamon, yogurt, doxy concoction into her mouth. I can’t go so far as to say she likes it, but she is being cooperative.

So, tonight, I can rest easy and feel like my sweet little horse is on the mend.

13 comments:

Grey Horse Matters said...

I'm glad to hear that Siete is feeling better tonight after her abscess was treated. I hope she is on the way to a quick recovery.

Callie said...

It's so nice to have such good friends and so close! I always knew they were great ladies! Glad to hear your little Siete is on the mend!

the7msn said...

I had no idea you and Arlene were neighbors! How cool! And how wonderful that Siete - and you - are both doing better.

Ewa said...

This is great, that Siete gets better.
This is so stressful, when something bad goes on with the close ones...

jme said...

it must be horrible to have an abscess! i'm so happy she's finally feeling some relief - and you too :-)

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Oh! That's such wonderful news for you and Siete!

What a blessing to have such wonderfully helpful and supportive friends, too.

I hope Siete just keeps getting better each day with her treatments.

Anonymous said...

Hi Veronica - just reading up on Siete and am so glad things are looking up a bit. It must be very frustrating as you await results. Is Lyme's disease common where you live? We have just been on the lookout for ticks up here in Eastern Canada for the past couple of years. I've found a couple on my dog, but so far, thankfully, none were carrying Lyme's.

Deborah Carr said...

OK...what if I call you by your right name, now...Victoria...

Sorry, long day... (blush)

billie said...

Great news - I'm glad the mother-daughter team were able to help! It sounds like things are on the upswing now. :)

Lasell Jaretzki Bartlett said...

I'm so glad to hear things are 'turning the corner'. What a relief it must be -- to you, to Siete... How wise of you to follow the wise advice to ask for help! Good modeling for the rest of us. *g* I've been busy with getting hay stacked (ouch, ache, moan) and just doing a quick peek to see how you are faring. I hope things settle over this away soon and I'll be writing more myself. Another year of getting first cut hay in this late in the season!

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to have great friends to help you with this stressful situation. i am sure the Siete is going to do a lot better now.

Anonymous said...

So glad she's better.

Gecko said...

Such good news, some people just have ways with horses in keeping them calm...and others (I'm not saying you or me, but some OTHERS) just can't help but fire a horse up while trying to calm it, without even meaning to.

Looking forward to reading more about Siete getting better quickly.