Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Preparations................and Set Backs



As the countdown continues there are a lot of last minute things Richard and I are trying to get accomplished. Just like any plan there are those things that come up along the way that must be dealt with so the plans can be completed at all. So as we try to get down our list a new set of things to do is emerging.

Good body clipping requires thorough bathing first. The easiest way to do that requires warm water. The soap just doesn't lift the dirt the same with cold water and trying to get that deep down ground in dirt is near impossible. However, warm water baths are out of the question on my farm.

Angie and Richard have a portable unit that heats water for bathing. Wouldn't you know, that unit requires fixing, so getting parts was added to the list. The nearest dealer with parts is in Olympia making it a half day project just to get parts not counting any repair time for the unit.

Tracking down some new blades without having to pay $30 or more for them has also become a priority. Since the idea of body clipping hadn't come to me sooner when I could have ordered them from a catalog for half the price. Overnight shipping would defeat the purpose so the hunt is on for something nearby. If the blades can't be located I'll be ordering them online and touching up my clips after the fact. Not the most efficient way to go, but sometimes that's the best one can do.

Whatever additional horse clothing I don't already have must be purchased so these horses stay warm once their warm winter coat has been removed. Of course that assumes we can track these things down anywhere within our area. More time ticking away on this project as well.

On that list of things to do we had ideas about what we wanted to accomplish with these horses under saddle before our guests arrive. While we are trying to accomplish these things we're also trying to keep the other horses on their work schedule as well.

I started off the day thinking it would be like any other work day. We'd be working on horses as we worked out a schedule. But things have a way of not going the way I'm thinking.

Richard already had orders from Angie to get to Olympia today for the water heater parts. He wanted to be headed that direction by noon. Had I known that before I arrived at his farm, I'd have brought different horses on my first load. Instead of the yearlings and Legs I'd have brought the geldings and Vee. In hindsight, maybe that would have saved me some frustration.

The guys showed up to repair the lawn mower so Richard ended up staying later than he planned. That made it possible to work in that second load with Vee and both geldings.

My frustration came in the first load. The yearlings were great. The source of my frustration had to do with Legs. It seems like every time things are going great something happens and happen it did.

The horse came off the trailer with a deep gash in his right hind pastern. It looks like he'd stepped on himself and cut himself with his shoe. The gash is ugly enough that Legs is now on stall rest and antibiotics. Once again things with my stallion are on hold.............



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10 comments:

  1. Don't you hate it when Chaos happens? I've gotten so used to it that it rarely phases me anymore...

    I hope Legs heals up quickly. It never fails they hurt themselves when you really really don't want them to.

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  2. Now I know another reason why it's recommended NOT to transport horses on long trips with shoes on! except I had the impression that from your house to Richards isn't very far... and YET Legs manages to gash himself! ouch! poor boy. Praying for a speedy recovery! and that you get the things on your list accomplished in time! Git-R-Accomplished! In-Time! lol.

    That also makes me thankful that Dandy doesn't have shoes (1. they are expensive and two. Dandy traveled 300 miles to come be my horse, without one single incident in any trailer he's ever been in)

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  3. Doesn't it seem as though the last few weeks have been like that, where the logical and expected outcome of A should be B, but instead, nothing has gone as planned? If so, we're in the same la-la-land!

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  4. Wow - when it rains it pours with you guys!!! I hope all of the logistics work out with clippers, water heaters, horse clothes, etc...

    I hope Legs' leg heals up quickly...

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  5. Is it expensive to care for a horse all year? I am probably asking a stupid question but I was just wondering.

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  6. Always something isn't it! Hang in there!

    How is your friend doing that was hurt?

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  7. It seems like there is always something with our equine friends! 'Back in the day' when I was a kid we didn't have a vet close by plus we didn't have a trailer so we took care of most things the best we could. It seems like now I am always checking with the vet about something or another. Were the horses tougher back then? Or do we just take better care of them now? So sorry that Legs cut himself and pray that he heals up soon!

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  8. Ohh Noo! Poor Legs. I'm so sorry.

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  9. Are you going to be at Rally In the Valley?

    I might go to be a barn -beeotch to my friends who are showing.

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  10. Geez MiKael I am sorry to hear about this, hopefuly with your good care he will heal quickly and be ready for his new debut this year with all his new knowledge.

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