Haven't gotten an update on how Missy is doing in her new home.  Last I heard she & Claude had gotten home, & she was in the screened in porch on a bed they made for her.  That was a couple of days ago, so I would imagine by now she's got a chance to check out the new "digs".  

Went out to visit with Bijou this morning.  The local businesses in the area are trying to establish an annual "happening" to get people involved.  Stacy said she was going to bring Bijou out with some of her other animals for the people to see.  

When I got there there was another mini horse tied by the gate.  I did a double take, it was about the same color as Bijou, but probably 3 or 4 inches taller.  Looked around & saw Stacy under a tree with her little group.  

Bijou is behind Dusty.  Dusty is a dwarf mini-horse & quite a bit smaller than Bijoy.  He is also a little bit nuts, he LOVES women.  He also thinks any attention given to any animals should be given to him & he really tries to make his point, by pawing & rearing.  Of course he isn't very big, but does seem to be quite strong for his size.  Stacy got him when he was 4 days old, & they didn't think he would live, so they spoiled him rotten.  He's now 9 years old & can be a handful.  I guess he spent a month at the vet one time under constant care.  She said he loves to go to that vet & when he hears the vet's voice he has to go find him.  She said he checks out where he stayed in a stall & goes in the office to make sure everything is as it should be I guess........!!!  

This is Annabelle I think, a miniature Hereford.  She's 11 years old & Stacy said she doesn't know she's a cow, she thinks she's a horse, but most of the horses are afraid of her.  You can tell how short she is compared to Dusty & Bijou on the left.  But her belly is about the size of a normal cow.  So from the back she looks like she's pregnant.  Stacy said her insides are normal size, but the rest of her isn't. 

They also had a real cute goat named Conrad.

Stacy said Dusty has always preferred people to other equine, but for some reason he has attached himself to Bijou.  She said Bijou doesn't seem to care one way or the other, but Dusty has to be with Bijou, if at all possible.

It was fun to see Bijou, he looks good, goes without his boots at home, although he had them on today.  His eyes looked pretty good, unfortunately he has a lot of scar tissue around them, that will never go away.  She said he got his fly mask off one day when she wasn't home.  By the time she got home, I guess he had scratched his eye, until she couldn't see if the eye was still there or not.  It looked pretty good today.  He also recently popped an abscess on the bottom of one foot.  He's was walking real good today, so hopefully no more abscesses......!!!

Flash Flood Devastation

I got an e-mail from Bijou's foster mom this morning about some friends of her's in Tennessee, that were hit by a flash flood & lost so many of their animals.  They, like Stacy made sure the deformed dwarfs had a comfortable safe place to live.  

http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=101707 

I can't imagine how sad they must be, & then to find out the insurance company won't cover damages.  Stacy said he also lost all his tools, so he can't even work.  

They still have 24 horses, but lost all their hay.  I'm sure they will come out of this, but their lives are changed forever.  It will be a long time before they will be able to smile again. 

This is Simmons yesterday following John into his pen for breakfast.  He was down at Tula's pen, which absolutely drives her crazy, she hates it when any of the riff raff get in HER pen.  And he is like most guys, completely oblivious to her reaction to his devotion.

This morning he decided he wasn't going to leave her side, no matter what, so around & around we all went, Tula usually in the lead, John & I trying to separate them enough for her to get in the pen & one of us to shut the gate.  And a very determined Simmons, staying close enough to touch her, which REALLY irritates her.  She finally took off at a dead run, caught him flat footed, & I got to the gate before he did.  Even then he kept trying to turn back to her pen before finally giving up.  

We're doing a home study tomorrow for Simmons & Honcho..........won't be any girls in that home, sorry Simmons.........!!!!

Got an e-mail this morning from Stacy Bijou's foster Mom.  He looks like he's doing real good, with his new little friends.  Little being the optimum word here, he's the big boy in the herd.  

Looks like we're having mini horse races.....!!! 

 And no boots on Bijou......WOO WOO....!!!!

Cinnamon is 24 inches tall

Courtney got out yesterday as planned.  Boaz's feet are really coming around, his front feet had been neglected & showed it.  He's been trimmed 3 times & they are looking much better.  

This is his proud flesh knee.  I haven't put any silver nitrate on it for awhile, what's left seems to just be scar tissue that has to heal.  I keep it covered with thuja zinc oxide, but this is what it looks like when he comes in after a day of rolling in the dirt, etc.  

She got to trim Simmons & Pancho for the first time.  I think I know a couple of boys that have been a little spoiled, especially Pancho.  When Courtney picked up one of his feet, he tried to squash her into the corral panel.  That was bad enough, except I was on that side too, so he had both of us squashed.  It's amazing what a nipper handle to the ribs will do to change his mind.  Actually once the ground rules were established they both did pretty good.  Kathy had said they aren't good with their hind feet, so we decided to leave that for another day.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to work with them before Courtney comes back.  A trimmer shouldn't have to "educate" your animals, although Courtney has always been willing to work with some of my more uncooperative "fur" kids.  They all usually come around & even get use to the power tools.  

We did Jenny last because we'd have to re-bandage her foot after Courtney looked, took pictures, & trimmed.  She trimmed just a little off the front, there is a piece that is probably going to break off.  We're afraid it is does, the open window area will collapse.  Dr. Voss said if it does, we'll have to bring her back up & they will put a metal strap across the opening to stabilize it as it grows out.  He said he wants her trimmed so she is carrying as much weight as possible on the quarters, the sides of her hoof.  

Courtney was absolutely thrilled with Jenny's frog & sole on that foot, took lots of pictures.  I have to admit that sole looks normal, which none of Jenny's feet have ever looked very normal at all, too much chronic foundering in her earlier life. 

I checked with Stacy to see how Bijou is doing.  She said he is doing just fine, his eyes are better, but unfortunately there is a lot of scar tissue around his eyes, that will always be a problem for him. 

Friday we went over to Las Cruces, N.M. to do a home study for Mocha & Tucker.  It was an all day trip, I think John said 497 miles, got home late for chores.  When this happens a lot of them wander off to feed themselves.  The ones that insist on being fed on time, are usually standing in close proximity to the driveway with a judgmental attitude.  It usually doesn't take long to get everyone rounded up & where they belong under these circumstances, thank goodness.  

I think Mocha & Tucker will have a wonderful loving home, they'll have a large fenced area that includes the back of the house.  So they will be able to look in the windows & let the people know when it's time to pay attention to them, which I'm sure they will learn real quick.  

This Wednesday they have an appointment to get their Coggins blood test & health certificates to go across the state line.  That usually doesn't take but a few days, so we'll probably be hauling them the next week. I hope it cools off we don't like to haul in hot weather.


Yesterday Bijou got his teeth done.  Stacy had noticed he had some hooks & she was having her dentist come out & do some of her horses.  I got there too late to see how he did, but they said he was a little gentleman.  He sure looks good with his feet trimmed up, & body clipped, as Stacy said he looks like a little show horse.

Thanks for the picture Stacy

He's still not wearing his boots & is doing really well.  Stacy said he is a little "ouchy" out of the soft pen area, but he's been in boots for almost 6 months.  I remember how it use to be when I started going barefooted in the summer, the first few days till my feet toughened up were pretty tough.  

While I was there I took a picture of the little 24 inch mini horse.  She's happy & friendly, but so deformed.

CINNAMON

The idea that people would breed these little guys for profit just turns my stomach.  Even if people are willing to pay big bucks to have one they can keep in their apartment or whatever stupid reason they have, how many people would be willing to furnish the care these little creatures will need for their whole lives?  

LOOK AT THAT LEFT FRONT FOOT

I don't know what they call the little horses, in donkeys they call them Micros.  There's a place in Texas called Golden's Point that has a little 26 inch jack named Tiny Ticket.  His stud fee is $1000, so there's money in it that's for sure.  

Well Honcho is getting an education, not sure he's enjoying it.  Boaz is still after him, & Honcho came in tonight with bite marks on his butt.  Of course Boaz came in with marks on his chest, so I assume Boaz was the "hound" & Honcho was the "fox".  Honcho seems to make all the right moves, when Boaz notices him, he starts mouthing to show he accepts Boaz being higher on the command chain.  I haven't seen what causes it to change into "I'm going to get you" but obviously something does.

Jenny came in tonight with her duct tape boot all "slithered" to the side.  That hasn't happened before.  Gathered up tape, Elasticon, scissors & towel for her to stand on.  I hate to try to fix her boot outside in the dirt.  

It looked like I tried to make the sides of the boots too short & it didn't have enough area to stick good, so as she walked it started coming loose.  With the weather as hot as it is now & getting hotter, I don't want her foot to sweat anymore than it has been.  But I guess a shorter duct tape boot isn't the answer.  

Heard from Stacy about Bijou.  She said he's a little ouchy today & I can understand why.  She trimmed his feet yesterday & had to take off quite a bit.  But he was walking really good right afterwards.  She's trying to get him weaned out of the boots.  He's on real soft ground, so hopefully he will be able to transition to barefoot without boots. 

I'm going to try to go out & see him Saturday (No racing this week).  Her equine dentist is coming out to do some of Stacy's horses.  She said she found a couple of hooks on him, so we'll get those taken care of while the dentist is there.  

We're also probably going to have his nasolacrimal ducts flushed.  He's got goopy eyes, & we've thought it was allergies, but Stacy seems to think he might need to be flushed. 

I hope Stacy doesn't mind if I put this video of Dusty on the blog.  I missed him when he was really doing his thing, running up & down the fence trying to get a better view of Bijou.  Energetic little guy, I guess health wise he's really had a pretty rough life.  She got him when he was a month old, I didn't ask how old he is now.  She said he is so ornery if he was a full size horse, he'd be a rogue.......!!!  LOL  The word spoiled comes to mind, she said they never knew how long he would live, so they really spoiled him, & he fooled them by getting better. 

This is Bijou with one of the dwarfs & in the 3rd pen is the little 24 inch dwarf.  I forget to take a picture of him.  Both of them have horrible fused joints, but they were very friendly & move around.  She says when she is out in the pen area, she lets all the little ones out together & they get along just fine.  I don't know if Bijou will be with them or not, he looks big compared to them.  Stacy has already talked to her hoof guru.  She's seen his x-rays, about all they can do is get the heels down & leave the sole alone.   His soles are pretty thin & the coffin bone is really close to the ground.  She is hoping to get him out of the boots, I put him in the boots when he came here, so he's been getting along without them before.  OBTW Stacy likes the name Bijou, so I guess he'll keep it. 

Honcho is getting along just fine now.  This morning when he came out of his pen Boaz was standing there waiting for him.  Honcho spun around & kicked at Boaz, & I got on both of them.  Then they walked off together.  I guess they are still figuring out who's going to be in charge.  I would imagine it will be Boaz, but I could be wrong.  Honcho isn't serious enough to be in charge.....!!!

Both Honcho & Buddy are losing their "sausage" look.  And their neck crests.  We're soaking Buddy's hay & they are both getting Magnesium Oxide & Al-Car to help with balancing the hay & to help with their insulin resistance.  Honcho has always been built "sturdy" like an ox, but he's never had problems with fat pockets or anything.  Buddy on the other hand has always looks like a sack full of basketballs, & no matter what we try, he doesn't lose his "basketballs".  We keep trying though, John said he needs to get bit by a rattlesnake like Quilla did a few years ago.  I don't think that would be a good idea..........!!

As of this morning there are 5 fly masks missing, 2 of Boaz's, 1 for Ruger, Ruthie & Tucker came in this morning missing their's...........!!!! SIGH  It's too hot to go looking for them, although John says he's going to, after he gets the hay weighed.  

Speaking of hay I called the broker yesterday.................OMG....!!!!  He said it might come down in price with the next cutting, but he has no idea how much or if it will actually come down.  Soooooo he'll let me know when the big day is & I can prepare my checkbook for sticker shock........!!!! LOL  Sure glad our last load got here before everything went crazy.  I doubt that hay prices will ever go down very much, for a lot of reasons, but the most important one is.........people will pay the price & have been "trained" to pay it.  Hay right now in this area is still selling for $18 & up a bale.  I'm sure everyone would be thrilled if it went down to $15 a bale, which is about twice what we were paying just a few years ago.  I just wonder if it will even go down that far.........!!!

Honcho has been staying in pens since his last outing a couple of days ago.  John let him out this morning, & the next thing we know, dust is flying.........!!!  He's like the new kid on the block, wanting everyone to pay attention to him.  The dust flying was Boaz "protecting" his "herd".  Boaz actually wasn't being real nasty & Honcho wasn't being pushy, so it didn't take long for things to settle down.  When it came time to go in pens for breakfast, Honcho followed John in like a good boy.  So maybe he's settling down & we'll be able to let him out without him acting silly.  

Tomorrow we'll be moving little Bijou the mini horse to his new foster home.  

The home he is in now, was getting a little too busy, & they need to simplify theirs lives.  

This is not a good place for him, the ground is too hard for his feet & once everyone else is out running around, there was no one to keep him company.  I put out the word & an almost perfect home popped up.  Experienced with chronic founder, trims feet, lots of animals & he won't be the littlest horse there.  Stacy has a 23 inch dwarf horse, so Bijou will be "big" for a change.  I've never seen a 23 inch horse before, I'll be sure to get a picture...........!!!! 

YOUTH IS WASTED ON THE YOUNG.........!!

Boy our butts have really been dragging today.  We didn't get home from racing until 3:30am this morning.  Of course the donkeys started their morning ritual about 7am.  They don't seem to care if we get in late, they still expect breakfast to be served on time........!!!  

Our local track wasn't racing Hornets or Super Stocks last night, so our son hauled his Super up to Queen Creek, southeast of Phoenix, of course we weren't going to miss anything even if it was 200 miles one way.  

Fun track, lot of fannies in the seats to watch, & good car counts in all the different classes.  Two other Tucson drivers went up too.  Unfortunately Rod cracked a rotor in the heat race & didn't get to run in the main event.  

But I think a good time was had by all. I'm glad we went, but sure hope our local track doesn't ever close down.  This would be the closest track if we wanted to continue racing, & if we had to go up there to race, I'm not sure John & I would survive the experience on a regular basis.  

Started using the Silver Nitrate on Boaz's knee yesterday.  It's looking slimy which I would imagine is the way it's suppose to look.  I'll try to get a picture of it tomorrow if I get a chance.  Tomorrow is bandage changing day for Jenny's foot, which is my big priority, so we'll see if I have time for other "fun" things.

Kris said to just cover it with a piece of gauze to keep the sun off it.  That's easier said than done out here with all the brush to get caught on. 

Today was mini horse day I guess.  Heard from CJ's family.  CJ was a little black & white mini horse with really lousy feet we got in Nov 2010.  The woman said she had lost my phone number, so that was why she hadn't called earlier.  I told her CJ's new home is with a farrier & a 17 hands high gelding that thinks she "hot" stuff.  There is also a mare that doesn't appreciate the competition & a goat.  The last I heard from Ernie, CJ was in charge of the whole operation.  

I also heard from Kathy that is fostering Bijou.  He has chronic conjunctivitis & his eyes are getting pretty sore.  I went on the internet looking for information & there just isn't a lot out there. 

Thanks for the pictures, Kathy

The main thing they say is call your vet.  Conjunctivitis is one of those things that each vet seems to have their own "special" treatment, so you can really have fun chasing this or that treatment. 

I think Jenny's foot infection, "might" be getting a little better.  I'm still soaking her foot every day In Epsom salts & pushing penicillin into the 2 openings at the coronet.  The slash has not drained at all for almost a week.  The other 2 openings are still draining but very little, not even reaching the bottom of her foot in a day.  

Patti had given me a hoof care kit made by Decron Group to help open up the places at the coronet.  The day John picked up the package the area opened up so I could get the end of a syringe into the hole & squirt in my pencillin wash.  So far, so good, so I haven't tried the kit.

So this morning John noticed she had a sore on her lower lip.  Looks like she's had a cactus thorn embedded that finally worked out.  Poor girl, if it isn't one thing it's another for her lately.  I have a call into Dr. Shamis to let him know she's eating again. I hope he doesn't say start  her on the antibiotics again, although it did seem to help with the infection.  Destroyed her gut flora though.

Heard from Bijou's new mom, he's settling in nicely, got his mane & tail detangled & groomed this morning.  One thing I've noticed about these mini horses is they have a LOT of mane & tail.  It's hard to keep a fly mask on them, because of all the mane.  With him it's hard to find his ears, they are buried.  

Kathy said he's roaming around, investigating & one of the geldings has decided to watch him for the day rather than go out with the herd.  So he might have a big buddy to go along with Gabe the goat who knows.  No matter how much we think we know what is best for them, sometimes they make their own decisions.

For instance, this morning I got what I thought was a brilliant idea.  Gus & Quilla are coming back next week.  So the "pen dance" starts.  Cisco has been in Gus' old pen since he's been gone.  But Gus will go back into that pen when he comes back.  That leaves Cisco & Quilla looking for pens.  There's an small empty pen between Ruthie/Ruger's pen & Jenny's pen, so Quilla could go in that one.  Still need a pen for Cisco, although he could eat outside.  But he likes to have a pen.  This morning I remembered that BlackJack & Frijolita hang out a lot during the day, well at least BJ follows her around a lot.  And they are both "chow hounds" & eat fast.  So if they ate together Cisco could go into Frijolita's pen.  

I told John when he put everyone in their pens this morning to put Frijolita in with BJ................!!!!!  NOPE, not going to happen.  John said there was no way she was going in a pen with HIM......!!!  So we're working on plan B, which means we might have to rearrange some pens to make them more convenient for us, not for them.  The way they are now, you have to go thru a pen to get to another pen, which isn't always a good idea, depending on who you are trying to move past whom. 

Boy, if you like wind today was a day for you.  Me...........not so much, hate wind always have, since we lived in Keflavik, Iceland for 2 years & the wind blew the whole time we were there........!!!  Blew me off the porch one time, another time out in a field.  I ended up wrapped around a big rock, until some nice man stopped, & dragged me back to his car, with the suggestion that I stay inside unless someone was with me......!!!!  I wasn't carrying quite as much "ballast" then, as my Dad always said I was built for speed not endurance.........  Ha!

But we did manage to get Bijou delivered to his foster home with Kathy. In spite of blowing dust obliterating the road a lot of the time.  

This is Kathy & her Dad making friends  with Bijou.  I think her Dad was unwrapping a peppermint, & Bijou was interested in the process.  But he didn't turn out to be a peppermint type of guy.  Carrots.............now you're talking........!!!

This is him ignoring the new neighbors & the new neighbors almost breaking their necks to gawk at him.  I didn't get a picture of his new buddy Gabe the goat.  Gabe wasn't real sure about him, but Kathy e-mailed me he is warming up, so it won't take long. 

Pancho Villa

We've been really busy the last couple of days.  We took Boaz into the vet yesterday to have his leg re-evaluated.  Nancy said it looked good, but needed some more cleaning up, so hopefully the skin can cover the area.  This time she just used a local & he did just fine.  

On the way home we stopped for a quick lunch.  A couple from Wisconsin came over to see Boaz & we visited for quite some time.  This happens quite often when we are hauling donkeys, people seem to be drawn to them.  He was a good boy & showed them how wonderful donkeys can be.  They said they might come out & see all the donkeys sometime this month, before they head back to Wisconsin.  

Courtney came out yesterday to check feet, especially Jenny & Bijou.  She agreed Jenny's foot seems to be a little better, doesn't smell as bad, still draining which I hope is a good thing.  Last night Jenny absolutely refused to eat or drink.  That antibiotic is really a rough one I guess.  I called Dr. Shamis this morning & he said to discontinue it that it's probably killed all the good bugs in her system.  He thought cultured yogurt would be good to try........SIGH!  So I hopped in the van & headed for Sierra Vista.  Checked at the one health food store, nope...........but..........  they have a Farmer's Market on Thur.  Found it, saw an old friend I hadn't seen in years, & found some yogurt........!!!  Cool.....!!

On the way home I stopped at the feed store & got some pro-biotics, just in case.  Good thing because I think she hates the yogurt as much as she does the antibiotics.  John looked like he had been in a yogurt storm by the time she got thru shaking her head with her mouth open.  And I put applesauce in it to try to make it tasty.  Frankly my opinion of yogurt is about the same as hers..............not real food.  So I used the back up from the feed store.  Tonight she was picking at her hay, so hopefully we're on the right track.  

Courtney agreed that Bijou needs to be on soft ground, which we don't have.  Wish I could find someone with soft ground, that would like to have a cute little guy with bad feet & a sweet disposition.  He has to stay in boots here.  

When I was getting ready to go to Sierra Vista, Justin & Tucker were sparing out by the driveway.  I came in the house to get the camera, went out & of course they quit.  They are about the same size, although Justin weighs more.  I'm glad Tucker has someone to play with & learn donkey manners.  Justin loves to do guy wrestling with just about anybody that will play with him.   

TUCKER & MOCHA ARE "VACATIONING"

"MOMMIE SAVE ME.....!!"

I guess that's what they are doing.  They stayed up in Gilbert for a couple of days.  Dr. Voss scoped the little guy & didn't see anything unusual.  So I flew my idea of leaving them there & letting the experts feed him hay & see what happens.

MAYBE IF I YELL LOUD ENOUGH SHE'LL COME & GET ME........!!!

Everyone at the clinic thought he was just the cutest little thing.  Of course they are use to horses, so donkeys especially a cute little fuzzy baby is a rarity.  He was a good little boy, well except for that planting all 4 feet & having to be dragged into the clinic by the above butt strap.  

If he eats hay without choking we'll go back up & get them later this week.  If that happens, then we'll start introducing him to the outside world a little bit at a time.

I think I've figured out why Rusty was chasing Bijou a few days ago.  Our neighbor that helps with chores a couple of mornings a week, was here this morning.  He said Rusty spends hours & hours standing by our shared fence, visiting with Twiggy, a mare he is boarding at his place.  I bet Rusty thinks Bijou might be another suitor for her attention.  Poor little guy can just barely walk, & he's certainly not going 20 acres away to visit with her.  

"WELL AT LEAST I GOT MOMMIE BACK"

 This is what we saw when we left.  Dr. Voss did say Tucker is very sturdy, which I think means he might be a little chunky for his age.  One of the vets commented on how nice & healthy Mocha looks.  Not sure, but that might mean she's chunky too.....!!!  (G)  Actually she is just about right, but I have been thinking about cutting down on their mush, I don't think Tucker has any bones that you can poke.  Maybe if he gets out to run & play he'll get more exercise & won't be so "sturdy".  

Bijou is still a little gimpy even in the boots, but I think he likes them.  This morning when I got ready to take them off to check for rocks etc, he started trying to get away from me.  So I assume they feel pretty good.  I held his foot up when I took the boots off, put a little baby powder in them & stuck his foot back in it before setting it on the ground.  Once he figured I wasn't going to take them away he stood real good for the other one.  He's staying on his feet most of the time & is a little "talkie" guy whenever he sees us. 

Redid Boaz's knee this morning, it looked real good.  Vet called yesterday with the results of the biopsy, it was all proud flesh, no cancer or anything like that.  So if we can keep the proud flesh from reforming, it should heal good, although I'm pretty sure it's going to take awhile.  It doesn't slow him down any, this morning about 5am we were awakened by donkeys serenading us real close to the house. It sounded like a party of boys yelling at each other, so I assume one of the girls was batting her eyelashes at them.  We recognized Boaz & Cisco, not sure who the others were.   Actually Cheyenne came in with a chewed up ear, so it probably was her.  She is only 32 inches tall, so I don't think she's going to get much out of the boys except for a sore ear.

This afternoon we went down to see Rambo.  Amy said he is really a good guy & when we got there, he came over & wanted to be petted immediately, kept trying to run the horses away, so he could get all the petting.

He's such a good guy they've been calling him Bo instead of Rambo, she said he's too sweet to be a Rambo.  Too bad she didn't see him in action when he was up here with the girls...!!!! (G)

Checked on Drifter yesterday in his new home.  Crystal said he is absolutely perfect they are more than satisfied with him & how he has fit in at the stables.  She said there is one woman that use to come out to see her friend take lessons.  Now the woman comes out on her own to visit with Drifter.  He also has a little 5 year old girl wrapped around his hoof, she's too young to read the "Do Not Feed" sign, so Crystal has had to intervene in treats headed his way.  Crystal's 2 year old son, leads him around all the time & grooms on him. I love it when they get a great home like this one seems to be. 

Also checked in on Maddie & Zorro.  Bill said they are fitting in nicely, getting a routine & getting him & Kelli trained to their ways........!!!  Sounds like typical donkeys to me.  He did say he cut back on the small amount of hay he was giving them because Maddie looks like she is gaining weight in her neck crest.  There is so much to eat on their property, I'm not surprised, I hope this isn't going to become a problem, they don't want to put them in a pen, & I certainly don't want them to either. 

RUSTY'S IN THE DOG HOUSE.......!!!

 Canal in France

We're going to be home all day today, hopefully, so we let Bijou the little horse out this morning. I think he needs more exercise to help his arthritis in his feet, but that should be his choice.  He lays down most of the day in the pens, because quite frankly there isn't anything of interest doing on.  

We let him out & he was wandering around, so I went in the house.  Later on the dogs were barking their, "Oh boy this is fun" bark, which we always check on to see just exactly what they think is so much fun.  Usually it's Tucker doing laps in his pen. 

This time it was Rusty chasing Bijou & making him run.  Don't know if it was in play or what, but Bijou certainly doesn't need to be running around on his crippled feet.  They came past me, I jumped in front of Rusty, put Bijou in his pen, & John came to put Rusty in his pen, much to his disgust.  I let Bijou out of the pen & he went right out to start looking around, but at least this way he doesn't have to contend with Rusty being in his face.  

Since we got Bijou as a companion for Rusty, this isn't exactly going as planned.  If Bijou wants to move around & explore, then Rusty can stay in the pens for awhile.  We've had "problem children" before & have let some out at night & the others during the day.  So it's workable, I just wish Rusty would behave himself. 

Boaz hasn't missed a beat with his leg being in a bandage.  It doesn't seem to be bothering him at all.  If it doesn't start draining thru the bandage or doesn't tighten up on his leg, we'll leave it on until Friday probably.  Hopefully when the bandage is removed it will look good.

INTERESTING DAY.......!!!

We took Boaz into the vet today to check where he was gelded & also to check the big sore on his knee.  This morning when we got ready to load him, it only took a few animal crackers to entice  him to jump into the trailer.  He really is a good boy, hasn't been worked with much, but more than willing try to figure out what in the "sam hill" we want him to do.  

The vet thinks the sore is proud flesh, that earlier in his life he got a cut or something on the side of his knee.  When he lays down, it is perfectly placed to get pressure put on it.  I asked the owner when we got him how long it had been there & he said it was there when Boaz came to him over a year ago.  But it also could be cancer, so we decided to do a biopsy & send it off to the University of Arizona.  In the meantime while he was doped up, she decided to clean it up as well as she could. Thank goodness she cauterized it, otherwise I think he might have bled to death.  Excessive bleeding is a sign of proud flesh, so hopefully that's what it is.  She wrapped it up & hopefully when we unwrap it in 3 days or so, it will look good.  I had the camera with me, but got so involved in the surgery, I forgot about taking any pictures..........!!!! 

He was happy to get home, someone called to him from Burroland, & he took off as soon as he got out of the trailer.  

Courtney has had more car trouble than one person should have, & we haven't been able to hook up with her, to get Bijou's feet trimmed.  We're trying for this Thursday.  He's pretty ouchy right now, although we open up the pens for him during the day he prefers to stay in & lay down.  When he first gets up he is really lame, but after a few steps he get much better.  So I think if he would move around more he might be better off, but then again I haven't "WALKED A MILE IN HIS MOCCASINS", so it's his choice.  He's a friendly little guy, I just wish he was more comfortable. 

We are taking Mocha & Tucker in to the vet today to see if he can finally eat hay instead of just mush.  He will be 5 months old Monday & really thinks he's "hot stuff".  Every once in awhile he just can't help himself & has to grab a coat sleeve & hang on.  We grab the hair on his chest & then he's a good boy for awhile.  

We're also hauling Bijou to meet Courtney to get his little feet trimmed.  I'm going to ask her about maybe trying boots on him to see if it would make his feet more comfortable.  The only problem is, he has little bitty feet, not much bigger than Tucker's, & none of my Soft-Rides will fit him...........!!!! SIGH....!!    I did check their web-site & they make tiny little boots, so I'll see what size Courtney thinks will fit him. 

This morning Cheyenne decided there was a Cheyenne eating monster at the neighbor's.  None of the other minis had a problem going in their pen, but she decided she wasn't going as she stared over there.  All of a sudden the jennies are starting to act like drama queens.  At least the "Bijou scares me" crisis seems to be over, hopefully by tonight she won't have to be chased around & around the pen area with a stick.  We never use it, but when we pick up a stick, they know we mean it.........!!!! LOL  

NOT GOING, CAN'T MAKE ME.....!!

Bijou was out all day yesterday.  After watching him for awhile, we've come to the conclusion that he has probably always been in a pen of some kind.  He had no idea of what to do, with all that freedom.  He stood around the pens for awhile, went in one & laid down & finally in the afternoon started following some of the donkeys around.  John had to put a halter on him to get him back in his pen.  He was down in the far corner of the property, when all the others heard the dinner bell & headed back to the pens.  I'm sure after a couple of days, he'll figure it out.  

John put everyone in their pens, before he went to get the little guy.  All of a sudden Frijolita, Chantilly, & Jenny "discovered" him.  He had been in a pen beside Jenny for over 2 days, he had been out with them all day, & for some reason those 3 zeroed in on the fact that.........."he ain't like us"....!!!  It was like he had grown another head or something, absolute panic on their part.  John thought Chantilly was going to try to jump out of her pen again, & Jenny actually ran, even though she is almost 3 legged lame because of abscesses in her left rear hoof.  Since her pen was closest to him, she wouldn't even go near the pen, ears up & totally locked in on this hairy little thing with no ears.  It took almost half an hour to entice her into the pen & I tried putting her hay where she couldn't see him.  But noooooooo, she had to be able to stare at him while she ate.  

The whole time all this nonsense is going on, he is busy doing little horse stuff, like eating & ignoring the big silly girls.  So far this morning everything seems to be OK, but we kept him in his pen overnight. Hopefully when he goes out today they will accept the idea that he is part of the herd, even though he looks a little funny.  

So far Rusty hasn't really paid much attention to him.  SIGH!

BIJOU IS OUT & ABOUT..........!!!

He went out this morning right after everyone else.  We should have waited a little while to let him out, everyone was "running" the pens to find little scrapes of hay, & weren't the least bit interested in him, including Rusty.  I saw him later on & he was up visiting with Tucker & Mocha, everyone else had disappeared.  

John said Rusty probably thinks he isn't going to be here very long like the other 2, so why develop a friendship.  I'm sure they will find each other eventually, but I certainly thought Rusty would be right with Bijou as soon as he was out of the pen.  

I cleaned out the foot he was limping on & the poor little guy doesn't have any frog at all.  We're going to haul him, when we take Mocha & Tucker in Friday to see Dr. Shamis.  On the way home, we will meet Courtney on the east side of Tucson & get his little feet trimmed.  

Last night Chantilly must have gotten scared by something.  She slammed into one of the corral panels in her pen, moved it enough that John couldn't open the gate, without pushing it out of the way.  This morning she has a "boo-boo" in the middle of her nose.  Can't imagine what scared her, she can see for a long way & I'm sure her hearing is excellent.  So John had to redo the pen this morning to straighten it out.  I'd like to get all the pens straightened out, they passed "not" square a long time ago.  Which is why I really like them for pens, they have a lot of give when something happens, like last night. 

Still working on Boaz's proud flesh or sarcoid on his knee.  The Wonder Dust is working on it, but I'm pretty sure she will have to cut what's left off. 

GOT HIM...!!!

We just got home with Bijou a little while ago.  He's a cute little bugger, hairy as he can be.  Not sure how all that mane & tail is going to hold up in the mesquite, but I guess we'll find out.  I could roach his mane, but it's taken him a long time to grow such a pretty one, so we'll see how it goes, once he's out of the pen.  

I think the majority of the herd are over on Burroland, so far Rusty, Jack, Ruthie & Ruger are the only ones that know he's here.  Ruthie & Ruger are trying to figure out what he's doing in their pen.  At least they will still have a pen, once the "musical" pen dance is over at feeding time tonight.  BlackJack will be eating in the outside bunk, which he will think is great, because he will get fed first.  That's the only way we can keep him from "helping" us feed everyone else........!!!

He does have some nasty looking feet, but he's walking good right now.  Susan said he has good days & bad days, so we'll just have to see how it goes.

Putting Wonder Dusty on Boaz's leg hasn't been going all that well.  If the area is dry or scabbed over, it doesn't give the Wonder Dust a chance to do it's job.  This morning I put a soaking wet wash rag on his leg, covered it with a Walmart bag, & vet wrapped it.  Left it on for about an hour, & quite a bit of the dry stuff came off, although not around the edges.  The vet said she might have to cut away the edges to get good clean tissue.  We'll take him in to see her next week, hopefully by then I will have a lot of the over growth off, if I work on it every morning.