HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN, JIGGITY JIG.......!!!

We picked Tucker & Mocha up this morning from the vet, with lots of instructions.  One of which is going to be a lot of fun, no hay for him..........!!!!  So how do I feed Mocha hay & not him?  The plan of attack right now is...........for an hour or so in the morning we'll put him in the mini's pen next to their pen & Mocha can eat hay for a little while.  This is going to be a LOT of fun.  

He weighed 24 pounds right after he was born early in Sept.  He weighs 80 pounds now, so he's obviously headed in the right direction.  He's already taller than the minis, but they still outweigh him, at least for a few months.  

John carried him out of the vet clinic, that was before he knew he weighed 80 pounds.  Tucker has also decided he doesn't like to be carried, & spends the whole time, squirming & kicking, which makes him even harder to carry.  So when we got him home, I put his little halter on him for the first time.  That & a lead to make sure he went in the pen.  We had to run thru a herd of nosy donkeys & I was afraid he'd either spook & take off, or decide he liked all the excitement & join in.  Got him in the pen & Mocha of course followed right in behind him.  As soon as they were in the pen, he started jumping on her, kicking at her & in general acting like a brat.  When I tried to move him into the mini pen, he tried to do the same thing to me, & added in rearing up.  NOPE, don't want to get that started, so I yelled & acted tough.............& he ignored me...........!!! This might get interesting.  Especially if John thinks it cute..............!!!!!!  I've already told John it isn't cute & has to be nipped in the bud.  

Tomorrow we will take Jenny back to the vet clinic in Tucson to see what's going on with her foot.  It's closer than Gilbert & has all the "toys" to x-ray etc, so we'll try it.  I'll miss visiting with the folks up at Gilbert, they've always treated whatever crisis we took up there just like they were a fancy expensive horse.  But we'll give this clinic a chance, so far they've been good.  Of course treating a cute little fuzzy baby is different than a jenny that is just barely pasture sound most of the time.  So we'll see how it goes tomorrow. 

TOMORROW?

NEW ORLEANS MILK CART 1903

We were going to pick up Mocha & Tucker today.  One of the vets called this morning & said, they had a warm bran mash for breakfast.........not sure if that was from a menu or if someone just wanted to spoil them.......!!!!  Maybe they ordered from room service, who knows.....!!!!  LOL

Anyway before all of our plans got finished & we got on the road, the other vet said since we hadn't gotten the blood tests back, why didn't we just leave them for another day.  Since we both had doctor appointments today & we were going to have to take 2 vehicles, it didn't take us but a moment to agree to pick them up in the morning.  

They said he's eating, drinking, nursing & bouncing all over the box stall they are in.  So I guess he's feeling better. 

Thelma has been upset since they've been gone.  Usually she is in her pen even with the gate open.  Since they've been gone she is out on the property most of the time.  I don't know if she is missing Mocha or Tucker, but I'm sure she will be happy when they come home.  

When we got home after dark, John started round-up & Pepper didn't come in.  Went out with flash lights & found him on his right side in a dusting area.  He had been there awhile, but when we flipped him over on his good side, he rested for a couple of minutes & popped right up.  Ears up & ready to go to his pen, abeit, rather slowly.  It was a bute night for the old boy.  He's learned to not try to help as much, which really makes a difference.  

I got my thumb cast off today.  The doctor said it's not healed very well because of arthritis, but should be OK, if I don't lift, push or pull with it for awhile.  We'll see how long those good intentions last.........!!!!!

Yesterday I called to see how Selena & Falena are doing.  I guess the mare finally got brave enough to chase them a little bit, so the ice is broken.  Tava said they are getting along better.  They've had to block the porch, so the girls can't get on it & try to get in the house..........!!!!  Guess the people are learning about donkeys quickly.  

Also called to see how Norton's gelding went.  Had to be put off for a few days, the vet had an emergency, so this Wednesday is the day........!!!! 

HERE WE GO AGAIN........!!!!

We took Tucker & Mocha into the 24 hour vet clinic in Tucson this afternoon.  We thought he was recuperated from his choke Friday, but he choked again this afternoon.  We worked with him for an hour or so, & decided the best thing would be to take him in so he could be tubed.  

They were waiting for us, took him in, endoscoped him & really didn't find much except that whatever it is that is suppose to be over the palate is under it.  They think it is temporary because he would be doing a lot of coughing if it was that way all the time.  It's what keeps food from going down in his lungs.  Then they tubed him, & ran into a little bit of resistance right at the top of his stomach.  

We think it was hay.  I've been soaking all their food since Friday, except for the hay.  They said he has nice looking teeth & should be able to eat hay, but if the little sphincter thingy at the top of his stomach, constricted just as something got there, they said it might keep anything else from going down. He's been chewing on just about everything in sight, so he might be cutting teeth, & if his gums are sore, he might not be chewing his hay properly.  In other words...........who knows.  We left them there for the night & will pick them up tomorrow if he does OK.  We might have to feed Mocha soaked pellets for awhile, rather than hay to keep him from eating it & not chewing properly. 

Mocha is such a sweet little girl.  She wasn't too happy about going into the trailer again, even with Tucker already in it.  After banging her mouth & knocking out a tooth Friday, can't say I blame her.  We led her from the trailer to the clinic & then into the stall area & she did better than some of the ones that have had a lot more lead time than she has.  She is more than willing to try to do what you want her to do if she knows what it is.  

As soon as they were put in their stall, Tucker started picking up little pieces of hay off the ground.  There wasn't much, because they didn't want him to have access to hay or shavings or anything like that.  But he was finding some.  

Yesterday we had  2 groups of people come out to see the donkeys.  One group came out with Terry.  Terry use to come out & groom donkeys every week, until she got too many animals of her own that need to be taken care of.  She had a group of friends that wanted to come out & groom.  But we spent so much time visiting with the donkeys, we didn't get any grooming done.  That's OK, the donkeys love to have people visit, grooming would have just been icing on the cake, so to speak.  

Then we have a couple come out that are interested in getting some donkeys.  They were real nice & will be good donkey parents I think.  We'll be doing a home study hopefully next week.  Once all that is out of the way, the next step will be to find them some "fur" kids to add to their family.  Not sure we have anything right now, but I'm sure we'll be able to help them find some.  

We're talking about taking Jenny up to the clinic up at Gilbert.  This morning I soaked her foot because when I went out to check her there was a small area about 1/2 inch below her coronet that was oozing blood that was almost black & smelled horrible.  I have a feeling it is a hold over from when she was so lame on that foot a few weeks ago.  Now that it's open she isn't lame, but obviously something is wrong.  We could probably take her to where Tucker & Mocha are in Tucson, but we've always taken our "interesting" cases up to them & they've never let us down.  I'll probably call in the morning.  The trouble is, this next week is pretty much filled in, equine dentist Thur for Drifter, Rusty & maybe Jenny.  Friday will be pedicures for Thelma, Mocha & Drifter.  Once Drifter has all his problems taken care of, I'll will call Tricia & make arrangements for him to go to his new home.  

We're going to miss the little guy even if he hasn't been here very long.  He "helps" you anytime you are outside.  When we were trying to load Mocha he was trying to get in the trailer, which needless to say, didn't help get her loaded.  If you yell at him, he just looks at you with sad little eyes, & his ears hanging out to the side, so I try not to yell at him. 

Just heard from the week-end company that they won't make it.  Bummer.........I even cooked a little, which of course John is thrilled about.  I've got enough I won't have to cook for awhile, which thrills me...........!!!!!

Poor little Tucker is kinda punky tonight, laying down more than usual.  I hope it's nothing serious, John said he's probably sore from getting tubed.  Mocha doesn't seem to be bothered by losing a tooth though.  We'll check on him later.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT AROUND HERE.......!!!

We've had company for the last 3 days & it's been one thing after another.  If I were Jan I wouldn't come back........!!!!   LOL  

This morning when she was getting ready to leave, Jac came in & said Tucker was choked.  OMG, he has been messing with his momma's pellets, but who would have thought he'd try to eat enough at one time to choke.  

So as she was leaving we were on our way to the vet.  We decided to take Mocha too, we were afraid she might get excited at not being able to find him, & hurt herself.  When we carried Tucker up into the trailer & she followed, somehow she slipped,  busted her mouth & hurt herself anyway.  

Thank goodness she is young enough this is a baby tooth.  It really had us going for awhile though.  The one next to it will probably pop off too, it's pretty wiggly.  

So she got to see the vet too.  Not much to do, except look at it & say, "yep, it's a baby tooth".  

Poor little Tucker got tubed, all that came up was a little bit of hay, but the blockage was down pretty low, so it's a good thing we took him in, although Nancy said there wasn't much resistance.  That's OK, I'd rather be safe than sorry.  

I guess if you like excitement this would be the place to visit, but if you want to actually "visit", I'm not sure.  We have more company coming this week-end.  They are horse/donkey people, so they will know more of what's going on, if this "adventure" continues.  

When I came in from town this afternoon a lot of the donkeys were laying down, including Pepper.  BUT, HE WAS LAYING ON HIS LEFT SIDE, NOT HIS RIGHT.   When I came around the well-house, he popped up on his feet.  Maybe he's learned that it isn't a good idea to lay on the right side, I certainly hope so.   I always worry that we will leave in the morning & he will get down & be there all day. 

SAD NEWS...............!!!!!

I just found out that Jeremiah aka known as PeeWee died a couple of weeks ago from a botched gelding.

RIP Jememiah

He was the largest & oldest at about 15years old, of the 6 mammoths we got involved with this summer.  Tom Snider took all 6 of them, & found homes for 5.  He kept Smokey to work with, & says he really is a nice mellow boy. Needs to build up leg muscles & stamina, but Tom seems quite pleased with his progress.

 THANKS TOM....!!!

A woman fell in love with PeeWee when Tom had to evacuate during the fires this summer, & had all his animals at a riding club down by Sierra Vista & she walked by.  She said she didn't think he needed to be gelded, but unfortunately changed her mind I guess.  

I don't have all the particulars, but Tom said they worked for 4 hours to save him.  My WAG (Wild Assed Guess) is the vet didn't tie the cords off.  On a large older donkey that had been used for breeding, that could be a death sentence.  

I can't figure out why vets are so against taking a few extra minutes with donkeys & tying them off.  I guess because they aren't taught the differences between horses & donkeys in vet school.  Unless they are familiar with donkeys it's like pulling eye teeth to get them to tie.

We almost lost BlackJack years ago when he was gelded, it was touch & go for hours, all because he wasn't tied off.  JUST TIE OFF THE DAMN CORDS........!!!

BLACKJACK, THE ESCAPE ARTIST......!!

This afternoon we had company & John was letting them out of the gate, when BlackJack, "made a break for it".  Actually John was watching Quilla & one of the others on one side & BJ came around the other side & took off.  

John came in & got me, I started down the driveway & John went to get a halter & lead.  He said BJ was beside the road eating grass, but by the time I got out there he was no where to be seen.  THIS ISN'T GOOD.................!!!!!   Our company had stopped on their way out & I noticed Matt standing in the road with Mr. BJ.  I guess he was headed up to the movie site to see if all those nice folks were still there that "made" over him so much when he was in the movie.  He let us catch him & he followed John back to the driveway, until he figured out where they were going.  He finally gave up when he saw me with a quirt & followed John meekly thru the gate.  

The donkeys were all out when the people came, & really showed them what docile, love sponges they can be.  Even Rusty the mule was being social, & Thelma & Madie acted like they had done "entertain the folks" for a long time. I love it when they are good ambassadors for donkeys.  

Haven't heard from Selena & Falena's foster mom, guess I'll send her an e-mail & see how they are doing.  They have probably taken over by now.........!!!!

I think this is made out of hay, not sure, can't read the caption...

Thelma is still trying to work her magic on the gates, especially the one at the hay barn, but so far so good.  The courtyard gate was open when we got home from town this afternoon, but nothing there for her to get in to.  

Heard from Linda today, Chester & Norton are still getting along most of the time.  Norton tries to dominate Chester occasionally, & Chester says, "NO".  She says Norton tries to keep the horses away from Chester, guess he wants Chester for his special friend.  It's been chilly the last couple of days, & tonight it's suppose to freeze, so hopefully they can get Norton gelded sooner than they were told.  

Poor little Drifter has had a knot on the side of his lower lip for a few days.  I was going to call the vet this morning, but John came & told me it had opened up.  I assume it was a cactus thorn or something.  We had to halter him & make it "official", before he'd let us mess with it.  Even then for a little guy he wasn't an easy patient.  We got some "icky" stuff out of it, & he'll be on antibiotics for 7 days.  He's suppose to get his teeth floated next week & then will go to his new home.  He's quite a little character, learned real fast that John is the local "Pez" dispenser, & is in John's hip pocket if John is outside.  Even if John isn't forthcoming with a treat, he likes to hang out in the garage when John is working on a car, just to see what's going on.  

Just found out black bear have been sited in our valley.  Every once in awhile someone will see one, usually this time of year.  I guess they are moving around looking for food.  I don't know if they hibernate in this part of the country or not. 

SHORT RATIONS FOR MOST TONIGHT............!!

Getting caught in the hay barn does not make John happy.  When we came home from town this afternoon, there was a whole bunch of them in there.  Although some of them took off when they realized they'd been spotted, John knew who they were.  Thelma, bless her heart was in her pen, I guess she had already gotten full, since we know she is the culprit that opened the gate.  

So everyone that was in the hay barn, & including Miss Thelma got half rations tonight.  It's hard to change when for years all John has done is latch the chain.  Over the years we've had quite a few that could open either chain gates or drop latch gates.  Thelma not only can open both, she can also open the courtyard gate.  In fact she came on the courtyard this afternoon after John had his screaming fit at the hay barn.  Fooled her, the hay to be soaked was in the house, where we've been putting it since we found out what a "talented" young lady she is........!!!! 

Good news from Chester & Norton, Jon & Linda are letting them out together after Norton climbed a non-climbable fence.  The last I heard they were only letting them out together when someone was outside to watch them.  But if Norton is climbing the non-climbing fence, I would imagine that has changed.  They said the boys are getting along real good & Chester even gave Norton a "welcoming kick".  Norton is still scheduled for "brain" surgery as soon as the weather cools off enough. Jon's hand got some infection, so he had to have that cleaned out. 

Selena & Falena are being good ambassadors for donkeys.  Kachina so far is allowing them in her area, but none of that close up & personal stuff yet.  Selena has a very weird bray the people think is absolutely hilarious.  John warned them  she sounds like a old Chrysler starter that is hung up.  It's one of those things you have to hear to believe.  

This morning was chilly & Tucker was really tearing up the pen, running as fast as he could.  Of course by the time I went in the house, got the camera, & came back out, he was running out of steam, & more interested in visiting with me.  I need to take the camera out in the morning when I do chores I guess.

 

This is a picture of a very upset Arab mare.  Yesterday we took Falena & Selena to their foster home as a companion for Kachina.  As you can tell from her body language she was less than impressed.  She was out in the field when we turned them loose in the field with her.  As soon as she could figure out how to get to her shelter without getting close to them, that's where she went. 

The girls could have cared less about her or her social problems.  There was grass all over the place, so their heads went down & they started eating. 

All that petting stuff is OK, but there is grass here & we are going to take advantage of it.  If people want to pet that's fine, just don't interfere with the eating.

They finally came up for air, long enough try to figure out what in the heck was wrong with that horse.  They weren't interested enough to investigate, just gave her the once over & went back to eating.  

We decided to put the donkeys in a smaller penned area for the night to give Kachina a chance to look them over without having to actually be "with" them.  When we got home Tava had called & said they moved the girls into the pen, & Kachina had already stuck her nose over the fence, so I guess she isn't too tramatized.

Madie needs to work on her manners.  Now that the girls aren't here, she will be eating out with Quilla.  She had to give up her pen for Drifter, so was eating in a 10 x 12 emergency pen.  This morning she tried to eat from the hay cart as it was making the rounds.  Not allowed.............!!!!  Tonight we'll have a whip on the cart to see if we can discourage her.  She's a smart girl, I'm sure it won't take much.

Drifter will be going to a new home as soon as we get his teeth fixed.  The woman was involved in getting him off the highway & to the animal shelter.  She told the shelter she'd like to have him.  They got in touch with her, she came out & as they say the rest is history.  I think it will be a good home, she has a horse & some goats I think she said.  He's warmed up & gotten a lot more animated than he was when he first came in, at first he seemed very sad, poor little guy.  He has some wounds on his back that look like where a horse or large animal tried to take some chunks out of him, so who knows what he had been thru.