Red Clover, Red Clover...

Red clover, red clover, makes DROOL come all over!

 "Drooly? Me?!?"

 Yes, Abby. YOU.

I love my horse soooo much. And I give her kisses often.

But during red clover season, I have to be careful about kisses on the nose - I get slimed if I am not careful! (Hey, I gave birth to and raised six kids; after that, what's a little horse drool, right?)

Four years ago when I adopted Abby, I was more than a bit alarmed at the amount of liquid that came out of her mouth this time of year. I soon learned that it is a normal, albeit large, reaction to red clover and nothing to worry about.

 I no longer fret if her saliva drips onto pasture weeds.

 Even if it seems like there is a lot of it.

As long as she's in good flesh and spirits, and not acting oddly, then nothing is amiss.

 If you're not used to it, it can seem a little icky.

So, even though Craig helped me raise those six kids, he still gets a little squeamish when Abby slimes him.

He wipes his hands on the fence, the grass, or any other available surface, not wanting to wait to rinse in the water trough or use the wipes I keep in my car just for this purpose.

Abby always licks my hands when I visit her; sometimes she licks the bars of the gates, too, and during red clover season, they get a bit slimed as well.

Nickelodeon, you ain't got nothin' on Abby!

A Little Lower, Please!

Saturday afternoon when Craig drove me out to see my girl, I discovered that Tim had rotated pastures again. The horses were knee deep in grass and clover and busily munching away.

Nonetheless, Abby left off grazing to come up and get her apples. She even hung around a bit, so I gave her a good scritching.


That's Snickerdoodle (the palomino) who's hoping for a little attention, and Hokey also comes over. (Abby pins her ears at him.)

There isn't much that is funnier to me than a horse enjoying a good scratch!

Reunited!

I came home Monday from the hospital after having my spine partially fused, and was anxious to do two things as soon as possible: go see my mother, and get out to the barn. I visited Mom at University Place Wednesday, but just did not have the energy afterward to head to the barn and so Craig took me home.

Yesterday was a different story. We went to University Place so I could check on Mom, and then Craig drove me to the barn. I am under restrictions for bending, lifting, pulling and pushing for four weeks, so Craig had to slide the door to the old barn open for me.

As that door creaked open so I could step through it, I heard a nicker in greeting - my girl was happy to see me.


I love how the barn swallows are flitting around and scolding me a bit!

Abby is not only the "lickingest" horse I have ever known, she is also the drooliest. It's red clover season, and that means there is a gusher whenever she opens her mouth. I played it safe by kissing her on the cheek instead of on her muzzle as I normally do.

Because I was very tired and feeling sore, I did not stay very long. But a "little bit of horse" goes a long way, and I came home and went back to bed for a long nap feeling happy and content.

(And big kudos to Craig for adding barn duty to all the things he is doing for me as I go through recovery!)

Horseyreader

Horseyreader is the online name for my granddaughter, Trinity. That name describes two of her favorite things.

Horses - here she is with Abby.

 And with Ryder, one of the Standardbreds out at The Farm at Prophetstown.

She also loves to read and can always be found with a book to hand.

 She's a lot like her Grammy and Aunt Lisa in that respect!

As one of the oldest of twelve cousins, she can often be found playing with the littlest members of the family.

 Trinity with Mila, Julie, and Ian.

In fact, one of her other nicknames is "Baby Whisperer."

Horseyreader is also an accomplished musician.

She plays the harp...

... the viola...

... and the piano.

She also plays volleyball (she's the girl on the right) and is very active in her church youth group.

 But horses play a large role in Horseyreader's plans for life.

Diablo, Abby, and Trinity.

She's aiming for vet school at Colorado State University. 

I couldn't be prouder of this girl! (But then, you can probably tell that already.)

I May Ride Again!

I am three days post-op from my spinal fusion and doing really well. I have regained a lot of the function in my right leg, a surprising amount. (It was very weak; I limped when I walked, and I had to use my hands to lift it when getting into the car. Stairs were taken slowly and with both feet on each stair, sort of like how a two year old ascends and descends.)

Me, one day post-op.

I have a long way to go to full recovery, but got the good news from my surgeon that I could go home  from the hospital this afternoon.

And, the best news is that I may be able to ride again! When I brought it up to Dr. Jackson, he said I could, but not until next year at the earliest to allow for full healing.

"Wait, what?? But I LIKE being a pasture ornament!!"

The good news for Abby is that I may have to start on someone quiet and gentle.

 Like Hokey, who is an experienced older gelding who falls asleep after just a few good scritches.

I haven't been able to ride for years - this is certainly a goal to work toward!

Rough Summer

It has been a rough summer. My mother-in-love went into hospice and passed away from pancreatic cancer on June 26, and our kids (there are six of them plus spouses and children) came home Memorial Day weekend for final visits as well as the 4th of July weekend for the funeral. A houseful of family is fun and cheers me up, but it also throws me off my routine and things do not get done.

My mother was hospitalized for a week with pneumonia and has been unable to return to her assisted living apartment, instead going into the skilled nursing wing at University Place. She has needed me for emotional support and so I have been going to visit her daily for an hour or more.

Lisa has been ill all summer, having had nine doctors' visits. At the last one, she was told she may need surgery on her ear. Then, last night she became ill again, passed out in the bathroom, and hit her head as she fell, leaving a large goose egg on her forehead. Poor girl!

Finally,  I am having a spinal fusion this week.  I have two collapsed discs which has allowed the vertebrae to press on the nerve running down the front of my right leg. That's caused the leg to be numb and very weak, and I have lost much of its strength and function. It has gotten weaker and weaker at an alarming rate, and I do not want to end up in a wheel chair.

I hope to be more regular again in my blogging post-op, but I won't be able to drive out to visit Abby for a few weeks. I am going to miss her so much!

So, if you are wondering why I am not writing, now you have the explanation.

The Summer of '16 has been the worst summer I have ever experienced.

"I'm Telling!"

Oh, how I wish I had had my phone out last night to record a little barn altercation!

I rolled down the lane to the old barn around 6:30 and called Abby, then went inside to wait for her at the visiting spot. She came trotting up, and even whinnied in greeting. (That's an extra peppermint for you, my girl!)

I was slipping her her treats and talking with her when suddenly Trouble and Hokey arrived and came into the big box stall. Trouble is higher than Abby in the herd hierarchy, and so she quickly backed up and gave way to the two boys.

I was not happy - I don't feed Tim's horses treats, but Trouble is insatiably nosy and always wants to horn in to see what he might be missing. I was getting ready to shoo him out, when suddenly a shadow appeared at the door, and in came Diablo, with Abby hustling along at her flank.

Now Diablo is the herd alpha. She is also Abby's very best friend. And as soon as she came through the door, she pinned her ears at the geldings and that was all it took - Trouble and Hokey did rollbacks and gave way!

Abby marched right back to her spot as though to say, "I told you guys I would tell on you!" and picked up with our visit as though nothing had happened.

She got that extra peppermint.