Hillary Rodham Clinton said it takes a Village to raise a child. I couldn't agree more.
Harry and Kenny have been at the Rescue since April 2008. Harry arrived first, followed a few weeks later by Kenny. Both are very big boys. And both started palling around together shortly thereafter. I think Kenny needs Harry more than the other way around, but that's how I got to know Kenny in the first place.
It's no secret at the Barn that I've been smitten with Harry since the day he walked off the trailer. Harry is the Alpha in the pasture and quite a hand full. Kenny is the largest horse in the pasture and also low man on the totem pole ... go figure. As far as horse handling goes, I'm as green as they come, but was willing to take on Harry because I thought he had potential to be a wonderful horse. I guess I saw the inner Harry, so to speak. Well, Harry and I had our go-rounds. Harry likes to challenge and I wasn't much of a leader and couldn't challenge back, hence, Harry nipped me. It was a nip that took me 2 months to get over. But eventually I did come back to Harry and started working with him. After a couple good days - bad days kinda thing a friend suggested I work with Kenny because he was the polar opposite of Harry. The thought was that if I worked with Kenny and got my confidence up, then Harry would be more manageable. Well, it worked.
Getting to know Kenny was the best thing I ever did. My husband and I had started to sponsor Kenny by feeding him better grain. He was getting thin and I was getting worried with winter coming on that he would lose more weight. I had to do SOMETHING. Thus began my real journey with The Boys.
About a month passed after we started feeding Kenny and I noticed a change in his coat. I saw he was gaining weight and just looked better. That's when my husband suggested we adopt both boys. "Are You Crazy!" I said, but we are known to adopt in two's. Something about separating kennel mates, or friends just doesn't sit right with us, and we're fortunate enough to be able to do it. So, we thought about it, cried about it, talked about it, walked away from it, talked about it some more, took some classes on horse ownership, and finally came to the decision that it was the right thing to do. Our concerns centered around our ability to handle and care for two horses when we're both so green. But in the end we let Cheryl know of our desires, and after much discussion we officially adopted both boys as of October 1st ! We couldn't be more thrilled.
Even though I hadn't had much time with Kenny I got to know him quickly. He is without a doubt the sweetest, most gentle and loving horse I have ever had the pleasure to know. We put him on Adequan to help with his joints and got him a chiropractic treatment. I'm told he came trotting into the barn this weekend ! Kenny is my Gift From God, My Joy. It is an honor and a pleasure to care for him in every way. Harry has me on my toes. We have come a very long way in the last couple of months. With the help of a Village ( the barn people ) Harry just recently is looking at me as a Leader. He still challenges me, but I challenge back, and most times I win! We still have a long way to go but he is a very different horse from just 2 months ago. I love Harry, always will. He is becoming the horse I always knew he could be and I am blessed to have him in my life. I cannot imagine Harry in someone else's care. He is a Joy and he is My Boy.
I could do none of this without the love and support of my husband, who encourages me everyday and is always interested in the gains Harry and I have made each time we work together. So many volunteers have helped me on so many levels. It truly does take a Village to raise a horse too. I am so grateful to all those that ask me everyday how My Boy's are, and tell me how different Harry or Kenny is. It's in those brief encounters with someone that I get encouragement to continue my work with Harry and Kenny.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Influence of the Barn
My friend asked me if I was OK the other day. I thought back to the previous couple of weeks and laughed. We all deal with the ups and downs of life ... a death of a loved one, a sibling in turmoil, a child making their own way. Life can be chaotic, so when my friend asked that question it didn't take long to think back to Harry and answer that I was indeed in a very peaceful place.
Strangles, the equine equivalent of strep throat, has been making the rounds through the barn. Most of the horses have had it by now and are starting to return to normal. It manifest itself first as a fever, their glands swell up, and they may have trouble swallowing or breathing. Beylami, the young Arabian, had a very tough case of strangles. She was quite sick one day and having problems breathing. The vet was called in and he syringed off some fluid from her glands to help her. Passion was another who was quite ill .... she is FINALLY starting to feel better again, thank goodness. Keta, who was the first, and the carrier, is now almost completely over it.
Well, I thought Harry had beat the odds and would not get sick but on Saturday afternoon one of the volunteers noticed he didn't eat his dinner. That is very unusual for Harry so they took his temp and it was 105.3, very high. Normal temps for a horse are between 100 and 101. Any temp at 103 or higher and you give butt and/or banimine, an anti-inflammatory to help. I came over Sunday morning to check on Harry and he was moping around his stall, picking at his food. Harry and I have had our go-rounds but I still love that horse and think he's just beautiful. So, I stood there and watched him. I just stood there and talked softly to Harry until he finally came over to me, and when he did he nuzzled his head against my chest. It was my moment and I was gonna take advantage of every minute Harry would give me. It was quiet in the barn, not much sound from anyone or anything and so I started stroking Harry's neck and back, then his chest and mane. He stayed quite and still for a very long time. I peeked at his legs and he was in a restful stance. I noticed his head starting to drop and his eyes starting to close while his mouth was very loose. Harry was peaceful and so was I. It was for me the most wonderful moment I've had with Harry in a very long time. He was finally letting me help him. I was in a very peaceful place too. That's the Influence of the Barn.
Harry is doing better, eating some and relaxing in the rinding ring with his buddy Kenny each day. It's cooler in the riding ring, a nice breeze blows through and the boys like it. It gives both a chance to exercise their lungs and move the gunk out. Both are recovering from strangles and doing better.
Strangles, the equine equivalent of strep throat, has been making the rounds through the barn. Most of the horses have had it by now and are starting to return to normal. It manifest itself first as a fever, their glands swell up, and they may have trouble swallowing or breathing. Beylami, the young Arabian, had a very tough case of strangles. She was quite sick one day and having problems breathing. The vet was called in and he syringed off some fluid from her glands to help her. Passion was another who was quite ill .... she is FINALLY starting to feel better again, thank goodness. Keta, who was the first, and the carrier, is now almost completely over it.
Well, I thought Harry had beat the odds and would not get sick but on Saturday afternoon one of the volunteers noticed he didn't eat his dinner. That is very unusual for Harry so they took his temp and it was 105.3, very high. Normal temps for a horse are between 100 and 101. Any temp at 103 or higher and you give butt and/or banimine, an anti-inflammatory to help. I came over Sunday morning to check on Harry and he was moping around his stall, picking at his food. Harry and I have had our go-rounds but I still love that horse and think he's just beautiful. So, I stood there and watched him. I just stood there and talked softly to Harry until he finally came over to me, and when he did he nuzzled his head against my chest. It was my moment and I was gonna take advantage of every minute Harry would give me. It was quiet in the barn, not much sound from anyone or anything and so I started stroking Harry's neck and back, then his chest and mane. He stayed quite and still for a very long time. I peeked at his legs and he was in a restful stance. I noticed his head starting to drop and his eyes starting to close while his mouth was very loose. Harry was peaceful and so was I. It was for me the most wonderful moment I've had with Harry in a very long time. He was finally letting me help him. I was in a very peaceful place too. That's the Influence of the Barn.
Harry is doing better, eating some and relaxing in the rinding ring with his buddy Kenny each day. It's cooler in the riding ring, a nice breeze blows through and the boys like it. It gives both a chance to exercise their lungs and move the gunk out. Both are recovering from strangles and doing better.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Harry's First Day
I remember the day Harry showed up at the rescue. It was a cool April Sunday and it was fairly quite around the farm. It was so quiet in fact that hardly anyone noticed the new guy in the riding ring ! Harry is big, with soft eyes that call to you. He looked scared and sad, and a bit tired. He was under weight for his height but otherwise looked OK.
I was pretty much smitten the first time I saw Harry. I'm drawn to the big horses anyway, and maybe that's because I'm tall or maybe its because I've been around race tracks enough and use to large horse. Either way, Harry is my boy.
Harry is adjusting to Rescue life and getting use to other animals he's never been exposed to before. He's learning about farm sounds and life outside a race track, which can make for some interesting moments. Harry has become the dominate horse in his pasture and a bit of a bully. Hopefully time with calm him down a bit. And because Harry was not only raced but used as a jumper he has back and leg issues which hurt, so therapy is needed as well.
Harry and Kenny are both about the same size and both thoroughbreds. They share the same pasture with Luke, Otto and Smokey.
I've found with the animals that come to the rescue that time and love seem to heal most wounds. And if we're lucky, they return that love to us in kind.
I was pretty much smitten the first time I saw Harry. I'm drawn to the big horses anyway, and maybe that's because I'm tall or maybe its because I've been around race tracks enough and use to large horse. Either way, Harry is my boy.
Harry is adjusting to Rescue life and getting use to other animals he's never been exposed to before. He's learning about farm sounds and life outside a race track, which can make for some interesting moments. Harry has become the dominate horse in his pasture and a bit of a bully. Hopefully time with calm him down a bit. And because Harry was not only raced but used as a jumper he has back and leg issues which hurt, so therapy is needed as well.
Harry and Kenny are both about the same size and both thoroughbreds. They share the same pasture with Luke, Otto and Smokey.
I've found with the animals that come to the rescue that time and love seem to heal most wounds. And if we're lucky, they return that love to us in kind.
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