And There Was Thanksgiving

It has been a tough couple of weeks here at Poplar Springs Farm.  From the last post you learned that Steve had shoulder surgery on the 8th and new starving horses came on Saturday the 12th.  Their pictures were on the last blog.  On Sunday, we had a cow with a problem that required the vet, and I also noticed that Petey, or Lucky Pete, the smaller horse in the worst condition was on the ground.  After we took care of the cow, we moved over to the horse.  To make a long story short, he was way too weak to get up, even with the electrolytes administered and the steroids, etc.  We had no choice but to leave him there, hoping that he would gain strength, but unfortunately, when horses get down like this, it is difficult for them to recover.  Monday came, and all I could do was feed him and set him up so that he could drink water.  Tuesday, he was still on the ground, and I had a doctor appointment in Knoxville.  I called the vet again and discussed options on getting him up.  I remembered that Steve had gotten a cow up with a hoist several years ago and  that just maybe we could do that.  But where oh where could we get one?  A light bulb goes off...I am in Knoxville, and so is the University of Tennessee Vet school.  Lucky, lucky me!  I started with the Deans office and ended up with the equine doc.  He just happened to be a native of Ecuador.  Do my stars line up or what?  And yes, he just happened to have what I needed, but he would have to talk with my vet.  All of them are UT Vet school grads, and of course, I could take  the hoist, but I could only use it for 24 hours.   I called back to the vet, and yes, he and a super vet tech could meet me at the farm after he went on a call further in the mountains to doctor a potbellied pig!  A quick call to a couple of neighbors, one that was good with horses and tractors, and the other just to be an extra for support, and we were in business.

My neighbor was driving the JD since my number one driver is under the weather. We had to take him about a quarter of a mile where I had set up a temporary stall for him. We would have to stop about every hundred yards to that he could rest and so the vet and vet tech could as well.  Me too, but I was just moral support.

He actually had to walk about 10 feet into the stable because the front end loader  on the JD was too high to come into the shed.  My neighbor readjusted and brought the JD in so that the hoist could hold Petey up if he fell.  We kept him in it about 4 hours, but he seemed to do fine, so off it came and the next day, it went back to UT.

He stayed up for for 7 days, and back down he went.  I had gotten supplies to make a temporary hoist, just in case this happened.  Another call to my neighbor and we got the temporary hooked up and he was back on his feet again.  Two days, down again.  Called the neighbor yesterday morning and we got him up again.  Tonight, he was still up.  His attitude is great, well except when I was putting diaper creme on his skinned places like the vet told me and he obviously didn't like it and he tried to kick me.  Twice even.  I laughed and told him that  I was glad that he was feeling that good and he could get away with it until he really got to feeling better.  Then there would be consequences for kicking.  


We are still somewhat in a touch and go situation with this little horse.  He was starved within a couple of days of his life's end.  This one will take a long time to come back.  His appetite is good, and he has gained a little weight but he just has to get some muscle mass back, especially in his hindquarters.  


He will be loved, and touched, and talked to.  He will be laughed at, rubbed and told how beautiful he is.  I hope to convince him that before long, he can be running in the pasture playing horsey games with the other guys.  


But today, we are giving thanks that he and all the other furry babies are doing well.

Deja Vu

I got a call yesterday from my Animal Shelter friend, so I suspected that I would have new horsey residents today.  I was hoping things would get worked out so that maybe this would not be necessary, especially since Steve just had shoulder surgery on Tuesday.  But as things are meant to be, the judge provided a court order and two more horses made their way to Poplar Springs Farm.  They were delivered this time as my driver can't drive for a couple of weeks or so.  


As bad as Speck, especially Speck, and Charley were, I was not quite prepared for what I was to see today.  Two small horses, one a gelding and the other intact, were in pretty bad shape.  I have not named them yet.  Pete and Repeat came to my mind, but that just doesn't show enough respect.  Remember, these animals are my teachers as well as my responsibility to get them back in shape.


The first one is the little gelding that is about 4 years old.  He is somewhere around 12 to 13 hands, which would probably be a cow pony.  I have no idea what kind of horse he might be.  Probably just horse!

This is the second one.  He is not in as bad shape, but his stomach is puffed out, probably from parasites. The vets gave them yukky worming medicine before they were brought over.  He is another sorrel with a blaze.  Now we have Spirit, Charley and this one that are very similar  He is small as well.  He will be a gelding soon as I do not need any macho horses around.

I cannot leave this blog on a somber note.  Exactly three months ago, two very malnourished horses found there way to the farm.  I had to take the opportunity to show you what they look like today.  Aren't they beautiful!!!!  Speck is a sweetheart, except when it comes to food, and he is pretty aggressive.  Maybe I should just say pushy as he is always very, very sweet.  I have also seen him run, and I have seen him kick out with both back feet, at the same time, toward boss hoss Dillon.  He is still a little sway back, but he is just gorgeous!

And, my other little sweetheart, Charley.  Charley is always the first horse in the barn to greet me.  He is still a little skittish, but he has come so far.  I can touch him anywhere, catch him, lead him and pick up his feet.  The farrier had no problem when he trimmed their feet last week.

Tomorrow, hopefully, will be grooming day for these boys. and the other four.  I want to push Charley a little farther, but I am not ready to attempt to ride him.  That probably won't be until spring when maybe I can get a good round pen set up.  No way would I attempt this out in the pasture.


I will be making calls soon to some horse rescues to find out if I can work something out with them so that I can begin thinking about getting some of my friends on an adoption list.  I suspect that I will have more horses find there way here, and I just cannot keep them all.  These groups are already set up with procedures in place to identify prospective owners and I just don't want to get into that business.  


Until that time, I can get them back on the road to health and give and get a lot of love along the way!

Patchwork

I think that maybe this years leaves are not as beautiful as they have been in the past.  Maybe it was because the summer was so hot.  We still have Oak trees that have not turned and of course the yellow Poplars are the first to lose their leaves, so it seems a little scattered this year.

But, you can always find some Red Maples trees to get your heart pumping.  These are my favorite....or my favorite today.

This was the beginning of Poplar Springs Farm.  This is the horse barn that you have seen previously.  The small building in the lower right is an old canning/smoke house.  The bottom half is made of rock and it is probably a hundred years or older.  Steve lived in the cabin that you can barely see through the trees until we built the big house.

The big house is where we and all our dogs live!  It is a very happy house when all the grandsons come to visit. 

 Taken from the upper pasture and looking down on the Del Rio Valley and one of my favorite views.

Hmmmm.   Add a little snow and this could almost look like Christmas.

Red Maples are my favorite until I run across the "pink" and yellow ones.  

Even the cows could not resist being in the picture with the beautiful scenery.  I tried to get one without him, but he would not move.  And I did not feel like chasing him.  Besides, this is a cattle farm.