The mammoth boys got wormed today.  I don't think they were very excited about it but it wasn't a big deal and they didn't hold it against me.

I haven't done much with them the past couple days except love on them and introduce them to people.  Everyone who meets them falls in love.  They're sure nice.

That's about all I've got!  Sorry it's not much!  I'm hoping to get some riding in this weekend so I should have some good pictures to share.  :)

Today we did some saddle fitting trials, the donkeys and I.  My narrower ranch saddle was way too wide.  I thought the Fabtron would be wide also, but it was a pretty close fit.  It sat better on Bob than Pedro.  I don't think it's perfect, but it's ok.  

I've got my eye out for an OLD saddle, narrow and fairly flat bars.  There are a lot of those around, but maybe not many in a size that will fit me.  I'd need 15-16 inch.  Anyone local have something like that lying around?  I also need a shorter cinch and some latigo straps.

I'm not sure what size bit they'll take.  I'm guessing a regular 5" will work but I haven't tried one yet.

Bob wasn't super excited about playing dress up.

But doesn't he look like a cuddly teddy bear?

Pedro wants to meet the horses up close.

Speaking of which, I did take Bella over to say hi to them today.  At first she wasn't real sure about them, but then she went up and sniffed noses with Pedro.  Bob was too shy to say hello.

Now that Bella's had a few days to get used to her shoes, she's less lame when I trot her around in circles.  (Just one circle each way, not overdoing it.)  But she's also stabbing her toe into the ground with each step rather than landing heel first.  Not good.  I called the farrier and he wanted me to give it a few more days and see if she just needs more adjustment time.  I think she's sore from too much pressure on her frog, myself. 

Did I ever write about how wonderfully well behaved she was for her first pair of shoes?  She was AWESOME.  It was obvious from her expression that she thought it was beneath her, but she didn't act up at all.  The farrier was really happy with her, said he's not used to horses being so good.  I'm wondering if she'll be as good next time, once it's not new and weird.  Could be she'll get comfortable enough to be a little naughty. 

Back to the donkeys.  I realize I haven't written much yet about their personalities.  Bob, the older guy, is a little more stand-offish.  He lets Pedro go first, and in fact prefers to follow him when leading them as well.  He's also more accepting of everything though.  He picks up his feet as easily as any horse I know, halters well, saddles well.  He's just a good old guy.  And after I picked out and treated his hooves today I was rubbing on him and he wrapped his neck around my body in what was definitely a snuggle.  Awww, it was so sweet.  Especially from him, because he doesn't give out love as freely.  I think he just needs a little more time to get to know and love us.

Pedro is younger, more apt to wander around and explore, perhaps more energetic.  He's very people oriented.  If something is going on, he's in front checking it out and Bob is hiding behind (like when they met Bella).  You could say he's a little more reactive than Bob.  But using the word reactive is a huge overstatement.  I have seen him walk hurriedly once, but haven't seen him run or jump at all.  He got a little worried when I brought the saddles into their area today.  They both thought it was pretty weird when I brought in a saddle on a stand.  I don't think that's a scenario they've dealt with before.  Pedro was more worried than Bob, and it took me a moment to convince him to stand still while I put the saddle on his back.  He's not quite as awesome about hoof handling as Bob is, but then again his feet are in worse shape and maybe they hurt.  I have to put some muscle into picking up his feet, but once I have them he's a good boy.   I wonder if maybe he is just a little more inexperienced, or maybe had less training, since he is half Bob's age.

Time to go feed.  I wonder if they'll give me a full-on bray one of these days.  So far they just kinda whisper.

Liam made me guzzle my coffee and go out early to visit with the boys this morning.  He really likes them.

He's really enthralled by their ears, can you tell?

Bob has a forelock and fuzzy ears, and almost a blaze of grey hair.

He also has less silver on his legs

See how Pedro (below) has more silver around his elbows?  He is also darker colored, but I think it might be nutritional

I moved them to the dry lot, and they had a blast exploring.

Here Pedro has a good roll:

And now it's Bob's turn:

Love the ears

Bob didn't really like the loose mineral salt

I love this next one...  "Hey baby..."

Still a bit long in the lip, but the neighbor cows have got his attention:

They're both really good boys.  I worked on their feet a bit today.  They have pretty bad thrush, and both are in serious need of a trim.  Bob's feet are at least still upright, but Pedro's don't look great.  I think they'll be fine, but they should have been trimmed correctly a long time ago.  It's kind of painful for him to stand with one foot in the air for long, so I have to keep that in mind.  It'll be nice to watch the transformation over time.

I didn't ask them to do much today other than that.  We just visited a lot.  I didn't visit with the horses at all today, I was so taken with my new boys.  I'll have to try to get Bella out tomorrow and see how she's doing in her shoes.

Well, I'm kinda killing my idea of a big, pretty post with lots of nice pictures to introduce my two new family members.  I didn't get home with them until after dark and I can't wait any longer to tell you I bought the donkeys!

Meet Pedro and Bob.  (I'm not sure I'm keeping their names, but they probably know them and I think they're kinda cute.) 

Bob in the foreground, Pedro behind:

 Pedro:

 

Bob:

They loaded up like champs, even though they're accustomed to a ramp.  Just maybe a minute or two of thought before stepping in.  I don't think they really enjoyed the trailer ride, but they stood quietly the whole time.  I talked to them every time we made a stop, and Pedro got to where he would do a quiet little almost bray when I approached.  Bob was kinda glued with his butt to the back door, but eventually he walked up to the window for a bite of apple.  What cute lips they have!

They unloaded in the dark, with just a little hesitation, and went into the round pen for the night.  I can't wait to play with them tomorrow!

I keep imagining moseying along the trail on my trusty donkey steed, peace in our hearts, sunshine on our backs...  I can't wait to meet these guys!

Aren't they adorable?

Bella gets shoes on in about an hour.  Can't wait to see how that goes too!  

Well...  I'm going to look at a couple mammoth donkeys tomorrow.  Eeek.  I've wanted one for a long time, but then again there was a time I wanted draft horses, and look how that turned out (I don't have draft horses anymore). 

This pair has packed in the mountains, but they do not cross water well.  They load, trim, and ride at home, but sometimes they don't feel like being ridden and they just stand there...  I dunno.  Can I train a donkey? I only personally know one donkey and she's wonderful but our relationship consists of petting and hugging, not working together.

My biggest misgiving is that they come as a pair.  I know donkeys need other donkeys, but I kinda don't need another mouth to feed.

Anyway, apparently they're like big puppy dogs, happy to follow you anywhere and just want to be loved.  They sound super sweet.  Both are about 15 hands, 9 and 19 years old, gelded boys.  Black with super sweet, soft grey muzzles.  Pedro and Bob.  :)

Today I feel much better, most of the time.  I did have to work today, and it was a pretty hectic day because we were short-handed.  So that was a little challenging but it's good to live up to a challenge every now and then.

I'm really bummed I missed the Mustang Club meeting yet again.  I had even made a huge stink about it earlier in the month because John and Katia have plans on the last Thursday of every month now too.  I told them I was NOT going to let them keep me from my meeting, and they'd have to arrange a babysitter for Liam.  Then I was sick.  If it wasn't so long a drive I might have gone anyway, but then I might have made people sick, so it's probably better this way.  Hopefully nothing weird will come up next month.  It's been too long since I've been able to go.  I miss you all, my Mustang Club buddies!

I think my gelding won't be getting here anytime soon.  Someone at the BLM was sick and another horse's delivery was set back by a week, so I'm guessing it's all been pushed back.  Not that I knew when he was coming anyway. But it's kind of just making me think twice, or three times, or more.

Beautiful Bella

One of my thoughts is this:  Bella saw a farrier the other day, and he is going to put shoes on her on Sunday.  I don't know why he couldn't do it same day, I was kind of disappointed.  Had to pay for two visits too, which I thought was weird.  But anyway, in his assessment of her lameness he found calcification in a tendon on her right front, which is the more lame front leg.  He got her to react to hoof testers on her left front, which isn't as lame.  So the idea is that if we put her in shoes with special frog support pads, it will support her hoof and give some relief to the tendon, and she'll be in Natural Balance shoes, which will also relieve the tendon.  hopefully it would allow things to heal and she wouldn't need shoes on a regular basis.  You know I'm not big on shoeing.  So - what if she was sound?  I wouldn't need another horse.  Then I got to thinking about her hind end problems.  She's not really ever going to be 100% sound.  But maybe good enough?  Only two horses to feed through the winter when we're having a hay shortage sure sounds nice.  I could get a new mustang later, after meeting him in person at an adoption, if I found Bella couldn't do the work I wanted of her.

And that mule keeps dancing through my head. 

Back to calcification in a tendon (don't know which one, just that it's the back of the leg between knee and fetlock - I think it's the superficial flexor tendon, not the deep digital flexor tendon, but I'm not sure) does anyone know if that's something that ever gets better?

Today I am thankful just to be sitting upright.  I've been down with the flu for a couple days, and today I'm just barely starting to feel human again.

Got word that the gelding I picked out is the boss of the geldings and makes sure everyone knows it.  Not exactly what I wanted to hear.  I was almost ready to call and tell them I'd changed my mind but that was also when I was puking and didn't really relish the idea of any work of any kind with any horse.  I thought about it and  know a lot of alpha type horses who are not that way with people at all.  Maybe it will mean he's more bold as well, not as spooky?

Gotta get off this computer.  Staring at a screen or trying to read makes me sick.  Which makes for a boring couple days laying in bed.

I met the nicest mule today.  He reminded me so much of Tonka it kinda made me secretly teary eyed.  His mannerisms were similar, but he also made me think of how much Tonka loved mules, and how I wanted to get him a mule someday (and I would ride the mule when Tonka was no longer able to do the long rides).

The guy who owned this mule had nothing but praise for mules in general, and you could tell he absolutely adored his.  It made me think, maybe I'm doing the wrong thing rushing into getting another mustang, instead of saving up and realizing my dream of having a mule.  But I think this horse is the right guy at this point, and maybe he'll make me more ready to be a mule person later in life.  Just think how much I've already learned from Tonka, and Scout, and Bella, and all of them.  With more mustang experience, I might become a better mule person.  Mules and mustangs are similar in a lot of ways.

I also met a very nice thoroughbred.  I've decided they're one of my favorite breeds.  I don't think I've met one I didn't like.  We had a nice Arab, a nice quarter horse, and two nice Icelandics also.  I think my daughter would love a stocky little Icelandic.  They seem to be very smart though!  A smart horse isn't always a good thing.  :)

I love my job assisting with equine dentistry.  The lady I work with is a dedicated equine dentist, the best in the area (she's also a vet but doesn't do general practice anymore, and was once a farrier).  Anyone who goes to the trouble to get her to work on their horse rather than using a regular vet really has their horse's best interests at heart.  So pretty much all the horses we see are well loved and healthy, and mostly well behaved.  You don't see any neglected animals.  It's really nice. 

I've been meaning to tell a funny story about Blue for a while now.  When we were camping before Tonka's accident, we were playing around in a water crossing.  We rode across, and poor little Blue panicked, he thought we were leaving him behind, so he jumped in and swam across.  He's never been comfortable with swimming.  Loves to wade, but he avoided deep water.  So I turn around and see him, his head high in the air, and his little paws going, "plip-plop, plip-plop, plip-plop" so loudly while he tried to stay high in the water.  I couldn't help but laugh at the poor guy.  I really wish you could have been there!  It was hilarious.

Enlarge to see the Plip-Plop-Puppy:

(Ignore my disgraceful holding of the saddle horn.  I was still in a lot of pain from him falling down with me the night before, and I was bracing to avoid any jolting from him stepping on big rocks underwater.)

 

Still laughing:

 

 

Love this butt.  Miss him so much.

That was our second to last ride together.  There are no pictures of our last ride, later that day.  We went searching for an errant cow but we didn't find her.

Huckleberry & John & Scout:

 

 

Huckleberry has a much more dignified way of swimming, quietly and low in the water, like an otter.  But here's a good pic I found of him from a couple years ago.  He will cool off on the trail any way he can.  Note that he's stretched out on his belly with his legs behind him.  :)  Makes for a smelly companion in the truck on the way home.

I want to send a thank-you card to the vets that worked on Tonka.  I have so many awesome pictures of him (but maybe I'm biased) that I can't decide which one to use.  Maybe you can help me?

Of course I can't find the one I'm looking for.  And while searching I managed to pare it down pretty well.  I wanted his face, not his butt, and I didn't really want a photo with me or anyone else in it.

I think I like this first one best.

How about the one with the poem?

 Might be better without the poem.

I wish I could find the one I was thinking of!  Oh well.  Which one do you like best for a Thank You card?

I'm loving all the feedback on the names. I still think he already has a name, but I'll let you know for sure when he gets here.

How did I come up with this name? More mystic mumbo-jumbo of course. I was standing in my kitchen, and his face popped into my head, with his noble profile, and so did the name. Then someone made a comment about that name, and it was just out of the blue, they didn't know I'd been thinking about it. Then I realized I'd dreamed something about that name some time ago, but I don't remember it very clearly. The name doesn't fit my criteria for a name, but if it's his, it's his.

 Another name I like - Zydeco. That would be for a really fancy moving, active, athletic horse with a sense of humor. Not for this guy.  Not that he won't be those things, but it just doesn't feel like it fits.

 I sold my horse trailer pretty quickly this week. It's still here but she'll be coming to get it this weekend. Then I can pay my mom back, pay WSU, and buy some hay. And ride at home a lot. I find the thought of being stuck here very difficult. I can't just up and go camping with the Mustang Club or even head for the hills near home. But I'm glad to have the money. I'm going to have to make myself a shed for my tack now that I don't have a trailer. Half of the tack is sitting in the lawn, and my saddles are in the house, very much in the way. I'm kinda looking forward to it to making a shed. I'm thinking something small, kinda outhouse sized, just big enough for one saddle on top of another and bridles hung on the wall. Maybe put the saddles next to each other... If you have any links to cool sheds, I'd love to see them. I'd kind of like to make it kind of cute. I have some old siding and windows from the barn we tore down, I think I'll use those. That way it will keep the old barn alive, in a way. Then, after I'm done with one shed, I might make another, something more creative, a garden shed with more windows, window boxes, and maybe a porch... I like to dream big. I rarely finish projects like this though...

I'm sharing my list of possible names for my new boy.  One of them just came to me out of the blue, and so I think it's his name, but I don't want to say what it is until I'm sure it fits him.  Some of these I've already decided against after saying them out loud.  I'd love to hear what you think, which names you like or don't like.  Or other suggestions.  :)

Banjo - I like that name, and love the instrument
Sequoia - big, strong, long-lived, and wonderful
Cai - King Arthur's foster brother, a good man, means "rejoice."
David - a biblical character and also a character from a book
Duncan - a quiet, honorable character in a book I read
Atticus - my favorite male character (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Joseph - Chief Joseph
Red Cloud - Born in 1822, the horse's tag number
Noah - "Long lived"
Noble
Eagle
Beck - a cheerful creek running through the forest
Orion - one of my two favorite constellations
Benewah - a former chief of the tribe just north of us
Oak - strong, long lived, beautiful tree

This morning I got word from the BLM that my application is approved and they will ship my gelding to me at some point.  Probably within a month.  I mailed them a halter and lead to put on him before they load him.  I hope the halter fits okay. 

Then I went for a ride with my sister.  Took Scout over to her house and we just played around.  He needed some tuning up to begin with, it's been a while since he's been ridden and there were a lot of distractions.  We crossed their creek and went across the highway to the arena at their boarding stable, did a few circuits there, went back, and rode in the harvested lentil field.  I'll have to go ride over there again and take pics.  Pea and lentil fields are so smooth and harvested so close to the ground, they're perfect for riding in.

Today as I was riding I realized that Tonka fixed my lower back problem that has given me so much trouble for years.  It was most apparent when I rode, my body was crooked and one leg felt longer than the other.  When he fell and hurt me so bad on our full moon ride, it must have shifted something back to where it should be.  It ruined our last few rides together, because of the pain, but I guess it was a little gift he gave me before he moved on.

I finally found out what my WSU bill might be for Tonka.  If it really is the final amount, it's not near as bad as I thought it was going to be.  But I realized I am going to have to sell my horse trailer and my second best saddle.  I was hoping somehow that wouldn't happen. 

Ugh, I just feel like complaining.  Too many things happening today that just rub it in.  None of it was bad, but it all just points at the big empty place he left behind.

The other day was Blue's first birthday.  He was such a cute little bean. 

No blue eyes anymore though.

I didn't take any birthday pics, I've been too preoccupied.  These puppy pics will have to do.

 

 I think Huckleberry likes him better now that he's big enough to play rough.

And every folder I look in has pictures of my horse.

This one has a dreamlike blur.  And he's coming to see me just because.

Yesterday was the toughest day without him.  I thought it would be better because I wasn't sitting at home with nothing to do but think.  But I had to tell people about what happened, and re-live it all.  There was more of that today, but it wasn't as hard.

I got some info on his necropsy but it didn't really tell me anything much.  The bleeding was coming from his spleen.  The other side of his body had a lot of bruising and trauma and some blood.  They didn't visually see a tumor but they haven't looked at anything microscopically yet.  Totally unrelated, there was something about his rib cartilage that I didn't understand.  Something about it being S shaped instead of C shaped.  Just an oddity, something the person who did the necropsy found interesting.  I can't picture it, have no idea what she was talking about.  Would love to see a picture if any of you know about equine anatomy and understand what she means.

The vet that I work with, who isn't an equine vet, said that once animals get to the point Tonka was at, that's pretty much the end.  Which isn't what the vets at WSU were telling me, but it was good to hear from another source, someone perhaps more realistic.

In other happy news, we have a new resident.  He's my sister's kids' old gelding, Dyno.  He's somewhere in his 30's.  This his his "FOOD!" face.  

 

He loves food.  I love feeding old horses.  I don't have to pay for his feed, which is very expensive, I just get to feed him and Liam can ride him if he wants.  And Amy doesn't have to worry about separating him from her geldings for feeding time.  Win-win-win all around.

The suspense of waiting for my new horse is killing me.  I'd be happy just to hear something.

Those of you who have been reading here for a few years might remember Anchor.  He is the big bay who was my first choice when I got Tonka.  He'd be, let's see...10 years old now.  6 of those years owned but avoiding people. I worked my but off for a couple months with that big dude, 3 years ago.  I removed his rotten old, broken halter that he'd worn for 3 years.  He was leading pretty well, but I was still very nervous when I took him out of the mustang pen.  He's so strong, and wasn't really trusting me.  I had managed to trim his front feet with a chisel, a hacksaw, and a lot of patience.  Eventually I even picked them up and worked on them in a more conventional way. 

 

Anyway.  Anchor is still looking for a good home.  I know he'd like it here.  I know I'd enjoy working with him.  But I don't know if I could make him a good riding horse.  He's so old, and has been so successful with his mistrust of humans.

Seems like horses are coming out of the woodwork, and all of them I like.  But I don't feel like they're The Horse.  And I'm not hearing back from the BLM!  So hard to be patient!

I wish I could bring Anchor home. If I had unlimited budget for pet horses I would.  I did love that boy.  At the time, I told them I wanted him, but since he'd been halter broke they wanted to continue with him.  Then life happened, they had other broke horses to ride, they had jobs, not enough time, and they had a baby.  You know how it goes.  They're good people.  I'm glad they never took him to a sale.

Crap.  I'm almost talking myself into this.  Stupid.

In other news, I have a reliable, paying job!  I'm still doing the equine dentistry assistant job, of course, but that's just a few days here and there.  Now my vet assistant job at the spay/neuter clinic is no longer volunteer!  Well, only for one day a week, but soon it will probably be 2 days a week.  Yay!  It's only part time, but it might be all we need to make ends meet.  I hope.  Because that still leaves lots of time for horse work.

I had a dream the other night that I found all my lost spoons outside Tonka's empty stall.  (I don't actually have any spoons missing, that I know of.)  That morning I thought about the dream a lot, because I knew it was important.  I think the spoons signified my love for him. I had taken my best spoons and used them to mix his grain and medicines, as I have done daily in reality for years (but not with my best spoons). They were lying dirty and unused in a place where he no longer was. I was gathering them up to wash them so they could be used again.

I was thinking about looking at another horse.  A well broke horse, a nice horse, with lots of personality.  Not a mustang.  And I was thinking, "but I haven't washed my spoons yet."  I didn't know if I could just jump into the saddle on a new horse.  I wasn't sure I was ready. 

Turns out I wasn't.  I went to see the horse today and it was really upsetting.  He wasn't the horse, I knew right away.  I don't know why, but it made me cry.  Embarrassing, in front of a complete stranger.  She probably thinks I'm nuts.  Oh well.  She knew Tonka's story, hopefully she understands.

I went home really sad, not sure if I could get excited about a new horse.  I knew for sure I didn't want someone else's old horse though, that I needed to start fresh, begin again. I kept thinking of the Sheepshead gelding I've picked out.  When I got home I had an email asking if I still wanted to go ahead with adopting him.  Most definitely, yes!  

Anyway, after I got that email I got excited about my new boy.  I wasn't sure I could get excited, but I did!  I started doing some repairs to the mustang pen, and it felt good.  I can't wait to get some more information.  This waiting with no word is kind of hard to handle.

Still no word on Tonka's necropsy either.  I guess I'll have to call and bother them about it. 

I've loved this poem since I first saw it.  You might have to enlarge to make the words clearer.  For some reason they came out all fuzzy here.  I promise, soon I will quit being so morose.  I'm trying.

Only in silence the word,

only in dark the light,

only in dying life:

bright the hawk's flight on the empty sky.

-The Creation of Ea

That quote really touches me.  It is the beginning of a book I began re-reading after my sister and I had a discussion about the fear of death, and how it can steal your life.  They are the Earthsea books by Ursula K. LeGuin, one of my very favorite authors.  It doesn't matter what she writes about, the way she writes is beautiful and makes me feel quiet inside.  

Anyway.

So... I'm not one to sit around thinking about doing.  I know I need a new horse.  Scout is John's (although I will ride him while I wait) and Bella is lame.  Domestic horses abound, but none of them really make me go wow.

I'm not feeling very verbose, so I'll just show you his picture.

Photo courtesy of Tracey Westbury, used with permission.

This fella is in the BLM corral in Burns.  He's a 4 year old, rounded up last September, and was 15 hands at that time.  He comes from the Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA.  Just north of Tonka's homeland.  They are known to be good, trainable horses.  I have an eyewitness account that he was quiet and should make a good horse.  I can't go down there, I just can't afford it, but I think I can get in on the free shipping deal the Burns BLM has going on for their internet adoption.  Just waiting to hear back!

I stumbled upon this pic in my Facebook albums.  One of my favorites.  Exploring with my big surefooted boy on Escure ranch last April.

Everything is significant.  This is the song that came on as we left the vet hospital.  He was on his way.