Weather and Communication woes

Jeesh! Just when we got dried out after last week's record rainfall, Mother Nature gave us another big Wallop a few days ago.

Early Tuesday morning, just as we were preparing to start feeding the horses, a line of unexpected thunderstorms came roaring through. Our poor Red Maple tree, which stands virtually just outside the front door of the house, took another lightening hit. The proximity to the house took out our phone lines, the satellite and a couple of electric outlets, all on the front of the house.

We now have one phone line working, but must switch between email and telephone on that line to keep up with daily communications. Verizon has been dealing with a large number or storm damage calls for weeks and won't get to us unti June 24!

So...until then, we ask your indulgence and your patience. Email may be the best form of communication for now. We can answer e-notes during "after-business" hours when our telephone is not needed as much. And...as you might imagine, even distant thunder now sends us running to unplug everything, at least until we replace all the surge protectors. (Bless whoever invented those little gadgets....they saved the computer, the phones, answering machine and television. )

The horses are all fine, though a little addled immediately after the big storm. Fitz wouldn't come into the shed to eat breakfast and a few others ate only parts of their meals and wanted back outside. Everyone is relaxed again now. but more storms are expected this evening.

Mom N.........we are in awe of your power and even these lightening storms are beautiful in their own way.....but we would be more than a little grateful for just a short break in the action!

Quick Jubal Update

We hoped Jubal would be back out with Fitz, Emma and Josh by now, but nooooooooo.........

The initial fever, swelling, and pain resolved quickly but, as always, there's more to the story.

Even though last weekend's ultrasound showed nothing of concern, there was a small pocket of infection under Jubal's innocent looking scrape. The wound opened up Monday evening, draining pus and blood. Tuesday morning we hosted yet another visit by the vet, who re-evaluated both the wound and the joint. Good news.......there still did not appear to be any injury to or infection in the joint capsule or the tendon sheath. Bad news, of course, was infection where we didn't expect to see infection.

The open wound was thoroughly cleaned, then flushed with a dilute betadine/saline solution. We were to continue as before, anitbiotics, clean wound and change wrap at least once a day, more often if needed. As of Thursday evening, there didn't appear to be much improvement, but things weren't getting worse, either.

Friday morning, however, at wound check we found more puffiness around the fetlock than there had been for several days. Another call to the clinic and a third vet visit followed. (Thank you, Jubal, for not waiting until Sunday again, which would have meant an "after hours" call.)

Ok. One more evaluation. Still no apparent involvment of the joint or tendon. Open wound again flushed. This time the vet added an antibiotic ointment to the regimen. This particular ointment is made for treating mastitis in cows, so comes in a plunger-type tube with a dispenser small enough to fit into the wound's opening itself. Now we can apply antibiotic directly to the source of the problem. The clinic is also now culturing the bacteria involved to see if it is something that won't respond to the current antibiotic treatment. A "sensitivity" test will also be performed to see just which antibiotic will be most effective. Treatment will be adjusted accordingly.

So......for now, Jubal is "maintaining." Not getting worse. but not healing as quickly as we had hoped either.

Fortunately, even though he is extremely bored while "in the hospital," Jubal has been a model patient.

If you have some free time and would like to visit the patient during his confinement, please email us at info@equineelders.org and schedule a visit!

Orientation: Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA)

June 20, 2009

Orientation for the Shelter Animal Reiki Association program at Traveller's Rest.

If interested in participating, or for more information, please contact Janet Dobbs at Animal Paradise Communication & Healing

Glub glubglub! VOLS! The Horses Need You!

Record rainfall, so the gurus say. No kidding!

We're thinking of changing the name of the sanctuary to Traveller's Rest Swamp. The sheds are flooded. Most of the stalls are flooded. There is standing water in many fields and paddocks. And it looks like another day of rain.

This is supposed to clear out tonight.

So, VOLUNTEERS! We need you this weekend! We're faced with stripping and rebedding pretty much every shelter on the place. This isn't worrying the horses nearly as much as its worrying the humans, but we'd still like to get their loafing and sleeping areas dried out as soon as possible. Can you spare an hour Saturday or Sunday? Give us a holler.

(This is the Po River at the back of the property. Normally, you can't even SEE the water unless you walk all the way down to the that poor little tree toward the upper middle of the screen and look down over the bank a few feet!)

Free Webinar - Managing Noninfectious Respiratory Problems June 18

The Horse: Free Webinar on Managing Noninfectious Respiratory Problems June 18

"This free Webinar on "Managing Noninfectious Respiratory Problems" is presented by Ed Robinson, BVetMed, PhD (Michigan State University). Assisting him in answering your questions live will be Melissa Millerick-May, MS, PhD (Michigan State University), and Bob Stenbom, DVM, a Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica equine professional services veterinarian and former private practitioner. "

More information

Hey Quilters! Can you help TREES' horses?

Quilters! Time to Search Your Stash! Jubal's recent leg injury requires wrapping for at least a few more days.

See the white padding under the elastic bandage?

That's nothing more than good old quilt batting. Excecpt that its been cut to a certain size, repackaged just for the purpose of wrapping horses' legs, and priced "accordingly." TREES received a package of "Leg Wrap Sheets" during our Giving Trees program last Christmas, but Jubal is making short work of them (he's getting each one dirty enough that we can't reuse them and must start with a clean wrap each day.)

This is where you quilters come in. Do you have any batting remnants sitting in drawers or closets that you hate to throw away, but feel you may never use? TREES can put them to good use! We'd like to think we won't need them often, but Jubal reminded us that we just never know what might pop up next and that there are certain things we should keep in stock in large quantity.

We're looking for pieces at least 15" x 18" but anything larger would be great. We can cut or fold to custom sizes as needed.

If you are a quilter or former quilter, or know a quilter or former quilter.......please Search your Stash. Batting may be sent to Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary, PO Box 2260, Spotsylvania, VA 22553. (If using UPS, FedEx, etc, give us a call for the street address. ) If you'd rather drop them off in person and meet the gang, give us a call at 540-972-0936, or email info@equineelders.org to schedule a visit.

Jubal and his chorts thank you!

Some Good News!

No commentary needed.........

Lizzie, May 7, 2009

Lizzie, June 1, 2009