Mona +5 weeks!

Tomorrow marks the end of the fifth week since Mona's saviors freed her from a small, bare pen at the Polo Pony Retirement Foundation farm in Mine Run, VA on August 6, 2009.

If you are just joining the story, this is how Mona looked upon arrival on August 8 , 2009.



And here is Mona today, September 9, 2009:

I Knew It!

Found this near Freddie's "feeding station" at supper.

We've suspected for years that Freddie is a unicorn in disguise. The horn is curly because of his Cushings, of course.

Here's Freddie May 1, 2009. (When do unicorns shed their horns?)

Used Chewing Gum

Is this the horsey equivalent of sticking your gum under the table at the cafeteria?

If I had to guess, I'd say this is Emma's. She is constantly carrying her quids around, twirling them, waggling them, savoring the last bit of juice, then parking them somewhere when she comes upon something that looks more tasty.

Very Special Visitors

Mona received some very special guests Sunday. A lady named Joanie stopped by specifically to visit with Miss Mona.

So, what made this particular visit so special? Well, Joanie and her husband, quite literally, saved Mona's life. It was this couple who discovered Mona and her herdmates in the dire circumstances that had already cost 20 horses their lives and immediately called for help. Their quick action saved quite a few lives, both equine and canine.

This story is proof that one person, (or two people,) can absolutely make a difference in the world. Just by filling a few water buckets. By making one phone call. By following ideals with action.

Don't ever sit back and watch tragedy unfold because you feel that you, as an individual, can't help "enough." Sometimes its "enough" just to start the ball rolling.

Helllloooooooooo, Idahooooo!!!

Remember this statement, posted on July 6, 2009:
"Today, Nate not only lifted his tail, but moved it noticeably to the right. To his stronger side. If we see that tail move to the left, you may hear us shouting from somewhere out in Idaho."

Hey Idaho! Can you hear me now?

Yes, sir, yesterday Nate swished his tail to the left! Miss George, one of our volunteer grooms, was fighting a good fight against the big man's faster than average hair growth. Specifically, she was trimming Nate's feathers, which have been trapping moisture around his fetlocks. Now, Nate has had more than enough of people examining, cleaning, medicating, packing, and wrapping his feet and got somewhat annoyed at Miss George. And, as many horses do, Nathan issued a warning by swishing his tail.

Our first reaction of course was to move out of the warning zone and give the big horse a little break. Then, the realization of what just happened set in.

Tail.

Swish.

To the left!

Waaahhhooooooo!!!!

Who knows what will happen next week!

(Hint: Team Foot Rehab will be back for the next phase of work on that right front foot.)

Summer Love

Remember Wade's Valentine's Day breakfast with Marye?

February 14, 2009

The love affair continues.

August 31, 2009

Wade is 26 year's old, Marye is 29. Who says love is only for the young?

(That's Sonny in the background. Never did have much use for girls.)

Josh's New Coat

Update on Josh:

Josh arrived in April 2009, looking a little like a Lesser Virginia Yak. When I first saw a picture of him, I forwarded it to our vet with the note "I'm thinking Cushings." Her reply was something like "Yikes! I think your right."

Josh, April 11, 2009

When we ask our vet to evaluate or monitor a horse who has, or who is suspected of having, Cushings (more technically called Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction or PPID,) she takes a blood sample to measure the level of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone or "ACTH." Since ACTH levels naturally vary with time of year (its one hormone that increases as hours of daylight grow shorter, signally the body to prepare for winter,) we usually wait until late spring or very early summer to test.

In early June, we had a ACTH test festival, testing nine horses - 5 previously diagnosed were tested to see if their pergolide dosages were adequate, and 4 suspects. Two of the four suspicious looking horses were just grazing the upper end of the normal ACTH range. They will continue to be monitored and will be tested again next year. The other two of those four, however, Sonny and Josh, were added to the Cushings roster. As a matter of fact, Josh's numbers were not only high, they were "off the charts." We were not surprised. He did shed his yak coat in the spring, but it was immediately replaced by another winter coat. In May!

Josh was started on pergolide and within a couple of weeks, began to shed. He doesn't yet have a "normal" summer coat, but what a difference!

August 31, 2009

And finally, our favorite Josh update photo:

August 31, 2009

How's that for a 38 year old derierre?