A Whale to a Dolphin.

Right now at the clinic the summer season is winding down, and we are getting our preg checking kits ready.
Unfortunately for me, most of our equine work is done in the summer.
Back in June, I had to do 40 coggins and exports for a huge bucking horse supplier. If you don't know what coggins and exports are, let me explain;
Coggins is a blood test that tests for Equine Infectious Anemia . Some horse shows require the horse to have an up-to-date coggins test, and you need it to cross the border into the states - or into Canada.
Export papers accompany the coggins test when crossing the border, it is a form that must be signed by your vet, and a federal vet (basically saying the horse is healthy and is the horse in your trailer).
Both forms require drawings of the horse including every detail; any white markings, whorls, scars, brands, etc.
As you can imagine, taking blood from a rank bucking horse is not easy. The 40 we managed to collect the blood within 2-3 hours. The drawing/writing markings down part is what takes HOURS to complete.
Well, we had another huge bucking horse supplier needing paperwork for 12 horses. BUT. He gets a guy to come out with a tilt table for them so their feet can be done at the same time.

I've never seen anything like it. So many hydraulics!

Essentially what happens is the horse is loaded then the whole thing tilts on its side, allowing access to the horses feet.

Even the nippers were hydraulic! The guy would trim all 4 feet if needed, and then grind the edges to smooth them out.

Once he was finished with the feet, he would then climb up with a saddle pad (to protect him from getting bit) and position the head for the blood collection. The doctor would then climb up and get the blood. It was SO slick!

You can see why that saddle pad is critical!

For the 12 horses to get their feet done and blood collected, it was 45 minutes. These are the 12 best horses the owner has - equating to a worth of at least half a million dollars (one horse worth $100,000 alone!). So, he chooses only the best/safest options for them.

Other than that, I've put a couple more rides on Mesa and she's doing phenomenal. I've also been getting Bailey out for some rides too. I only have one saddle right now, and switching between the two of them is like going from a whale to a dolphin! So the hunt begins for one that fits Mesa.

Dolphin.

Whale.

Heart Horse.

I figured it was time that my 12 year old got featured here, and share our story.

I've always had a love for horses, I guess I never grew out of the "I love ponies" phase as a little girl. I don't know how, or why, as no where in my family or extended family is there a farming/ranching/horse background.

Up until grade 8, I filled my horse obsession with horse camps and paid trail rides. When my now best friend moved here beginning of grade 8 with her horses, we were instant friends. We joined a local 4-H club. I rode her bomb-proof appaloosa draft mix named Frank for the first year, and a safe step-up horse named Dunny for the following year.

Dunny & Frankie Blue Eyes

For my third year, they didn't really have a step-up from Dunny, but a few steps up in the form of a sorrel gelding named Remmy.

Remmy

Even though he was 18 years old, he was a handful. Too much of a handful for me. I remember during a 4-H lesson he absolutely blew up. A few calming words from my instructor and some tears got us through, but we were politely asked not to come back, or with a different, safe horse. My instructor then came up to me and said, "I think I have the perfect horse for you! She's Dandy's daughter, her name is Bailey." Dandy was a sorrel overo mare in my 4-H club ridden by another girl.

Dandy

When I got to my instructors house, naturally I was looking for a paint. While standing in the pen of 20 horses, a cute little dun came up and rested her head on my chest. It sounds cliché, but we stood like that for 5 minutes and I said "I don't care who Bailey is I like this one".

Well, lucky for me that horse, was Bailey.

At that point Bailey was a 3 year old, yet to be started. So, I rode one of my instructors other horses for the year and started working at her ranch the following summer.

I was 16 years old, and worked at her ranch Infinity Quarter Horses for $25/day. I was a nanny to her 8 year old son, as well as a full time ranch hand.

She taught me how to start horses, breeding and production, and running a business. Of course, I got to spend time and work with Bailey.

First picture with Bailey, 3 years old, and me at 16.

After the summer was over, I left with an immense amount of knowledge in various aspects of horsemanship.

On October 3rd, 2011, my instructor and her husband took me out for dinner and told me they wanted to gift me Bailey. I couldn't believe it, I was getting my first horse.

Almost 8 years later, I'm 24 and she's 12. Countless frustrations, a few handfuls of ribbons, and a lot of hard work, our journey was nothing but easy. I wouldn't trade finding my heart horse for the world.

*Fun fact: in the process of getting Bailey registered, "Two Baileys Please" was one of my name choices, hence the name of my blog!*

Staycation.

This past week I've been on a staycation. Like a vacation, but I stayed home. Although the week quickly filled up with getting appointments taken care of, etc, I made sure to have time to get some training in with Mesa.

She is fully healed and completely sound. Yay! Finally, we can get some work done. If you don't know who Keith Stewart and the Key Ranch is, I strongly recommend checking out their website/facebook page. He was my teacher throughout my 4-H years and I continued lessons with him even after.

The first lesson with Keith was this past Tuesday, at 1:00pm. I have a small, straight load 2 horse trailer that took my mare a bit to get used too.

Sorry Mesa, maybe I'll get your picture on a spare tire cover
one day too!

Mesa hasn't been in a trailer since we brought her home, and she wasn't exactly an angel loading into the giant stock trailer. She's also been difficult to catch lately. So, assuming it would take 15-20 minutes to catch her, and at least an hour to get her loaded, I started the process at 10:30 am.

Well, this is what 11:00 looked like.

Although she was up to her usual "you can't catch me", once I did and walked her up to the trailer, she hopped right in. NO HESITATION. 

She trailered great for the 20 minute drive to Keith's place. She wasn't so sure about backing out (I don't think she's ever had too), but with some encouragement she came out calmly.

The first lesson was 2 hours of groundwork. It was myself with Mesa, and another gentleman with his 3 year old. Mesa was definitely rusty, as I haven't done ANYTHING with her other than bandaging her foot. She likes to go UP to evade, or turn her butt. After a few corrections she seemed to be reminded of the foundation Shirley and Shayla provided her with. 

After finishing on the first day. Tired pony!

She loaded back up into the trailer great to go home, and again the next day when we went back out for our second lesson.

This time we saddled up right away, and did groundwork for an hour then got on for the last hour. Keith moved us out, we were just along for the ride. Mesa handled it all in stride, although by the end she was tired and forward motion was difficult.

Today, we saddled up and climbed right on. I also put a snaffle in her mouth today instead of using a halter. 

She. Was. AMAZING.

Forward motion was a lot easier today, and she really got soft in the bridle. We rode around for the full 2 hour lesson and she didn't put a hoof wrong.

Thank you Shirley, I am so lucky to have her.

I Suck.

Wow, I sure do suck at this blogging thing!

I won't bore you with the regular work details, but I will say it is BUSY.

First an update on Mesa:

Leading off of my last (yet not so recent) post, Mesa had a run in with what I thought was smooth wire. Deep deep deeeeep laceration on her front right foot on the lateral side of her heal bulb extending medially.
*GRAPHIC PHOTOS*
I was a day late to suture, as it was already starting to get infected.

First day.

I got the vet out to make sure there was no joint or tendon/ligament involvement (which thank God, there was none), and we decided on bandaging over casting. Bandaging, because #1, I would be out there everyday changing it, and #2, a cast you can't keep an eye on it.

A week and a half later of bandaging and antibiotics, it was looking really good. Nice new pink tissue starting to grow in.

Another week and a half later, it looked REALLY good. Scab was formed, and she wasn't lame anymore. So I stopped bandaging.

I should mention, as soon as the injury happened she was put in a post and rail pen, by herself since she likes to play with her geldings. 

Well, 10 days after the previous picture, I find this.

Gah!! She did it AGAIN! I checked her paddock over 100 times and could find NOTHING. No trace of blood, struggle, nothing. So my best guess is that it wasn't healed enough to not be bandaged, and she clipped it with her back foot.

So, I started for the second time treating it. It's been almost 2 months since she did it again, and I just recently stopped bandaging. Finally, it is closed. She still has swelling from her fetlock down, but it is being monitored and slowly decreasing.

On a happier note, on July 3rd I turned 24, and treated myself to a new (to me) truck. Yet to be named, a 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie. Who knew air conditioned seats were a thing!!!

Seeking Advice.

About a year ago I moved to an acreage near the next town to the north of where I live now, to be closer to work. I had Bailey with me, and we had a good set up. Lots of grass, lots of dirt corrals to keep her off of grass, and a HUGE outdoor arena.
In December of 2018 I moved back here, onto another nice acreage, again, to be closer to work (I had started my current job in August).

Where the blue dot is, is my house. The buildings in the middle have since been removed. So, I literally have all this land available to me. 

But, here's the catch:

I'll zoom out a little more.....

The acreage I live on, is essentially in the middle of town. Why has the town not taken over the land you might wonder? Well, I live in what us locals call "The Superman House". The house was featured in the 1980 Superman II. Therefore, it is actually considered a historic site.

Although I've been here for around 6 months now, I still have Bailey (and now Mesa) boarded about 10 minutes from town. The reason being, is that the fence needs repair, and let me tell you it's a lot of fence!

The flood of 2013 wiped out the house that used to be in the centre of the field (the house/buildings in the middle of the first picture). They had a lovely set up and actually had a few horses there for as long as I can remember. However, since then there has been no livestock, so the fence line has suffered.

Now, I don't NEED all of this grass for 2 horses, so, here is what I'm thinking.

I'd build new fence (instead of repairing the ENTIRE fence line around the property), whether it be wire or electric, and have a small corral for them to come into at night, as it is quite nerve-wracking having horses "in town". Where the red scribbles are, I wouldn't touch, as I wouldn't be able to see the horses in that area.

What do you guys think? Do any of you have a better idea(s) as to the set up I could potentially build? It's a blank slate! 

I'll leave you with what I'm currently dealing with on Mesa.. But that story is for another day. Sigh.

Midnight Mesa.

Buffalo, Meat Horses and Paints.

It's CRAZY at the clinic right now. I'm glad Mesa is only 2 and there is no rush to get her going, because right now time is limited. My plan is to continue with her groundwork until her 3 year old year, then get her really going under saddle. Shirley's colts have an incredible foundation, a foundation that was put to the test yesterday with Mesa's first trim with my farrier.

As you can see she was super worried (not). She wasn't sure about having her front foot extended onto the foot stand, but got over that rather quickly. She is quite toed out in the front, which I hadn't noticed until a few days ago. Luckily her legs are straight as an arrow, so with time and regular foot work we should be able to get the feet facing in the right direction again.

Today I was out doing some floats and vaccines with the vet. The client had a beautiful sorrel overo gelding, with a bald face and two blue eyes. Shy, but took the two IM (intramuscular) vaccines rather well. The strangles vaccine, however, goes up the nose, and he was having NONE of that. A trick I learned for this, is having someone put hay in their face. Horses don't complain when delicious food is tickling their nose! So, I then sneak the long end of the syringe in with the hay and with one quick squirt, vaccine is administered.

The owner was telling me that she got this gelding from a farm that had buffalo, meat horses, and paints. Their "brand" on the horses that weren't going for meat, was slitting the top of their left nostril.

I don't blame him for being a little "nose shy"!

This has been a long week already, and it's only Wednesday. I'll again end this post, with some goings on at work.

Dog vs. Tractor.

Two hypothermic lambs being warmed up with
IV fluids and a heat lamp.

Not work related, but Jack's face is pretty much how I feel
about this week! Is it Friday yet??

Small Town, Big Drama.

Mesa has been home for a few days and is settling in well with her new herd of two geldings. She is with Banjo, and a roan named Willy.
Its funny; Willy immediately claimed her as "his" mare. Won't let Banjo near her! In turn, Mesa definitely has the confidence to push Banjo around.
Her freeze brand turned out perfect! She is now repping the Diamond Lazy H brand. Can't wait until its fully healed, the white hairs that grow in will really look sharp on her dark coat.

I was hoping to spend more time with her yesterday after work, but my little town had some big problems.
I went over to my parents place to pick up Jack (my dog), but no one was home. I called my dad who is in Edmonton to see if he knew where everyone was. As I was driving down the street to head over to the dog park to see if they were there, I said to my dad "haha there is a police car blocking our street!" my dad jokingly replied "what did you do!".
5 minutes later I returned back to my parents house only to find TONS of police cars surrounding the area, the SWAT team and their tank, and a helicopter circling above.
Turns out a high speed chase from Calgary ended up in my neighborhood. The suspects crashed down my parents back alley, and broke into a house a few doors down.

What I saw driving back to my parents house.

We locked the doors and stayed put until the ordeal was finished a few hours later, when the suspect agreed to the negotiations. Luckily, the family who lives in the house he broke into were not home when he did. Lots of excitement for our small rural town! Here is the link to the news story: https://www.westernwheel.com/article/high-river-standoff-ends-in-arrest-20190508

Between the snow and rain the last couple of days (yay moisture!) the ground is pretty gross. So today I just spent some time with Mesa grooming her. She is a lovely, lovely mare.

Love her big beautiful eyes!

Mane! 

Work is busy as always, so I'll close this post with some workplace captures.

Molly (front) tagged along with her sister Bella
for moral support!

Semen testing; see the sperm just to the right of center?
Double headed sperm (head defect) looks like a heart!

She's Home!

After ALMOST another weather delay, I was up at 5:30 this morning to make the trip to pick up Miss Mesa.

Roads were slick for the first hour, but soon cleared up once we got to the Crowsnest Pass.

I sure do miss the mountains. I was born in northern BC, but have been in Alberta for the last 19 years.

As we traveled further south, the skies became blue and the higher the temperature rose. Once it got to 10 degrees we got out to stretch our legs and enjoy the warmth!

After 5ish hours we arrived at Shirley's place, and got to meet the new baby Eli. So cute! I already can't wait for him to grow up.

We visited her mares (it felt like meeting someone famous after seeing pictures all the time!) and I caught Mesa. Well, I don't know if it was excitement or lack of motion in my still numb finger, but I haltered her and promptly tied it the wrong way (insert eyeroll, Shirley was actually the one to correct my halter fastening around 4 or 5 years ago!). 

Luckily for Mesa (and me!), we were hauling one of her friends back to Alberta with us which helped immensely in her stress level.

Notice, the incorrectly tied halter! Blonde moment!

They both traveled GREAT. Even when we made stops there was no fuss in the trailer.

Tomorrow Mesa will be freeze branded with Shirley's brand, and her traveling partner will be off to her destination with her owner. For tonight they will get a feel for the Albertan air and fill their bellies.

Happy horses.

Sutures.

Remember the filly I mentioned in my previous post with entropion? Unfortunately the problems for this filly, who is now named "Rue", were not over.
I got a text from the owner a day or two after my initial visit, saying one side of her face was swollen so bad her tongue was sticking out.

You can see the discharge due to her entropion.

This angle you can really see the swelling.

After consulting with the vet, we opted to monitor for the evening as she was still able to suck. Was it a bug bite? Did she get kicked? By the next morning the swelling had subsided, so we kept the appointment for the next week to fix her eye.

Today we went out to attempt to fix her eye. Upon arriving, we noticed that although her face was completely back to normal, her tongue was still hanging out of her mouth.

Little horse tongue!

Time will tell if this is the result of trauma to her head, since it hangs out 24/7. 

Otherwise, the procedure was a success. Initially, the plan was to inject saline under the eye, however once the doctor got a closer look, it was more severe than we originally thought. So, lidocaine was injected under the eye and sutures were placed to bring the eyelid down to a proper position.

Sorry for the blurry after picture!

She was sedated for the procedure, so her tongue really got relaxed!

Rue and I were matching in the suture department, thanks to an incident involving an avocado (it's okay to laugh). Since I live so close to work, I always go home for lunch. I had just created the most perfect sandwich, and was going to finish it off with some fresh avocado.
Well, unfortunately that finishing touch cost me a half a day of work, 6.5 hours in the hospital and 5 stitches.

Don't worry; nurses, doctors and other patients made sure I knew how to correctly pit an avocado before I finally went home! ;)

Welcome Back, Winter!

Well, plans to travel to bring Mesa home were derailed thanks to a freak spring blizzard. The frustrating part (well, one of the frustrating parts) is that the roads in BC are beautiful.. It's just the 2 hours getting out of Alberta that would be means for a scary drive.

One of many in the ditch this morning.

Alberta is funny... beautiful one day... tragic within hours. Here was yesterday morning, vs. what I woke up too today

Featuring Jack, my Hangin' Tree Cowdog

Featuring Brenda No Teeth

Alas, we will try again next Sunday. I'll leave you with a video from the same time 2 years ago today, and what I wish I could be doing. Oh how I can’t wait for summer!

Tis' The Season...

...for babies!

Calving season is in full swing at the clinic. Which means lots of c-sections, and scouring calves. I can't say all of the calves have survived, but we have had a decent amount who have.

Holding the uterus as it is sewn back together.

Live calf, happy momma!

 We've also gotten our fair share of puppy visits at the clinic.

3 day old Miniature Australian Shepherd

3 day old St. Bernard

I went out to a friend/clients place today to administer a few injections. Lucky for me, her mare had foaled the night before.

A Classic Guy x Mega Magic Playgirl

This cute little filly turned out quite the opposite of her mom! She's is doing well, and has the cutest little face.

Her owner noticed that her right eye is weeping, so while I was out there I took a quick look.

Lower eyelid entropion.

This filly has what is called "entropion" on her lower eyelid. Entropion is when the eyelid folds inward, and the eyelashes constantly scrape against the eye. The only treatment is surgery. I've seen plenty of entropion cases in dogs, but personally never in a horse. The surgery consists of cutting out a chunk of skin below the eye, and then suturing the two new edges together which will in turn pull down the eyelid into a more natural position.

I'm not sure the anesthetic protocol, or if there even is one, for a foal to do the surgery - something I will find out tomorrow.
*Edit*: it turns out there is an alternate option to surgery to treat entropion in horses! Some sedation required, but essentially some saline is injected under the eye, which will pull the eyelid down. The Dr. and I will be going out next week to treat this filly, will keep you posted!

It is also the season for castrating, as it is warmer but still not many bugs! This morning we gelded and freeze branded 4 yealings, and in the afternoon a 4 year old barely halter broke stallion lost his manhood as well.

Man down! Recovering from his castration.

In other news, Mesa comes home on Sunday, and I have booked her for the freeze branding next Wednesday. I'm so excited to get her home, and start learning what she is all about. :)