A teenager to fuss over him

Some friends of ours are missionaries on Honduras. Costa Rica? Is that the same? Don't hate me. They have two daughters, one of whom is horse crazy. She has her own little...what did she call her...a Honduran Diva of a horse at home. They are here making their rounds of congregations and friends, trying to see too many people in too short a time.

Sydney, the teenage horsey daughter, came over today to get a horse fix since she hasn't seen her beloved mare in almost 3 months! She is being taken care of back in Honduras, but it's hard to stay away that long.

Since our only really ridable equine is Belle right now, she rode Belle. It was cute. Syd's legs were scrunched into a kid saddle, and Belle was being pretty feisty today. But, she got to ride a little and Belle got a little lesson too.

Before riding Belle, I introduced Syd to all the horses, and I could tell she had an immediate attachment to Phelps. She mentioned how beautiful thoroughbreds are and we talked racing a little, including the Kentucky Derby and the ill-fated Eight Belles. I am not a racing follower, but had watched the Derby on TIVO.

When Belle had toted Syd and my two around for awhile, she was groomed and put away. I told Syd that Phelps needed his supplements and asked if she wanted to brush him while he ate. She was first to the gate to go get him!

He was loving and kind, but after Belle, he seemed like he was on pins and needles. He is quite reactive, though he isn't trying to hurt anyone, it's clear that we needed a quick lesson on working around a 3 year old TB. Move calmly and slowly, not creeping around, but not flying around and screeching either.

Syd was grooming him and loving on him. We joked about her having a "man" in her life now and that they'd have to figure out a long distance relationship.

After his grain and grooming, she handgrazed him for me in the backyard until her parents came to collect her. I hope she enjoys the photos.

Another trim

Phelps got trimmed again last week. It looks like he had an old abscess or one that was going to be an abscess but didn't make it all the way to the coronary band. Either way, he has some feet issues in terms of tenderness right now. His heels are contracted and he has some bruising. My farrier still couldn't take his feet as far back as he wanted to, but they are no longer flaring out all crazy.

His feet are not symmetrical from one side to the other. If you put a line down the middle of his foot from coronet band to ground, the two sides do not look the same.

He's ouchy on the gravel right now, but is still very loving and sweet.

Phelps likes kids.

After the evening feeding, Faith and I took some pictures of the horses. Phelps is very happy to have attention and stood completely still for Faith to hug him. He wasn't sure about her rubbing her head on his chest (neither was I!), but just looked curious, not angry.

Earlier, I took some of him in his corral he shares with Dani. He was soaking up the late afternoon sun, watching Faith and Belle riding around.

"What's with the boot in my face as I'm eating?"

Then, he and Dani were chowing down together.

New hay

I bought 9 ton of hay yesterday. I had to go to The Hay Depot (large hay supplier who gets hay from all over the PNW) because all my friend suppliers didn't get as much as they thought and needed it for their own use. So selfish!

I bought alfalfa for Phelps and an alfalfa/grass mix for him and Shelby to share. I think he'll pick up weight quicker on that.

Hay gets delivered later this morning and they don't stack it. Now what?

Phelps was running and bucking this morning. I had to move the youngsters and Belle to an out of the way pasture so the hay truck could get in. I need to move the trailer and a truck out of the way too, but needed a cup of coffee first.

Remembering the September 11 attacks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_attacks

Leg getting better

A few days ago I dismantled the round pen to create individual areas for all the horses so we don't trample the pastures (again) all winter long. It seems to be working well. Pie and Flame are on a trip with Adam. Phelps will be done with his meds by the time they get back, so will put Shelby in with Phelps, Chavez and Dani in together, Flame and Pie, then Belle by herself.

This plan works if they stay healthy. Kali came today and after she was finished with Chavez said to watch him, he has a nasty fly bite on his belly. She's concerned for Pigeon Fever. Nice.

Belle's eye is goopy, probably from the dust swirling around, but didn't notice anything weirdly large on Chavez. Time will tell.

Phelps' leg is healing quickly. No excessive swelling and I'm not wrapping the lower part of his leg anymore. He is NOT happy when I try to squirt the anti-mastitis goop into the hole in his leg. I don't really blame him. I probably won't be able to do it past tomorrow anyway, unless I want to poke another hole in his leg to do it.

His nose has a few scrapes from learning to get his head out of the feed door quickly. Those 5 seconds of open door before the food arrives are laced with panic.

He eats so much! I thought Shelby was somehow Hoovering his hay from his side to hers, but I just don't think that's possible. He must be eating it all. I leave quite a few flakes at the morning and night feedings, thinking that certainly that will be enough and will probably hold him all day. It's always licked clean, including his grain, well before the next feeding. I will need to buy more hay.

It's been kind of an unfortunate few days. Just busy, things not going quite right...but I think I'll get back into the swing of things soon. I'll get my schedule organized better when Levi starts school next week and will be able to take more pictures and be current on Phelps and the other blogs.