Escapes, Missing Hat and Continuing Treatments

We awakened to Maggie B's frantic whinnies. She was missing someone. Looking out the back door there were two escapees- Lacey and Babe- wandering around having a great time. But Maggie wouldn't have been calling to them, so who else was missing? Sugar was in her pen but Posey was gone.
It didn't take more than a bucket of grain to put Babe and Lacey back in the big turnout. Apparently, they had had enough of barn life and wanted to be free. They are eating well. Lacey shows no sign of the strangles yet.

Where was Posey? Oh my goodness. She had closed herself in Babe's stall. How she did that I don't know. She's not one to be touched or even caught so I encouraged her to move on out.

Out she goes. A bucket of grain helped her back in the pen with Maggie and Sugar.

Calli mule is one we watch closely for quality of life. Her poor knee is going to cause her problems as she gets older. Her leg will eventually turn causing her a great deal of pain. We'll watch closely to make sure her quality of life stays good. Now she is a happy girl with very little pain.

Brandie is still "off" a little. She is eating and drinking, but listless.

Lucky is checking to make sure that we know he is OK. Cricket started sneezing today. Jet is doing better.

Pearl is eating and drinking but will stay in for special treatment a while longer. Pico, in the background will stay in a while, too.

Jim and I put up panels so we have more hospital rooms. Tess started to cough and Amira is listless so they came in.

Breezey Summer looks like she doesn't feel well, so we'll watch her. Dr D thinks we may be going at this for 3 or 4 more weeks.

Quincy came by to see how everyone is doing. So far so good with him.

Smoke came to the barn, too, but I think he was just looking for a treat. He seems OK for now.

Since we don't have medical histories on most of the equines we don't know which ones may have already dealt with strangles and therefore are immune. Our young horses are most at risk.
Losing things is one of my talents. I can loose shoes, cameras, phones, dustpans and just about anything else. However, I know where I left my bedraggled but beloved hat and it is gone. I think there is a human, equine and bovine conspiracy that has led to the disappearance of said hat. Don't those three look guilty to you? Jim just shrugs when I ask him where it is. I had to wear another not so grand hat. Where is my hat?
Come on, guys. I promise not to wear it in public- only when I'm feeding.

Many people ask us how we can make a decision about euthanasia. Some are very nice about it. Isn't it hard? How do you decide about each animal? Do we cry? And some ask us how we like being horse killers and aren't we ashamed to just kill an animal? Our answer is always the same. It's not about us. It is about the animal. We are dedicated to seeing that each animal has the best life we can give it. When the quality of that life is gone, it is time to help the animal. We don't focus on death. We focus on life. If a horse can have a few good years, a few months or even a few good days that is what we are about. When there is no longer a way to sustain that good life, then with the help of our dedicated veterinarian we make the choice for the animal. That is humane. We don't keep it around just because it is hard to let it go. That is how we show the ultimate respect for that animal.