Bad News Good News and Noses

4:30 AM this morning the dogs barked, "Horses Out!!!" Well, actually is was ponies out. Lucky and Cricket pushed the panels apart and had a great time. Lucky thought Bobbie was charming. They finally raced to their pens about 6 AM.Now for the bad news. Poor old BBH fell off the tractor and the big wheels ran over her. I think she is beyond repair. She will go in the barn for the mice. If the cats can share their food then I can share my BBH. Rest in pieces, Old Hat.

Good news. Dr. Darling cannot figure out what is wrong with Belle. She definitely has foot and leg issues. We moved she and Charles to the lower barn and she will get super duper shots for a week. She gets another week for us to try to help her. Next week she will get re-evaluated. Come on, Belle. Keep getting better.

Charles and Belle had been grooming each other all day. As soon as the vet came Charles panicked and needed to touch Belle the entire time she was being examined. The bond they share is extraordinary.

Juan was very footsore and didn't feel good at all. When we decided to try to fix his foot we knew his other feet would get sore. He's getting pain shots, too. He felt better at dinnertime.

Rosie is doing well. her swelling under her jaw doesn't seem to be bothering her. She has put on a lot of weight and her feet are not sore now.

Quest has put on 50 pounds in two weeks!!!! Way to go, old boy. Keep it up.

Maggie B hadn't eaten in two days. This morning she didn't want any grain. She stood off in the corner and even treats didn't tempt her. I was really worried. When I fed tonight she ran to the fence and nickered. She ate and ate her grain. Since she has only 3 chewing teeth, grain is her main source of calories. Maybe she will be OK.

Tonight was a "nose night." Bobbie shared her nose.

The calves shared their noses.

I guess the nose knows.

"Nobody nose the troubles I've seen..."

Smoke and Smokey share their noses.

Here is Tucker's nose.

Charles thinks we have seen enough noses and this is what he thinks of them.

Your support has been phenomenal during the strangles crisis. Thank you for the emails, calls, cards, donations and FaceBook notes. We appreciate the care and concern you have shown. Dr D thinks we'll have a few more outbreaks, but probably have passed the huge outbreak time. At one point we had 15 horses sick. Pico and Breezy Summer still have open abscesses, but they are healing nicely.
I leave for Denver to be with family next week and didn't want Jim to have a herd of sick horses to care for by himself.

It's Not Over Yet

BBH was waiting for me this morning, ready to start her day. Mr.s , Zang and Gray were ready, too. Hey!! Where's the food?

Ben Barncat came out for a good morning and a reminder to fill his dish.

Belle is still having trouble moving. Apparently, it is not pain, but a movement issue. She just can't get her back legs to do what they need to do.


The upper turn out only had a few horses. Tiger Lily and Skittles are having a discussion about who gets to eat first.

As I drove down the side road I began to worry. Where are the horses? I worried that someone came in and took them. I probably should worry that someone will come in and leave a bunch. That's been known to happen. Folks wake up with several new horses in their pastures.

About 20 of them were way down by the lower well, standing in the dried up pond. It is cooler down there and after yesterday's scorching weather I guess that was the coolest spot on the ranch. They meandered to the fence when they heard the tractor.

Everyone present and accounted for and no new faces. Whew!!

The hay trailer is empty. Time to get a load. We just took the truck for a load today but will get a trailer load tomorrow.

Careful, Lyle.

Jim is the sideline coach.


Lyle is having his house remodeled and we got to take a tour. It's going to be very nice.

We met Luke Messenger a while ago when he came to get a load of hay with his draft horses and a wagon. He's doing a great job on Lyle's house.

We came home, traded trucks and set off for our favorite feed store. This is the color of the foothills in Northern California in summertime. Golden waves of grain is so true.

Here we are- Tractor Supply Company in Oroville.

Manager Brian Bender and Jim discuss what we need .

They are always good to us. Thanks, everyone. See you soon.

It's not over yet.

Tonight Rosie has a swelling under her jaw and Maggie B has been listless and not eating for two days.
I had hoped it was the heat, but Jim says Maggie has a swelling, too. Both girls are old- Maggie 30+ and Rosie in her mid 20's. Let's hope they will be like Babe who didn't feel good for a while but never got really sick.
Thank you to Jan C., Dorothy J and Naomi J for your very generous donations. You are truly horse angels.

Reprieve

Belle and Charles have a reprieve!!! It was too hot for the vet to come. We cancelled him. It was 110 degrees here today. We are trying extra pain shots for Belle.
No strangles today- day 2.

A Day to Celebrate

A reason to celebrate-There were no new outbreaks today. Yes, Juan sneezed on me and Pico and Breezy Summer still have ugly abcesses, but everyone is eating and drinking. We have to go at least 2 weeks more before we can be sure it's the last sickness, but this is the first day in 17 days that someone hasn't been sick. Hooray!!!!
When we went out to feed tonight at 7:15

It was still hot. The breezeway is usually 10 degrees cooler than outside.
Jonathan was waiting. What do you suppose he wanted?

Mmmmm. Senior mix for a senior boy. He's 37.


Quest has a mucusy nose, but it's not too bad and his appetite is good. Bobbie has a small lump under her throat, but she's doing OK for now.

Another reason to celebrate is that the little birds who eat the leaves of the sunflower plants missed this one and there is a sunflower!!

The tractor is loaded, ready to go.

Zoe decided to ride tonight. She went all the down and back without getting off. Keecha would rather chase shadows.

Love and Mac lead the way.

Pico is celebrating that he feels good enough to be out with his herd. He has a fist sized abcess that has opened and is draining and another one that may open. He is eating and drinking. Good news.

Jake let Tucker out, but it's OK because Tucker seems to feel good now, too. In fact he was galloping and bucking this morning.

I worried about Skittles because she just stood as the hay was being thrown. Will check her on the way back.

Lacey stood apart, too. She and Babe often do this until everyone is eating. Then they find a quiet spot to eat. Babe used to be the crankiest mare we had, but she has mellowed with age.

Tiger Lily has a cough, but nothing else has developed. Quincy had a cough for a while, too. They are being watched carefully. Their appetites are good, though.

When Amira and Tess were sick they stayed way down at the lower well. They still go down during the day, but come up for dinner now that they feel better.

Brandie's abcess has dried up and she doesn't seem to have another one.

Stuart feels good, too.

There's Skittles eating with the boys. Whew!

Jake, Smokey and Pico are glad to be back together.

This may sound silly, but I even celebrated this stick. The gate rolls forward when the tractor goes through and this cute little stick holds it back.
This rock greets everyone at the front gate. I celebrate that is it older than I am, probably.

The sun is a radiant orange as it sets behind the trees.
There are 2 horses who need your help.

Music is an APHA mare who will be a great pasture buddy. She can take light riders-children preferably. If you can give Music a home please, contact Dana at gittyopgo@yahoo.com.

Dancer is a registered Arab 28 years old who could be a good babysitter and pasture mate. She needs flat ground. If you can help Dancer, please, call Rhiannon at 530-518-6232.

Tomorrow Dr Darling comes and we have to make a decision for Belle and Charles. It is never easy.

Thank you Amalie for your donation.

Thank you for all the emails. cards and calls during this very stressful time.

The vet bills are huge. If you can help we would appreciate it very much.

homeatlastsanctuary@gmail.com 530-514-1439

Home At Last Sanctuary P O Box 4129 Yankee Hill Ca 95965