The Golden Carrot

Thank you to EVERYONE who donated to poor Buddy's rehab - it looks like Horse & Man raised the goal! I'll share updates when Dawn puts them out!

In the last photo, Galahad was calmly waiting for his buddy Blue to figure out where the donks were, and calm down. Here you can see him over Blue's back, as Blue hollers for his little buddies. Galahad is protective of Blue, but like a brother, also torments him (recall the over-the-fence bite that sent Blue into his roof?) Blue is also one who has various problems now, but great heart, and some fancy moves when he wants to. He's more reactive (read: nervous) and G is more of a deliberate dick. An interesting duo ...

Food. Its what they live for. This crew of thugs (Laddie, Ronan, Boo) are all among the younger and healthier horses here. They get pellet buckets, but obviously NOT ENOUGH! Well, I live for food too, it's my only pleasure. Thank you, all of our supporters, each one of you, who help me keep food in front of these guys....

Piggy was pissed at having her trotters trimmed; her shrieks made the horses frantic. They thundered back and forth, in a tight bunch, all the while looking up the hill to where we were torturing piggy...

Ok, yesterday we had the farrier out again. It was pretty exciting, because Ryan was willing to do a little clipping on part of my piggy's toes as well, and of course, we were treated to the horrid sounds of pigs in protest! I didn't move fast enough, but will be posting a short segment of the horses horrified reaction! Piggy was mostly aggravated - both Ryan and Mike were petting her with no issues at all for the first toe, but she had to be moved out of her bed to get the... rest and thats when the bellyaching began, at full volume. I didn't have the camera at first, but had to take Monkey back (the air is still very chill even with the sun out) and so got these pics of Durango and Bo and others getting trims or watching; We had already done Sancho and Diablo, who left in their pen with breakfast to make catching that monster Diablo easier. See more

Galahad using his 'innocent me' look. He's patiently waiting for Blue to figure out where the Donkeys and Thunder are (literally about 60 feet away). A sway back, and ringbone in that right fore have G here, but he can really style, I'm betting he was a show pony at one time...

Star and Dom, compatriots in crime, wondering if they can thrash some cookies outta me.

ah, it was so sad to have to remove that eye. Thunder was second only to dear Ashley in the "who has the longest eyelashes" category. He's still pretty cute tho!

I don't know this org who got poor Buddy from a kill pen; and I don't usually endorse "kill pen saves" - I'd rather encourage owners to come directly to rescues, but understand more than anyone how often underfunded rescues have to say no. I DO know Dawn, and she checks on those she raises $$ for, and she follows up. Buddy is a horse TGC would have helped - so if you're so inclined, donate to Dawn at Horse & Man - the link is in the article - and see if we can expand our support for the seniors a little.... Even $10 will add up!

Update on Beppe - his last shoeing was rushed because of the farrier's 'schedule' and I'm worried as he's been lame as all get out since. I may get the vet out for him, and for CeCe .... Other than that, he feels sad he doesn't get an extra morning bucket - but admits that getting two HUGE buckets at night gives him more time to eat it. Hasn't lost a bit of weight!

After two days in, and horrible rain/snow/sleet and, the prioity is to show the other horses that ... Im out and You're Not!!

Dang. It's pretty much been raining non-stop since Friday evening. Wind from hell, icy and blasting in all directions. Hail briefly once, and several flurries of snow (didn't stick here but snowy all around). And Wednesday I almost had heat stroke..... Too much. Too soon. So far, horses don't seem real interested in leaving their stalls! But the interiors are fairly dry and protected so keeping food in front of them makes it all ok. Mike watched the hose for me tonight as I made and distributed buckets; and we found two 'walls' blown down, that we put back up, in Renee's and Daja's stalls. What is happening??? I stuck my arm out the door to film the wind - does that make sense? - and that noise you hear is the wind and snapping of the tarp I tried to tie over my carts.

a fellow rescuer posted their horse with "the cutest ears" but I feel Tolly may have a lead on this category. I love taking fly masks off - seeing those darling faces again - who is sweeter than Tolly? No one.

Dom loves his newly reconfigured stall; the horses are clearly anticipating the rain (lots of weather talk at the water station); we've got everything tarped. This storm is supposed to bring 1/2" of rain - I think over three days - sorely needed moisture, but I sure wish we could have 1/4" every other night or so. If you have to be on the road, please watch out! People drive funny in the rain in So Cal.

So today, I'm working with Mike to give Dominic a better roof. I bought materials for this back in July! I'll try to get pics. tomorrow will be more interesting, as the vet and farrier will converge here in the afternoon - farrier to put new shoes on CeCe and Beppe; Vet to help with Beppe (if we need to sedate him), and also to do Kaz and Daja's teeth. Once that's done, we only have the donkeys to float - THAT should be exciting. I'll see if Ryan or Mike can help me get a... halter back on Diablo - who works hard to remove same whenever he can. Here's Blue, who is doing very well post eye-removal. He gets a morning bucket of pellets as it turns out he has about 4 molars left (like Tolly, but unlike her, he's not efficient with what he has left). His butt isn't as bony, but he still has ribs showing... Working on it! In this pic, he's turning his head to look at me with his operational eye. I'll be able to remove that fly mask soon - with his eye socket sewn together and healed completely, I don't have to worry about flies laying eggs in there anymore! YAY See more

Handsome Woodie ("Sherwood Park"). They are all fluffing up with winter hair. We've had several nights now that approached freezing. Fly masks will be removed for the winter pretty soon. (Except Bo who needs his against dust). Got the roof panels back up on the stalls. Mike used his expertise to fasten them securely to the stalls themselves (they'd only had 4 toenailed corners holding them). Gonna pick up some more fastener plates so we can secure the rest of those roof panels. Still trying to adjust to the time change (didn't we vote that out?). Kept my bedroom clock on the "old" time so I could get out and feed the early buckets as usual, making sure all are turned out for every possible minute of these now shorter days. Hoping (but not hopeful) that the next few days will remain calm...

Laddie says hi! Where is everyone? We've had a bad few days, and want everyone to think good thoughts as Mike and I attempt to re-roof Woodie/Maggie wind-destroyed stalls. Thank goodness for my dear Annie (Kubota tractor) or we'd be struggling worse!

So, too much freakiness. The wind yesterday afternoon blew THREE panels of stall roofs off - Two from Woodie, and one from Maggie (and PS those were only 5 year old roof panels, not done by Mike and I). Luckily, no rain in the immediate forecast so I'll be hopeful Mike can give me a hand Friday to put them back up and properly fasten them. And no surprise, I had 6 horses who didn't want to go to their stalls because they'd have to pass by those horse-killing objects on the... ground.... sheesh. Once partly past, Anya slammed me into the stall walls to get the rest of the way beyond them. (Hip hurts today! Dammit, Anya!). With all that excitement, I was distributing buckets and Mike was putting everyone else away by himself. I did have to find and chase the donks and their Dorks back to their stalls. And both Mike and I forgot to be sure Hollywood was in - he usually is last, to avoid the crush. OMG you guys, he was stuck in a pile of redshank and huge boulders, and just stood there ALL NIGHT waiting for help. I realized what we'd done when I let everyone out, and spent a few hours frantically looking for him. I went by him, probably 15-20feet away, at least three times and never saw him. In fact, when I spotted him, I was all the way out at the road, trying to get a different angle. Then had to tear down a healthy redshank (which are VERY springy and strong) and then move his front end over, and then his hind, and lift his right hind high enough that he could push off it and get out. At which point, he broke the Derby record high tailing it to his stall! He's had one big drink and is munching down his dinner, and has shelter from the wind and a nice soft play to lay down after his ordeal. Poor baby, hungry and thirsty! Dammit. HOW did I do that!?! I'm a little terrified - they say bad things come in threes..... See more

Ok, today Bo and Dom got floated - Dominic REALLY needed it. Galahad got his second antibiotic shot. And Thunder ... dear Thunder. Doc felt the swelling hadn't gone down enough, and this time she opened the lid up, some drainage and it went all the way thru as there was abscessing underneath the eyelid! Eyeball is still ok tho. We hope to see significant reduction in the swelling tomorrow. Billing for Thunder's two visits (one an ER) total $549. $343 for Bo and Dom's dentals. It's killing the bank account, but we're down to the donks, Daja and Kaz (I'm not doing CeCe as she was done less than a year ago). If you can help, www.paypal.me/TheGoldenCarrot

Ok, the good news is, Galahad ate his whole dinner, WITH bute in it (I didn't have to syringe), last night. He may be past the hump. Thunder left a little feed, Sat evening, so he's getting bute in HIS dinner, and ate it all. His eye got goobery again, and I don't feel the swelling has gone down much if at all. Doc is coming this afternoon to look them over, and possibly do two more dentals... I'm so hoping the wind will die down by then. Everyone got wormed Sunday Morni...ng except Galahad, Laddie, Daisy and Star - my bad, I apparently ordered wrong! I'll get them done next weekend. A wet Sunday (not really rain, but heavy 'mist'). Today, bright sun but cold and very gusty wind. Last night I almost lost my life in the rush to get into the stalls for dinner, and weather avoidance.... A pic of the donkeys and their Dorks sharing a flake.. See more

Today Thunder had an enormous horrid eye. I called Dr. H and she pulled out all the stops on this, her day off, to come help. (She was in riding togs, and had her little boy in the back seat!) Four pics - two taken before she saw him; two this evening. She THINKS he just bashed his head real bad but it was swollen so hard, she could barely see inside.... Poor boy. Now, this has GOT to hurt right? But he hasn't missed one pellet of any meal. Who knew Galahad would be the sensitive one!?

Well, gotta take a step back on Galahad. Last night, he wasn't interested in his dinner. By this morning, he'd eaten the senior and the 1/4" bermuda pellets I gave him, but NOT the larger alfalfa pellets and the soft carrots. I had tried mush with him before, but he completely ignored it. On Dr. H's advice, and with Mike's help and a dang stud chain, I got 2 grams of bute down his throat via syringe last night, and the part of his dinner that he ate had some bute powder in... it. This morning, when I discovered what he'd left, I quick scooped the old out and gave him some senior (out of berm pellets but delivery coming today) - but he just stood by his gate and didn't show interest. I'm hoping he checked it out after I left. I agree with Dr. H that he wasn't colicking (we treated for that just in case). I think his mouth is hurting him badly, and he ate that first night because the nerve block was still operational. Damn. Fingers crossed he can make it thru while the antibiotic begins it's work... And Irene J - he loves and still eats his Winnie's Cookies, so he's getting plenty of those too, thank you! Here's a pic of the boy with his fellow donkey-dorks .... See more

Would any of you care to nominate us for this? You know our stalls are barely holding on, and having a couple of stalls for the most frail of our residents would be HUGE! Please don't assume someone else will do it - if you feel we deserve this help, please nominate us! I think more nominations makes us more likely to win too....!