Babe's Eyesight

I've been so wrapped up in Sam's health issues/depression and Bob's passing that I'm afraid I've neglected the rest of the herd.

I realized this weekend that Babe is losing the rest of her eyesight. When I originally took Babe, I was told she could see shadows. We came to the realization she could see shadows as far as going in to a building or coming out of a building but other than that, she was blind.

Babe's left eye was milk white but her right eye was the one she could see shadows. Last winter while staying at her "winter home" we thought that perhaps her hearing was going. Once we moved her back, her hearing came back. I think it was that there was so much more traffice at her "winter home" rather than here.

I had noticed that her right eye was starting to get a bit more cloudy. It wasn't but a couple days later that her eye started to run and now it's turning milk white like the other eye. She stills gets around without any problems as long as Queen doesn't spook her. Now that I have the mares in this pasture, they are closer to the big herd and Queen prefers the company of the geldings over Babe. So when Queen comes back out (of a place I've tried to fence off and she still sneaks in) she spooks Babe.

We will simply have to be more careful around Babe from now on. Stinker Queen is being no help. I did watch Babe trot up the hill tonight for her grain so she's still in good spirits and isn't letting her lack of vision get her down.

Sam too seems to be perking up. I'm not sure what happened but it seems Sam needed a full week to mourn Bob's passing. Sam and Brego have been hanging out a bit more so that makes me feel better knowing Sam isn't alone any more. I am surprised that Sam is doing so well in the barn. He used to freak out being in there all alone but now that he gets fed his grain in the barn, that's the only place he wants to be. He'll even come up to the barn all by himself (which is something he'd never do six months ago) and wait around for me to bring his grain.

I'm still worried about his weight. I'm so surprised that his weight loss took me by surprise. I should have been more careful and had a better eye. I'm also so surprised that they can lose so much weight so quickly and yet it takes ten times longer for the weight to go back on (wish I had that problem).

I can't yet talk about Bob. Some day soon I'll tell of his passing. Just know that the world lost a very special individual and I miss him dearly.

I'm also getting myself all worked up. This coming Saturday is the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock horse sale. I hate this sale. I do have to give credit to the auction house. They run the place very well, it's just the fact that so many lives will be lost at this sale.

I'm also upset about another horse. I have been looking for a horse for dad to ride. I know there's enough to choose from here at Borderlands. I found the closest thing to what I've been looking for. And I've been looking for three years.

So we went to meet the horse and go for a ride. She then proceeded to tell me that others have looked but no takers and that if no one bought him, that he and two others would head to a sale December 5th. She wont' budge on the price which throws me completely for a loop. She obviously hasn't been to a sale lately. I low balled but she didn't bite. She has to get her asking price but I know she wont' get that at the auction. I'm not sure what auction she'll be going to otherwise I'd just wait and see. But I hate trying to bid.

He's a very nice horse and I think once I get to know him I think some of his quirks could be resolved. He's short, he's gaited, he's got experience, he's everything I've been looking for. Unfortunately the hay I have, will only cover the horses already at Borderlands. It will not cover any additional mouths. So what do I do? Go in search of more hay and buy the horse that I've finally found after searching for three years (and know that I'll be saving him from an unknown fate) or do I let him go and focus on the horses already here at Borderlands and try getting the horse dad will be riding more miles?

So tell me, what do I do? 1) Buy the horse and scrounge up the money to buy hay from someone/anyone or 2) let the horse go and just focus on the horses at Borderlands?

So besides the decision to put Bob down, actually putting Bob down, Sam's illness, and now trying to decide what to do about this horse, I've got myself completely worn out. Right now I'm just going through the motions. I'm afraid I havent' really even done much with the horses which is a shame since the last few days have been nice. And around here you should always take advantage of a nice day.

I may or may not blog much this week. Mike is gone for work so I'm home alone all week trying to get all the chores done plus a little bit more. I don't think I'll get to do any extra stuff with the horses this week, just same ol' same ol'.