In A Panic

I think Jim have uveitis, also known as moon blindness. I don't know what's going on. Last year Rabbit lost the eyesight out of one eye around this time of year due to uveitis. Now it's Jim. I can't figure out if it's something I'm doing, if there's something that they are getting in to, or what. I know that might sound weird but how can I have horses start experiencing uvietis one year after another. It makes me feel like i'm doing something wrong when I know it's just a matter of that particular horse.

On the bright side, at least Jim isn't skittish about that eye when I look at it. I need to call the vet to find out if there is anything we can do. I need to order a specific flymask for Jim and Rabbit so that the sun doesn't bother their eyes as much. It always seems that around this time of year (or closer to mid fall), that the horses start getting sick or having health concerns/issues. Seems we are starting earlier this year.

I am afraid we are going to lose Babe. She's still spunky but she's not putting on the weight. What hay I do throw out, she doesn't polish off. I also throw her alfalfa and she can't eat but just the leaves. She polishes of her grain, which is a good sign. She hasn't indicated to me that she's ready to go yet but I'm afraid I need to start preparing myself for the loss. She has taught me SO much in the past five years. I'm not saying it's a definite yes that we will say goodbye to her yet this year but I am afraid that will be what happens. It depends on Babe and the weather. I refuse to let a horse suffer through a South Dakota winter. So it may seem that we are being rash and euthanizing too early but I don't want anyone to get sick or go down hill during a cold winter day/night in South Dakota. My preference is for grain in their belly, grass in their mouth, and sunshine on their back when we say goodbye rather than ice and snow under them and only hay and grain to enjoy with no sun. So, I'm beginning to prepare myself. Maybe I'm wrong and I'm jumping to conclusions.

I'm also keeping a watchful eye on Jim. He is a hard keeper during the winter months but he seems to be doing ok other than the uveitis. I need to get Bo in to have a full exam. He's simply not picking up weight so I want the vet to see if there's some underlying condition that is finally breaking through. Brego needs to go in for a float, as does Rain. Unfortunately we are going to have to scrape pennies to get all of this accomplished. I'd love to take them in one at a time and save us the expense of paying for everything all at once but I want everyone on the up-and-up before the weather turns (and the paying job is overloading me with work).

August has not felt like August this year. It's been down right chilly these past few weeks. This week is turning out to be hot like our typical August but I haven't heard yet what the weather will be like after this week. Even the weatherman isn't looking any farther into the future than the next few days of intense heat (intense for South Dakota being low 90s).  :-)

One of our drill teams had our final performance of the year and this weekend will be the final performance of the other drill team. I'm hoping with practices and performances done for the season, that I'll be able to concentrate more on fundraising. Is anyone free in the next couple of weeks to meet and discuss fundraiser ideas? I have one of our guardian angels coming over next Tuesday if anyone would like to join us, the more the merrier.

I was also told yesterday that our hay supplier is going to be baling hay this week and they want to deliver it right away. I was in a panic when I found out the news so I went out to the hayshed to do some cleaning. I have a lot more cleaning to get done before the hay arrives! I still need to unload the 50 small squares of hay (we use those for emergencies and travel) into the haybarn before the big bales arrive. Otherwise stacking bales is going to be very difficult with the big bales in the way. I also need to move the ponies. I let the ponies back out on the lawn this weekend. They were happy but now they are demanding that they be moved. Depending on when the hay is scheduled to arrive, I can put the ponies in one of two places. I hate not being able to plan. I don't want anyone waiting on me or having to rush around to get stuff done before people arrive. I only have tonight and Thursday night to finish getting everything ready. I'm afraid Thursday might be out too as we have our son's one year doctor appoinment (and shots) and if he's not feeling well, I'm certainly not going to be out throwing bales.

We also have a ground hog. He decided to keep me company while I was cleaning out the hay shed. I came around the corner to go find a cat (found a mouse nest, yuck), and there was the ground hog. I set a trap so we'll see if I can catch him or if I'll have to move the trap to a different location. For those that don't know, we do not trap and release. Call use cruel and inhumane to wild animals I guess. But reality is we cannot have varmits on our property with all of these horses. We've already had an EPM scare, I don't want any other type of scare due to varmits!

Mike also sprayed the drylot last week. Oh what a blessing that is! The drylot was being overtaken by prickly cockleburs (you know, the ones that are painful to pull out, not the ones that shred into a million pieces when you pull on them). Mike didn't get all of the plants but now we can at least see which plants weren't affected by the spray and go after those. I do NOT want to spend my time pulling cockleburs out of manes and tails all winter long.

We have a million things to work on and I'm in a total panic. There's so much to get accomplished and fall is right around the corner. So, if anyone is bored, you are welcome to come out. We have plenty of projects to work on from easy tasks that shouldn't take very long (washing blankets) all the way to extensive time consuming projects (fixing the sliding door on the barn) and there's always fencing! So let me know when you are free and we'll get something set up!