Hi, I'm Ev. I'm training to become a horsewoman. These are my adventures and misadventures. I'm green as hell, but so far, so good. I'm now learning from Bo (and sometimes his wife DeDe) at D&D Ranch in Pope Valley. I am extremely lucky to have this opportunity, I feel quite blessed, and I feel that they, and horses, have really turned my life around.
Solomon is my baby- a big old flea bitten grey Appendix gelding who is very kind and way too smart! I love him so very much. He is a rescue and was meant to be co-owned rehabbed, and maybe rehomed to a good home. He turned out to be over 25 years old with injuries that ultimately do not make him riding sound, so he is retired.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Thank you so much!

Something to be very grateful for! A kind donor has enabled me to get a UV protection mask for Solomon! It works like a fly mask, but will protect his eyes from the sun a lot better than a normal fly mask. I can also buy him more anti-inflammatory pain medications! Thank you thank you thank you!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Solomon's health

Hey there,
Well, Solomon has rallied! His swelling and itchiness has gone way down, with a simple bute treatment. Bute can do damage to the stomach and kidneys, but we have to balance that with his age and what will bring him the highest quality of life. We aren't really getting much into him because he's a clever and suspicious horse, but the little bit he is taking is helping!

He has finally bonded with the new mare, Misty, who has moved in since Maggie and Breaker left. Misty is a Standardbred, and an ex racehorse.

While Solomon was eating dinner, penned up because we didn't want the other horses to eat bute (not that he took more than 5 mouthfuls of the bait) Misty wandered off.

Then he noticed, and this happened, haha. I had to take his fly mask off before I could let him out. There's no barbed wire in that pen, by the way. There is some on the rest of the property, but with 100 acres and a lot of sense, he doesn't get himself caught in it, thank the gods.



Pretty amazing for such an ancient horse, eh?

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Moon blindness

Hi there,
long time no post, I know!

Solomon has moon blindness. :( It was really limited to runny eyes and some photosensitivity for a long time, but now he's getting really itchy, and lots of swelling. I don't think fly masks are enough any more.
I'm going to get a vet out to him as soon as I can, and start him on steroid ointment, and I am starting him on anti inflammatory drugs now.

The other thing that I can do for him (that implant surgery isn't recommended for a horse his age) is get him a Guardian Mask, which blocks UV and really helps a photosensitive horse like Solomon.

http://www.horsemask.com/products.html

Unfortunately I cannot afford one this month. :( I am also dealing with one of my cats, who has a $1,000 eye surgery that he desperately needs.

Hopefully I'll find a way to get him one soon.