Dee's Mare: MV High Fashion

The Argo mare is settling in very well next door - happier now that Red is over there, but still pacing from time to time and is creating a rut in the paddock from her route. She misses her little stud colt deperately, and her bag of milk is full to overflowing, poor thing. She needs meat on her bones - but she is enjoying as much designer hay as she will eat, and likes the beet pulp. I am choosing not to count her ribs: it would just be too easy. She is a kind mare - with a fresh, young eye; nice big feet and good, strong legs. She responds well to affection. One could get quite attached. She's ready for her next breeding!

This morning, she was even calmer. She ate most of the three flakes of Colorado Mix hay we put out for her, and she is enjoying her boy toy over the fence. I'm hoping we can increase her weight before we take her to California next Wednesday.

Guess Who I Rode Last Evening...

Yes, after Far's bath yesterday evening and liberal application of conditioner to his mane, I threw the saddle on him, put the bit in his mouth, jumped on and walked him around the arena. I was probably on his back for 15 minutes. What a rush! It was good to be back on him - I could feel the "far" in his belly; his eyes were bugged out, but I could tell he was happy to be there and he settled right in. He felt good and even at a walk - kinda - I could tell the left hind shoe was missing. New shoes on Wednesday for the first time since May, and first ride on him since May. We both had fun!



Far, getting plumper by the day, waiting for his maiden July voyage.

This morning, Rusty and I made his paddock bigger. He showed his appreciation by trotting around it and making sure he familiarized himself with all the smells.



Left: before - the original size of the paddock. Right: after - the new, improved version.

Far's Out Walking

Dr. Ralstead came out yesterday to change Far's bandages and we all gasped with delight when we saw the progress the wound has made. Dr. Sickler was right! She predicted that this week would be a milestone week. The very deep cutting back of the flesh and proud flesh last week proved to really help the progression of the healing process: the two sides are very close to touching - there is still no hole - and the flesh is looking pink and healthy. The flesh over the joint is less thick, and both vets predict the thickening around the joint will continue to reduce.

Far has been enjoying his own 1/6th of the paddock; he now gets Timothy as well as Bermuda, since he is moving around more, and his weight is picking up. His feet are an absolute mess - he was due to be reshod the week he got hurt - and I hope the farrier will come out early next week. He now enjoys the nightly sleeping comfort of the wash; the shade of the Ironwood tree during the day and he trots around from time to time - as sound as a bell.

This morning I awoke to the sound of commotion outside. He and Rocky were rearing and biting and playing and kicking over the fence - tearing a strip out of each other and having a very fun time of it. I was cringing and rushed outside to distract the adolescents with some fresh hay. Far was cantering around and got himself worked up into quite a sweat. I was particularly unimpressed.

After their beet pulp, I took Far out and and hand-walked him about a mile. I wanted to get on and ride him, but I am heeding the advice of Dr. Ralstead and Rusty, and waiting just one more week, if I can :-) Far seemed pleased to be out - if only for the mental stimulation. He got bug-eyed and very tentative as he saw the desert again after weeks of looking at it from jail.





Removing the bandage - it was a tough week on the bandage - we actually got 15 minutes of rain for the first time since March, and the thing had begun to sag.





You can hear the gasps of pleasure as the progress is revealed. What a delight to see.




The wound is cleaned and looks even more impressive. The shoeing is looking pathetic - the one remaining back shoe is slipping further and further back.




Side elevations - the thickening in the joint is still apparent, but is definitely reducing.

Far Recovery - July 5

Redford looks on while Far gets the knife!

It is supposed to get up to 113 today in Scottsdale. I gave Far his first bath last night since the accident. I made it a particularly long cold bath. Stacey had a C-Section the day after the last bandage change, so she is taking a few weeks of well-deserved rest. She was represented today by the very capable Dr. Tammy, who also vetted at the Scottsdale McDowell Mountain Endurance Ride for us in the Spring. She cut back more proud flesh, which apparently needs to be done every two weeks or so. Once the flesh was cut back there was no more slit in the wound! He was sedated, hence the head hanging low, but it looks like we can open him up into a larger space! I'll put in a call to Stacey later today and see what she recommends for rehab at this point.

Onwards and upwards!


Bandage is removed; wound looks clean, proud flesh is back and needs to be cut.



Making the flesh less proud. Once the proud flesh was removed, there was no longer a split in the wound.



The finished product - and a very sedated Farrrrrr.