ThunderStorms and Brave Souls

There is no 6/2 update because CMK took a much needed mental health break from everything but riding & grooming horses. Phones weren't even answered. Good for you CMK!

Wednesday started on a little up note with Mama & Filly getting to go out in the sunshine for a couple of hours. Filly had to wear her splints but she was back to her bucky, spunky self. She had so much fun playing. She even took a nice sunbathing nap. While she was out playing, CMK disinfected her stall & doused it with fly spray. The flies are unbelievably bad this year.

After an hour of being back in her stall & resting, Filly's splints & wraps were removed. Her right leg was once again flexing normally. The left was trying but would still knuckle over if Filly wasn't very careful with how she placed it. At least her legs were once again showing some improvement, no matter how slight. Her left fetlock has a tiny sore spot so is now being treated with antibiotic ointment. It's critical that any sore not be allowed to infect. It's also critical that the splints & wraps be redone daily in an attempt to prevent sores. It's such a long process.

It's not known how much longer CMK & DW can lay Filly down for her daily splinting session. She's getting to be quite a big filly, now standing 41" tall at just 4 weeks old. DW has been pouring though pet catalogs, trying to find something that will work as a simple to use, wrap around splint. If anyone has any ideas, please let CMK know. It's going to be a long time before Filly is ready to live splint free & in the meantime we need something that is effective, simple to use, & that will allow one person to do the daily changes alone.

There was some drama when it was time for Filly to get up after splinting. She was groaning, nostrils were pinched & she didn't want to get up. Definitely NOT her normal behavior. When she finally got up, with prodding, she kept pawing the ground & then lay back down. It was quite scarey with CMK thinking her beautiful filly was colicking or maybe worse, had twisted a gut while being laid down. No matter how gently horses are handled, they are fragile & so many things can go wrong. CMK had just given Filly her first baby trim with the rasp & was hoping she'd just gotten a little short. Please don't let her be colicking. CMK & DW kept watching, worrying & then realized Filly was limping on her better leg. Hmmmmmm, could it be that the splint was pinching? DW started cutting the Vetwrap & tape off, repositioned the PVC splint & sure enough, Filly's respiration slowed, her nose & eyes softened, & she was once again a happy baby. Poor little girl. Good thing her human protectors keep a close eye on her & caught the problem. It sure would be wonderful if there was an easier way to splint.

Late last night there was a massive thunder & lightening storm in the area. CMK was out in the pouring rain, hugging against the barn because the lightening was so close, bringing horses in off the pasture. Filly thought all the excite was quite fun. She was calling to all the other horses as if to say Ha Ha I'm dry. She wasn't spooked by all the excitement at all. She's going to be one bold horse someday. She really is very, very special in so many ways.