So much has gone on and happened since I last updated this little space. I completely glossed over my time on the production team for Art of the Cowgirl. I’ll update you about that as soon as possible! Since the advent of Instagram, I really don’t write here as much as I would like, or should, frankly.
The first of April I held my very first women’s photography workshop and retreat. It was so much fun! There was a girl’s night, a lot of learning, and some awesome photos taken! Don’t worry — if you missed this one — I’m hosting another one, here at the ranch August 2-4, 2019!
After that wrapped up, I packed up and headed South, to barrel race for a few weeks. That’s when things got a little crazy, sad, and otherwise expensive.
I was entered at Guthrie Oklahoma April 12-14. I hauled Avie, Cosmo, and Dino with me. I’m trying to take Cosmo to see all the sights and get used to life on the road, and Dino just goes with me wherever I go, because he’s the best.
When I arrived in Guthrie on Thursday night, I got on all my horses and rode them all lightly. Avie didn’t feel great, but he’d been in the trailer for a few hours, and we know he has osteoarthritis. I actually had medication for him (equioxx), waiting at my friend’s house in Texas. I’d be headed there after the barrel race was over. I’d had it shipped earlier in the month, knowing I’d be at her place for a couple weeks, before heading to the Better Barrel Races World Finals the last week of April. From there I was going to spend some time in Kansas at Perry Quarter Horses, with my friend CJ, before going to the Guymon, OK Pro Rodeo on May 3.
Friday, as I got on to warm up my big, yellow beast, I noticed he still wasn’t feeling great. I spent more time walking him than normal, really trying to get him limbered up. He felt more like the horse I’m used to riding by the time we were ready to make our run, and as usual, was his honest, perfect self.
I cooled him out, gave him his cookies and took care of him, doing all the things I always do after a run. The next day, when I threw a leg over him, he was lame. Saturday I drew out of the race, and decided to swap in Dino for Sunday’s run.
To be honest, I was in a slight panic at Avie being lame. He’s not been lame much in his life since I’ve owned him.
Sunday night we arrived in Texas at my friend’s place. I was able to get him in to the vet first thing Monday morning. The vet really felt like we had an abscess going on, so I did all the things one does for a hoof abscess, but by Thursday we weren’t better. We decided to shoot some x-rays. Let me tell you, they weren’t pretty. At all.
They showed fractured side-bones, and low ringbone.
The vet suggested we do coffin joint injections, and put him in a bar shoe. The moment he said injections I lost it. Literally, I was crying at a vet clinic. Since my mare Shuttle, (Cosmo’s mom), got an infection in her stifle from a joint injection, I swore I’d never do a joint injection again. The panic was real. At this point there wasn’t anything else I could do for my boy, other than injections, to help him get sound again. I insisted on sending the x-rays to my vet in South Dakota, since he’d be the one managing these issues. I’m glad I have my vet on speed dial.
I called my other half, Zach, in a frenzy. He told me we could take care of him; that it wasn’t the end of the world and it would be alright. He’s good at talking me off the ledge. Yet another reason to love him! I left the vet clinic, knowing we’d have Doc Ismay, here at home manage whatever was going on. I got the first available appointment, and it wasn’t until an entire week later. That was a long week.
Stay tuned!
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