SUNDAY 8th April
Easter Sunday was for us a normal Sunday. Being a household of fairly scientific atheists Easter Sunday meant nothing more than a day without any shops open.
I was up at the yard in the morning as is usual now and a Chico was more than happy to go for his in hand grazing. I just had to stand like a spare part with a constant 'crunch munch' sound in my ear. Take a bite, chew, take a bite chew, take a bite, chew...I have no idea when Chico actually swallowed what he was eating but boy he was going at it like something possessed.
Chicos wound is healing well, no signs of infection or swelling and the stitches are still in place. It was clear by the layer of bedding on his rug that Chico had enjoyed a roll in the stable last night, I'm not sure I think it is a good idea but where else does he have to roll.
My mother accompanied me to they yard in the afternoon to see Chico, having not seen him for some time. Chico was happy enough to let her graze him in hand but we were surprised to find he wasnt too keen on having someone else in the stable. I figure he is so used to just having me, his mum, in with him that any body else with me must be a vet (that being the only time someone else is with me). The faces he was giving my mother were a picture, he was one grumpy lad. My mother ended up being cast out of the stable to sit on the wall and wait for me, once she had gone Chico became all soppy with me again wanting cuddles and loves. He is a very silly boy, evidently no visitors are allowed!
I have managed an hour and a quarter in hand grazing both days over the weekend and with unlimited hay and breakfast and tea Chico isnt quite as skinny looking as he was the day I got him home. He is on the mend and I am looking forward to the vets visit next Wednesday to see what she thinks.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
Friday, 6 April 2012
Good Friday
FRIDAY 6TH APRIL
It was Good Friday, and it had been a good Friday. Chico was chirpy as ever and full of beans.
I managed an hour and a half in hand grazing split over the morning and afternoon which Chico thoroughly enjoyed.
Not a lot of other news from Friday, lets hope the rest of his recovery goes just as smoothly.
It was Good Friday, and it had been a good Friday. Chico was chirpy as ever and full of beans.
I managed an hour and a half in hand grazing split over the morning and afternoon which Chico thoroughly enjoyed.
Not a lot of other news from Friday, lets hope the rest of his recovery goes just as smoothly.
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Helping, head butting and hand grazing
THURSDAY 5TH APRIL
My normal routine back to normal, I couldnt be happier.
Trundled up to the yard in the morning and was met by a fresh faced eager your horse stood in Chico's stable. Chico was well and truly back. I invited myself into his stable and immediately became the focus of his full attention. A fact that I do normally enjoy but not when trying in vain to quickly skip out as Chico plays the 'must stand in every spot that mum is trying to muck out' game. I think at one point he was threatened with being returned to the vets clinic!
After the not so quick skip out it was time for a mouthful of breakfast for the boy. I popped half a scoop of feed into his bucket before adding 1 sachet of painkiller, 1 sachet of antibiotics and 2 little scoops of pro-biotic pellets. His bucket looked like it contained more medicine than it did feed, but after mixing in a bit of water I offered it to Chico who saw no problem with scoffing it as if he'd never eaten before.
While he munched I had a quick check on his wound site. Looking good i'd say.
With breakfast (and meds) licked clean from the bowl I figured then was a good time for some in hand grazing. Now being the big softie I am I had purchased a new headcollar for Chico, complete with fluffy nose band and head piece, after all I dont want my boy getting a sore face with all the in hand grazing we will be doing.
Upon opening the stable door Chico went like a racehorse out of the start gate, but made it all of a meter before reaching his first grass victim. I am sure Chico thinks that there is to be a grass shortage as I have never seen a horse cram so much grass in its mouth continually for 15 minutes. Not wanting to overload his gut it was time to get back in the stable, a fact that Chico wasnt so keen on. A small tantrum later and he finally went back in.
This repeated itself again in the afternoon but this time the lucky monkey had 30 minutes grazing but this resulted in an even bigger tantrum about going back in. However 'mum' always gets her way so it wasnt long before Chico was enjoying his final dinner in the stable before bed.
Just before leaving him for the night I stood in his stable enjoying having him home. Chico however sees my presence as an excuse to do something or go somewhere so my simply standing quietly just doesnt wash with him and he must interact with me at all costs. As I gazed over the stable door across the yard my back suddenly met with a blunt force that is Chico's big empty noggin. A comic moment as I splatted against the stable door was followed by an afternoon of not being able to do this.....*ouch*......
Chico's first full day at home, under my care, had gone perfectly (other than the not so helpful mucking out, the head butting, and I didnt even go into the bit where he trod on my shoe and nearly pushed me over!). It's so nice to have him home.
My normal routine back to normal, I couldnt be happier.
Trundled up to the yard in the morning and was met by a fresh faced eager your horse stood in Chico's stable. Chico was well and truly back. I invited myself into his stable and immediately became the focus of his full attention. A fact that I do normally enjoy but not when trying in vain to quickly skip out as Chico plays the 'must stand in every spot that mum is trying to muck out' game. I think at one point he was threatened with being returned to the vets clinic!
After the not so quick skip out it was time for a mouthful of breakfast for the boy. I popped half a scoop of feed into his bucket before adding 1 sachet of painkiller, 1 sachet of antibiotics and 2 little scoops of pro-biotic pellets. His bucket looked like it contained more medicine than it did feed, but after mixing in a bit of water I offered it to Chico who saw no problem with scoffing it as if he'd never eaten before.
While he munched I had a quick check on his wound site. Looking good i'd say.
With breakfast (and meds) licked clean from the bowl I figured then was a good time for some in hand grazing. Now being the big softie I am I had purchased a new headcollar for Chico, complete with fluffy nose band and head piece, after all I dont want my boy getting a sore face with all the in hand grazing we will be doing.
Upon opening the stable door Chico went like a racehorse out of the start gate, but made it all of a meter before reaching his first grass victim. I am sure Chico thinks that there is to be a grass shortage as I have never seen a horse cram so much grass in its mouth continually for 15 minutes. Not wanting to overload his gut it was time to get back in the stable, a fact that Chico wasnt so keen on. A small tantrum later and he finally went back in.
This repeated itself again in the afternoon but this time the lucky monkey had 30 minutes grazing but this resulted in an even bigger tantrum about going back in. However 'mum' always gets her way so it wasnt long before Chico was enjoying his final dinner in the stable before bed.
Just before leaving him for the night I stood in his stable enjoying having him home. Chico however sees my presence as an excuse to do something or go somewhere so my simply standing quietly just doesnt wash with him and he must interact with me at all costs. As I gazed over the stable door across the yard my back suddenly met with a blunt force that is Chico's big empty noggin. A comic moment as I splatted against the stable door was followed by an afternoon of not being able to do this.....*ouch*......
Chico's first full day at home, under my care, had gone perfectly (other than the not so helpful mucking out, the head butting, and I didnt even go into the bit where he trod on my shoe and nearly pushed me over!). It's so nice to have him home.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Home at last
WEDNESDAY 4TH APRIL
The morning broke with howling wind, driving rain and even a spatter of snow! Long gone were the beaming sunny days but the weather couldnt damper my spirit as I lay under the covers, cat in situ upon my chest, because this day Chico was coming home.
I would have to wait until my dad finished work before we could set off to retrieve my boy. After a few hours sorting paperwork, getting irate at pestering cats and freezing without central heating I finally set off to the yard.
At the vets Chico again put up some resistance to loading onto the trailer, a fact which myself and the two girls helping me didnt appreciate in the freezing weather. Finally on board, with goody bag in hand (containing all manner of lotions and potions), we set off home.
Chico's face upon unloading at HIS yard was a picture. He practically dragged me down the yard towards his stable. You would have thought he hadnt eaten in a week such was the voracity he went at his haynet! Our yard manager came to welcome him home and got a nudge in the ear for trouble, Chico's cheeky ways were as sharp as ever.
The vet had removed his tummy bandage, telling me that as he was so active the bandage kept rolling up and as he was doing so well they just took it off. I had to keep a close eye on the wound, which looked tiny compared to the horrendous image i had in my mind, to ensure it was clean and infection free.
Removing his cotton sheet gave me a giggle. Chico was now sporting a very fetching bald patch on his side. A not so neatly shaved patch (where they had scanned him before surgery) was no pride of place, no in hand showing for us this year!!
6 weeks of strict box rest are to follow. Grazing out in hand each day but other than that Chico was in for a very boring 6 weeks. I felt sorry for him, being such an exuberant boy with a love in playing with his horsey friends such a term of 'solitary' was going to be hard for him. I promised him I would walk him around the yard everyday to say hello to his friends in their stables.
I had to keep a watch for signs of discomfort and of course colic symptoms but Chico was in such good spirit I was optimistic of a trouble free recovery, but only time will tell....
Here he is, back safe in his stable, he had clearly lost some weight but with all the stress of the last week he wasnt to only one to lose a few pounds. He was so boisterous in the stable, clear photos were not easy!
The morning broke with howling wind, driving rain and even a spatter of snow! Long gone were the beaming sunny days but the weather couldnt damper my spirit as I lay under the covers, cat in situ upon my chest, because this day Chico was coming home.
I would have to wait until my dad finished work before we could set off to retrieve my boy. After a few hours sorting paperwork, getting irate at pestering cats and freezing without central heating I finally set off to the yard.
At the vets Chico again put up some resistance to loading onto the trailer, a fact which myself and the two girls helping me didnt appreciate in the freezing weather. Finally on board, with goody bag in hand (containing all manner of lotions and potions), we set off home.
Chico's face upon unloading at HIS yard was a picture. He practically dragged me down the yard towards his stable. You would have thought he hadnt eaten in a week such was the voracity he went at his haynet! Our yard manager came to welcome him home and got a nudge in the ear for trouble, Chico's cheeky ways were as sharp as ever.
The vet had removed his tummy bandage, telling me that as he was so active the bandage kept rolling up and as he was doing so well they just took it off. I had to keep a close eye on the wound, which looked tiny compared to the horrendous image i had in my mind, to ensure it was clean and infection free.
Removing his cotton sheet gave me a giggle. Chico was now sporting a very fetching bald patch on his side. A not so neatly shaved patch (where they had scanned him before surgery) was no pride of place, no in hand showing for us this year!!
6 weeks of strict box rest are to follow. Grazing out in hand each day but other than that Chico was in for a very boring 6 weeks. I felt sorry for him, being such an exuberant boy with a love in playing with his horsey friends such a term of 'solitary' was going to be hard for him. I promised him I would walk him around the yard everyday to say hello to his friends in their stables.
I had to keep a watch for signs of discomfort and of course colic symptoms but Chico was in such good spirit I was optimistic of a trouble free recovery, but only time will tell....
Here he is, back safe in his stable, he had clearly lost some weight but with all the stress of the last week he wasnt to only one to lose a few pounds. He was so boisterous in the stable, clear photos were not easy!
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
He's coming home!
TUESDAY 3RD APRIL
News just in.....Chico can come home on Wednesday.
After a busy morning walking the dogs, shopping for dog food and re-organising my aviary I had sat down with my laptop to enjoy an episode of one of my shows on line.
Few minutes from the end my phone went and the vet was on the other end. Chico could come home! The vet couldnt say enough about how amazingly Chico had done from day one. She told me enthusiastically how of all the colic surgeries she had even been involved with that Chico had shown the smallest amount of edema around the wound than she had ever seen. It seems that Chico is some sort of super-pony, as he astounded the vets last year with his superb reaction to having his sarcoids treated with aggressive chemo cream, so looks like he is continuing this healing ways.
When I collect him i will be given a care guide for him and he is likely to need to be on box rest for at least 3 months. In hand grazing everyday if what I have to look forward to this year, lets just hope we dont have months of rain, I dont fancy getting drowned!
It will be up to the yard in the morning to get his stable ready for him, put down some extra bedding, fill his water and make sure he has plenty of yummy hay.
Then once my dad and the towbar finish work it'll be off up to Lichfield to collect my boy.
Lets just hope he wants to get back on the trailer.......
News just in.....Chico can come home on Wednesday.
After a busy morning walking the dogs, shopping for dog food and re-organising my aviary I had sat down with my laptop to enjoy an episode of one of my shows on line.
Few minutes from the end my phone went and the vet was on the other end. Chico could come home! The vet couldnt say enough about how amazingly Chico had done from day one. She told me enthusiastically how of all the colic surgeries she had even been involved with that Chico had shown the smallest amount of edema around the wound than she had ever seen. It seems that Chico is some sort of super-pony, as he astounded the vets last year with his superb reaction to having his sarcoids treated with aggressive chemo cream, so looks like he is continuing this healing ways.
When I collect him i will be given a care guide for him and he is likely to need to be on box rest for at least 3 months. In hand grazing everyday if what I have to look forward to this year, lets just hope we dont have months of rain, I dont fancy getting drowned!
It will be up to the yard in the morning to get his stable ready for him, put down some extra bedding, fill his water and make sure he has plenty of yummy hay.
Then once my dad and the towbar finish work it'll be off up to Lichfield to collect my boy.
Lets just hope he wants to get back on the trailer.......
Monday, 2 April 2012
Bandage change
MONDAY 2ND APRIL
It was 10:30am and I surfaced from dreaming about horses to another sunny morning. I had planned to visit Chico again so got myself ready and popped into the garden to feed the chickens. Unfortunately for me during the short 10 minutes I was outside the vet had decided to phone me, and of course my phone was in the house! Vet had left a voicemail, she explained that Chico was still coping fantastically and that he had had his tummy bandage changed that morning.' I contemplated phoning her back but decided I had no real concerns so would just wait until she phoned again.
Heading over to Lichfield was going well until someone pulled up besides me at the lights and pointed out my rear tyre was almost completely flat *sigh*. One interesting fact I found out today that there is only one petrol station on the journey between Sutton Coldfield and Lichfied and that the solitary petrol station that was on route had an air pump that didnt work! Needless to say I limped slowly to the vet clinic and figured I could fill up the tyre on the way home (which I did)
Chico was pleased to see me again but he seemed a bit quieter than the last few visits. I guessed that the vets had probably given him some sedative to change the dressing so I wasnt concerned.
He looked well and his coat on his neck and chest was shining like a piece of silk. His back end still looked a bit bedraggled and he had managed to rub his tail into a lovely big pom-pom shape, he was definitely going to be coming home minus a lot of tail!
He was keen to use me as a rubbing post again and soon put me to work as his personal hay holder, it was my job to pull the hay from the haynet and hold it for him to munch, lazy monkey.
Whilst I was there another horse arrived and the head vet was putting it through its paces. Chico, and another little pony in a stable opposite, found the antics of this new arrival fascinating and every time it was led across the yard both let out whinnies and neighs of fascination. I guess it can get boring being in the stable 24/7 so they relish any little bit of excitement they can get.
I had noticed a lot of concern about the horse in the stable at the end of the row. There was a cone with hazard tape cordoning off the stable door with several pairs of wellies and cover-alls on the floor. A big sign read 'STAFF ONLY' and I witnessed bowls and buckets being washed out with boiling water. All I could see in the stable was a drip line hanging from the ceiling spiraling its way down to below the door line. I didnt know what was going on but I felt sorry for whatever poor soul was in that stable.
I left Chico munching on his haynet and made my way back home. It is still very strange not having him just up the road at his 'home'.
It was 10:30am and I surfaced from dreaming about horses to another sunny morning. I had planned to visit Chico again so got myself ready and popped into the garden to feed the chickens. Unfortunately for me during the short 10 minutes I was outside the vet had decided to phone me, and of course my phone was in the house! Vet had left a voicemail, she explained that Chico was still coping fantastically and that he had had his tummy bandage changed that morning.' I contemplated phoning her back but decided I had no real concerns so would just wait until she phoned again.
Heading over to Lichfield was going well until someone pulled up besides me at the lights and pointed out my rear tyre was almost completely flat *sigh*. One interesting fact I found out today that there is only one petrol station on the journey between Sutton Coldfield and Lichfied and that the solitary petrol station that was on route had an air pump that didnt work! Needless to say I limped slowly to the vet clinic and figured I could fill up the tyre on the way home (which I did)
Chico was pleased to see me again but he seemed a bit quieter than the last few visits. I guessed that the vets had probably given him some sedative to change the dressing so I wasnt concerned.
He looked well and his coat on his neck and chest was shining like a piece of silk. His back end still looked a bit bedraggled and he had managed to rub his tail into a lovely big pom-pom shape, he was definitely going to be coming home minus a lot of tail!
He was keen to use me as a rubbing post again and soon put me to work as his personal hay holder, it was my job to pull the hay from the haynet and hold it for him to munch, lazy monkey.
Whilst I was there another horse arrived and the head vet was putting it through its paces. Chico, and another little pony in a stable opposite, found the antics of this new arrival fascinating and every time it was led across the yard both let out whinnies and neighs of fascination. I guess it can get boring being in the stable 24/7 so they relish any little bit of excitement they can get.
I had noticed a lot of concern about the horse in the stable at the end of the row. There was a cone with hazard tape cordoning off the stable door with several pairs of wellies and cover-alls on the floor. A big sign read 'STAFF ONLY' and I witnessed bowls and buckets being washed out with boiling water. All I could see in the stable was a drip line hanging from the ceiling spiraling its way down to below the door line. I didnt know what was going on but I felt sorry for whatever poor soul was in that stable.
I left Chico munching on his haynet and made my way back home. It is still very strange not having him just up the road at his 'home'.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
The sun shines again
SUNDAY 1ST APRIL
April fools day was here again as was the glorious sunshine.
After a lovely evening at a friends wedding reception I found myself enjoying the unusual lie in that came with not having a horse to turn out in the morning.
I lay snuggled in my duvet, quiet and relaxed when I heard the distinctive ping of my mobile phone.
Slithering my arm out of the warmth I reached for my phone. Two texts sat waiting for me.
The first, from a 'horsey' friend, said she had had to go up to the vet clinic and while there had stopped to say hello to Chico. It was nice to know he had seen a familiar face.
The second message was from my vet, it simply read 'Chico continues to make excellent progress, very bright this am. Full update tomorrow.'
With a broad smile I sent a short reply and tucked myself back into my duvet.
I wouldnt be visiting Chico that day. Seeing how excited he got on my previous two visits I felt it best to only visit every other day so as not to get him too over exuberant everyday, he was supposed to be resting after all.
I was glad to know he was doing well and I too felt happier. The numbness of the past few days had gone but I knew i wasnt totally at ease yet, the constant niggling pains in my abdomen reminded me that my body was still in a state of alertness. I was hopeful my system would calm down once Chico was home, but for that I would have to wait and see.
Without a visit to my boy the highlight of my day was a brilliant April Fools gag from Ikea. No doubt plenty of people around the country will be heading of to their local Ikea to swap in their faulty allen key!
April fools day was here again as was the glorious sunshine.
After a lovely evening at a friends wedding reception I found myself enjoying the unusual lie in that came with not having a horse to turn out in the morning.
I lay snuggled in my duvet, quiet and relaxed when I heard the distinctive ping of my mobile phone.
Slithering my arm out of the warmth I reached for my phone. Two texts sat waiting for me.
The first, from a 'horsey' friend, said she had had to go up to the vet clinic and while there had stopped to say hello to Chico. It was nice to know he had seen a familiar face.
The second message was from my vet, it simply read 'Chico continues to make excellent progress, very bright this am. Full update tomorrow.'
With a broad smile I sent a short reply and tucked myself back into my duvet.
I wouldnt be visiting Chico that day. Seeing how excited he got on my previous two visits I felt it best to only visit every other day so as not to get him too over exuberant everyday, he was supposed to be resting after all.
I was glad to know he was doing well and I too felt happier. The numbness of the past few days had gone but I knew i wasnt totally at ease yet, the constant niggling pains in my abdomen reminded me that my body was still in a state of alertness. I was hopeful my system would calm down once Chico was home, but for that I would have to wait and see.
Without a visit to my boy the highlight of my day was a brilliant April Fools gag from Ikea. No doubt plenty of people around the country will be heading of to their local Ikea to swap in their faulty allen key!
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