When a Horse Chokes!

The scariest thing I have encountered in horse ownership is a choking horse.  I have been through colic, parasites, cuts and stitches, seizure, moonblindness illness, but next to a life threatening disease, Choke is the one that springs you into action.  The horse will have mucous and salivia, coming out the mouth and nose, they may thrash or just get up and down, Their ears may twitch from the discomfort every time they try to swallow.  Horses don't throw up or burp and what goes in must go through to come out. They are also nosy and touch things with their lips always looking for a morsel of food.  So one track minded the horse.  They can't even seen their mouth to know what they are putting in therir body.  Once they have been given treats, they will always be checking things out just in case their is some declicious tidbit just for them around every corner or every knook and cranny. I've had only two horses choke and they are both minis. 

Sparkle our oldes mini at 23 years had choked twice, both times we know the cause. Once was on acorns, which is her favorite thing to eat in the fall.  The next time she bolted her food.  Now she gets her food soaked and we keep her contained in the fall as acorns are not suppose to be good for horses due to the toxins they contain. Sparkle doesn't agree and she will still compete with the squirrels for acorns every fall. 



Mariah sharing hay with her best pal Dreamer

 Mariah is next oldest at 21 years. She has choked twice,both times we have no idea what the cause was.  Her teeth were blamed both times.  She has also suffered colic multiple times and her teeth determined as the cuase.  Mariah was born with split molars in the back of her mouth and that has caused her many problems. finally last year on set became loose enough for the vet to pull them out.  She still has the other side to go. Maybe when she has her teeth worked on this year.  Mariah is called the cookie monster around her because she will gladly take anything out of your hands and gobble it up, so you have to be careful wht is in your hands around Mariah.  She has to have her molar cleaned out when she eats fresh grass or alfalfa. She chews dry hay the best and loves her mush of senior feed. 

Around the Farm

We did it, bought some property. We've been clearing brush and picking up trash, getting things ready for the horses.  The addition of 5 acres is such a blessing.  We have all been coming together as a family; humans and horses to raise the funds to develope the land.  Our first goal was a survey which is done. We are going to have the water put in.  Oh, a fence first, we have had trespassers. The fence posts and gates are in. Now the draining and the excavation of the pond so it will once again be beautiful.  The site has been chosen for the barn, right in the middle of the most treed and grown over part of the property.  A good high and dry location with protection from the elements and privacy. An arena is in our future. There is a mama coyote living behind the property. I'm grateful for the donkey that guards the mares. Last night we saw the biggest tree frog, about 8 inches long and 5 inches wide, huge.  Draining the pond and clearing brush has caused alot of snake activity as well as other creatures as I witnessed when I saw the frog.   The only fish we have found so far was a large alligator gar.  A few mailboxes and tires have been found in the pond also. I'm still hoping for catfish. The port a potty is in place which I was grateful for. The property used to be the community park, for 30 years.  It has been neglected for more than 10 years. Each week it looks better than it did the week before. It will be awhile before I can set a date to move horses but we have the property and the right day will surely come. This 5 acres is the beginning of a dream that started many years ago.

John Henry Magee IV

He's a little older now.  Henry is always faithfully waiting at the front door for me whenever I return. He's quiet most of the time, When we take him somewhere with other equine (mostly horses, we don't know any other mule people) he must always bray/nicker his own unique sound, I don't get to here that sound often enough.  The kids ride him everyday. He is very headstrong, literally and will pull the reins right out of your hand if your not ready for it.  Not a better mount for the kids exists.  He would protect them, teaches them, and is very aware of where his people are.  Henry is losing his eyesight and he has a little more grey than last year. I've already decided that when Henry has his final days, he will get a Big Mac and a Chocolate Shake plus all the alfalfa he wants,soaked of course! My friend John Henry, if only I would have known him his whole life. I worry now that his sight is going, he doesn't have a specific buddy. He has been with every equine on the place,he gets to go where he pleases, but not one friend does he seem to have that hangs out with just Henry.  John Henry likes all he meets, even if they don't like him.  We have to talk to him now when we are behind him,as he is always ready to get out of the way or kick out at one of those minis that are always picking on him. Even though they are a group of mostly seniors, they still move pretty quick and feel they should boss Henry around.  I have added the younger donkeys to the group hoping he would pick a pal amongst them but he seems to stay with each of them equally.  Maybe that's it, he has many pairs of extra eyes.  My mare Mariah has had vision problems for a while and she stays with her best pal Dreamer most of the time.  Henry hangs out with whoever is doing what he would like to be at the time. I couldn't take enough pictures of my beautiful mule, who was once unwanted and definitely not appreciated!  I am honored to know him and look forward to many more years together.  If the kids let me I hope to still get in a few more trailrides with my favorite pal before he peacefully retires, as is Henry's style, peaceful.

Parade with 4-H
I will never know why silly horses spook at Henry,
he is only 12.3 hands tall and is very docile.

Little Girl's Dream

We went to a party this weekend and the cutest little girl ever loved the "pink pony".  She wanted me to take her and the pony to the store so she could buy her carrots.  "I wish I could." I replied.  The little girl wanted to pet her and ride in the carriage over and over.  That is the best compliment. she asked if the pink pony could live with her and I explained we were there only for a short visit.  I would miss the pink pony terribly if she didn't come home with me.  I told her that the pony could be hers in her Dreams.  She said she would sleep and dream the pony was hers. 

My Beautiful SnowBelle

I imagined as I walked that she woke up and her dream had come true.  There was that pony in the backyard next to the bounce house and party decorations strewn about. she raced down the stairs to touch the pony and see if it was real, oh it was! I must feed her the little girl thought.  Oatmeal and apples! We'll have breakfast together.  In the warmth of the sunshine of a new day they shared a meal.  A good brushing was next. The pony has such soft hair. It just glistened with every stroke of the brush.  Then she heard her mother calling but didn't want this moment to ever end, so she kept quietly petting and brushing the pony.  Then she heard her mother calling louder and now she was being shook. As her eyes blinked she looked up at the ceiling above her bed and then at her mother.  She jumped out of bed and raced to the window, looked down at the backyard only to see the bounce house deflated and no pink pony. It was only a dream but it seemed so real.  The pony really was hers in her Dreams!  Now she looked forward to bedtime every night to the pony that could be pink, purple, or just white.