Monday, May 18, 2015

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Minions at work
In no uncertain terms, Sugar was a warhorse...  She had the body of an elite middle weight body builder - big, strong and muscled.  When she walked off the trailer, she owned the territory and her minions made her world safe.   And, she never once left you wondering how she felt for emotional displays were her mark.  The equine Mariah Carey!

I was so afraid (and so were others) that I would find a similar soul in my next partner/friend.  So afraid that I did not shop alone and that I carried the mantra that "He must jump da jumps and beautiful is not an absolute".   And, if I found a beautiful or handsome horse I lusted over, I must wait before making a move...  "He must jump da jumps and beautiful is not an absolute".
Best Eventing Buddy takin
Maisy for a stroll


Maisy is beautiful.  Oops!  {{{Newbie Eventer, how did that happen?}}}

Maisy is not Sugar.  And, gosh... that is so confusing!  She hacks out alone and her one spook was a quick look away from a pile of rocks (always a surpise to our southern horses).  That's it!  No prop, spin and leap... just a look and a slight move away from the "scary" pile of stone.  And, she's walked passed big construction equipment and nothing...  HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?


Trainer ride - Looking fancy!
 She is a very sensitive soul.  Oh, not in the diva fit way that was our norm but in the quiet, "I'll stand here and shake/shiver and sweat" kind of way.  I feel like she wants to do what I ask her to do but if it makes her uncomfortable, she internalizes it...  And, this sweet thing, is ulcery...

Everyone wants her to be successful, to jump da jumps and to be an event pony so the suggestions come in hard and fast...  Supplements, chiro, massage, acupuncture, new saddles... Try this, don't do that, do that... no, this, how about that? 

Welcome home!
How do you do it? How do you absorb the cost of treatment ($750 or so)? And, what if her tension requires anything more? How do you do that too?  Where do you skimp? How do you do it?  The pressure of not being rich is killing me.  {{{Note to self - win the lottery, ok?}}}  

And, then you have a moment with your new pony and her trot is amazing.  And you breathe, remembering that Sugar had ten years and we figured her out over and over again. 

Maisy, I think I'll do the same.  "All in good time", said the lil' pinto pony, "All in good time!"


10 comments:

Heather said...

Such a beautiful girl! Congrats!
Ulcers are no fun. We discovered that my mare showed symptoms of ulcers so she was put on 10 days of omeprazole (Thank goodness our vet had a generic version for CHEAP that served 3 doses per tube!) and then daily CRS Gold supplement from Valley Vet. Seems to have helped her. Just to add my experience to the pot! :-)

Kate said...

Does she have major medical insurance? Lucy's insurance paid for all of her ulcer treatment (and the scope to diagnose her), minus my $250 deductible.

eventer79 said...

Congrats!! She's lovely! I can't believe the horse people around you are opinionated?!! ;P

My best advice is always to be very skeptical of all advice. Heh. Listen to a good vet, some things are worth paying for, others...pretty much just make the human feel better.

As always, you're welcome to shoot the science nerd an email, you know where to find me! I did the ulcer thing with poor Solo (caused by poor pasture mgmt by BO = mega-worm load, boo). Oh, the anec-data hurts me so, but fortunately, beloved Dr. Bob is always on top of his science too!

Have fun, just give her (and you!) time to settle in to a new routine & relationship. There're several big reasons my guys live outside ALWAYS. Dr. Green & patience (which I suck at, btw) really are magic.

Suzanne said...

Kate, thanks! She is insured but if I rush to have this one covered, I may have the exclusion for the rest of her life. I'm hoping that this is just a transitional issue.

And, right now, it's the pressure to do the right thing that is hard. My gut (which does not have ulcers, yet) says one thing at a time and give her some time to settle into a new routine. If the ulcergard works, yay! If not, then we do something else.

Of course, saddles are being fitted to her tomorrow and later, if necessary... we'll do other things. {{{First world problems!}}}

Cricket said...

She's still settling in and getting to know you. Hopefully, the ulcerguard will help her upset belly and just getting to know you might settle the uneasy feeling.

She is beautiful. Remember, just as you are learning about a new partner, she too has been uprooted and is unsure. Time spent with you will help with that.

Horses eat money.

Kelly said...

She is lovely! So happy you found each other :) Sending good thoughts your way that the ulcers calm.

Melissa-ParadigmFarms said...

Go with your gut! One thing at a time for sure. Start with the UlcerGard, I've not seen it fail for ulcers. I agree that it may very well be a transitional thing. She sounds like she really wants to please and is probably spending lots of time trying to learn you, her new routine, her handlers at the barn, and make sure she pleases everyone.

And I need to add she is LOVELY. I am such a mare person!

Unknown said...

Learning how best to manage a new horse is certainly a costly venture -- both in time and money. But you do all you CAN do. After all, the only true way to get your routine perfect is time. The Pinto Pony was a wise one <3

Sarah said...

Congratulations on the new mare! What a lovely face she has! I believe in scoping rather than the "just treat it" approach, but to each their own.

Boss Mare Eventing said...

Honestly, I used the generic zantac - strongest dose without prescription and it worked on my mare better then the stuff we can get in Canada. It's worth a shot. I did 3 pills am/pm.