Black Jack

There's a new guy at the barn!!! His name is Black Jack (the kids just call him Jack). He is a 14 y.o. Quarter horse, who has had a bad accident and now has a bone chip in his left knee. Resa and I went to Oklahoma to pick him up one Sunday. (Boy that was a long day) Anyway, my farrier's wife told me about Jack and what he used to do (movie stunt horse) and how well he was trained and that his owners were looking for a good place for him to go, since he could not be in the movies any longer. Jack has been with me about 2 months now and he is a fantastic horse. This last Saturday he had his first therapeutic riding lesson and he did wonderfully. Not only is he a good therapy horse, he has added another dimension to my riding lessons! I just realized that I don't have a good current picture of him, but I'll add one tomorrow. OH, and he is madly in love with Pumpkin! They are quite a pair, when they are separated, both of them squeal and nicker! Having horses and having them with me has made such a difference in my life, I just can't describe it, but I'm sure some of you understand what I mean.

Pumpkin's Hooves

Pumpkin is such fun and a joy to be around. Which kinda makes me sad because this afternoon the vet said she had a scratch on her right eye and has the early stages of laminitis. But, there are medications which can help both injuries. Much better than in 1971 when I was still showing and my show horse came down with laminitis. I remember working with farriers and vets around the South Texas area. Daddy & I would change the medications/poultices, take her to a wading pool (one that daddy dug out) and changing the sand in her stall when needed. I remember it took us about 1 year to get her healed, then to have her hurt her hoof again at a show and everything to start all over again. We tried to get her back again, but it was too severe this time for us to battle. Time past and I was in college and came home one weekend to find that Daddy had to put her down. Needless to say, we all were upset and crying, but she had been is such pain. One interesting thing did happen... the day Daddy put her down, the mare who was in the same pasture with her(who just happened to be her mother), knocked my dad aside and went to stand beside her grave for two days. AND some people think that horses can't think and feel. I'll keep you posted on Pumpkin's progress.

Pumpkin's Magic

Two weeks ago a wonderful new horse joined our barn. She was donated to our therapeutic ridng program for use with nonambulatory students. Her name is Pumpkin, a 4 y.o. silver buckskin miniature mare. She came with her buggie & trappings. And a wonderful attitude! She strolled in and let all the boys know she was THE girl in the barn and they better not forget it! Well, of course with that, all the guys fell in love. Since then she has proven she is worth her weight in gold! She walks & stands with the kids, letting them decide where and how fast to go. On Wed. she had a young girl, that does not talk much, just talk and name all her body parts! We heard more on Wed. than we have heard in a year of work! It's just amazing. Tomorrow Pumpkin will get to work with all the kids and I'm sure I will see and hear more amazing things!