Equestrian Group

I've joined a new club: the Equestrian Group or E-group. We met at Connell's at the airport and have an every third Monday schedule. It's arranged by Dawna and Mary. There are about a dozen women with horses. We got to know a little about each other and our horses tonight.

There are a series of events planned - lunging academy, pleasure academy, trailering academy, a trail ride. Cool. This will jump start the year.

I've been asking for names of trainers. I have quite a few to choose from. Some too expensive, some questionable in their practices and some that don't have time. Dawna has suggested Gary Goldbeck, who's just returned from Minnesota after leaving the area a year ago. She's going to get his number and get back to me.

Good news Bad news

I got the Coggins back and blood test results. Red was gelded correctly. There is zero testosterone. This means that his aggressive behavior can't be corrected medically.

So we've decided to get him some training and go from there. If the trainer has trouble, we'll sell him.

But who to get?

Sparkler's bad day

We've decided to test Red to see whether he's been gelded correctly. So the vet is coming today to pull the blood for that, give both Red and Sparkler their vaccinations and do a Coggins test, since we'll need that if we ever take them anywhere.

Red and Sparkler behaved quite well and it went quickly, which is good because February has turned really cold. We did the 4-way, Rabies, nasal Strangles and West Nile so we've got that taken care of.

BAD NEWS

Unfortunately, after Bob and I got back in the house, got warmed up and finished breakfast, we got a knock on the door. It was the vet, who realized there had been a mistake. There was a missing Strangles injection which meant that Sparkler got both forms -- nasal and injection. The pharmaceutical company said that if we didn't take action, Sparkler could get an infection and a cyst the size of a grapefruit -- not something I want to happen. So it was back out to the barn but a different story this time for Sparkler who did not want the vet near her. She tried to body slam us against the wall. We finally had to tranquilize her so that she could get an anti-inflamatory shot and inject penecillin all around the area of the initial injection. Poor baby, her head was low and bobbing, her body swaying under the effects of the tranquilizer. After a half hour or so of talking and rubbing I put her back in her pen and she was OK.

Now, I just have to give her anti-inflamatory paste daily for the next few days.

While I'm upset with the vet, I'm happy the situation was remedied - at no charge.