Showing posts with label Horse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Horse. Show all posts

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Time For A Doctor Visit



[caption id="" align="alignright" width="159" caption="Image by DVIDSHUB via Flickr"]Whiteman CAC, Vet Clinic host 2010 Bark in the...[/caption]


Three outdoor cats. One indoor cat. Two dogs...and a horse. We have some really sweet pets. Really sweet pets that needed to get their shots. I called the vet. She came out on Friday. She had her mobile office all packed up in the back of her pickup. Cool. I liked her a lot. She was good with the animals.

First, was Jazz. Jazz is a horse who I have to say was not all that thrilled with getting blood taken, a couple of shots and a vaccine up her nose. (who would be?) Horses are a lot like young children. A horse will fuss and carry on, but the "parent" has to say, "Look this is for your own good." (you might not believe me right now, but you need this! Stop it already, I'll give you an apple if you are a good girl. We are not above bribery.) All in all Jazz was a pretty good girl. Dr. Dyer showed me how to give Jazz the more common shots that she will need. I would have never guessed in a million years that this would be me. I'm now reading a lot about horses and giving my family information that even they didn't know.

Junior, our mutt, is a senior citizen. He is 13. Poor guy. He has a yeast infection and his joints are hurting. He's getting arthritis. The vet told us that he can take glucousimine and chondrotine (did I spell that correctly?) just like a human. So we got some for him at Walmart. It is orange flavored. He thought it was a snack so he ate it up. It won't cure him, but it will help with the symptoms. It's hard being an old dog.

On the other hand, Ace, the collie is in the prime of life. He is a poo head. Silly dog, who has a penchant for collecting all the food bowls. Not the food mind you, but the bowls. I think he has a bowl fetish. Whatever. He sat through his shots like a pro. As long as one pets him, he is your new best friend.

I found out for absolute sure the gender of all our cats. This has been bothering me for some time now. The three outdoor cats are all strays.  We are the proud owners of two girls and a baby boy. I pretty much figured this out, but it's nice to have it confirmed. The two girls "act" like girls. Pet me. Love me. I am a queen. The kitten is a boy and he is mischievous and does not understand self preservation. He will dart under the horse, jump on people and hang there, and attack the dog's tail. No common sense. Definitely a boy.

Joe, the indoor cat, is old too. He was trapped in the bathroom until we needed him for his doctors visit. Joe is a big scaredy cat....but, I have to say that he was good and took his shots like a man...er....cat.

Being a pet owner is a lot of work. Animals depend on the owner for everything. A place to sleep. Food to eat. Kindness.

That is why it always bothers me to watch pet rescue shows. I cannot understand how some people treat their animals so horribly. Animalsare like children,who depend on their parents to survive. Pet ownership is a huge responsibility.....but, it is also fun. Each animal has their own personality. Each is unique.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Lovin' Me Some Tractor Supply



[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Image via Wikipedia"]Looking west at the Tractor Supply Company loc...[/caption]


I never used to go to Tractor Supply. Not ever. Had no real need to visit. That all changed when I "came back" to the country. My husband and I spend a lot of time at this place now. A lot. Who knew that a woman could have such a good time at this store? Here are some of my adventures of late:

1. They have lip balm at TS. It's called Chicken Poop. Really. It's not really made with Chicken Poop, but it's a cool name, huh? I bought my mom some (as a gift bag decoration) for her birthday. She thought it sounded gross. Obviously, the woman has no taste. I TOLD her it really wasn't chicken poop. I don't know if she believed me. Shows how much she trusts her eldest daughter. Hmmppfff!

2. My hubby and I bought our daughter some really CUTE boots to muck the horse stall in. They are brown and orange with flowers on them. She is more used to "manly" boots. We told her she is a girl. She will wear the boots and look cute...as cute as any girl can, when her boots are covered in sawdust and horse poo. But anyway....

3. I check out their bulletin board while there. I like to look at what animals are for sale. Cows, horses, dogs, llamas, anyone?

4. We got more wood shavings for the horse stall. Who knew how much a horse can poop? Let me just say, A LOT. And cleaning up after a horse is not like changing a diaper. At least a baby is some what self contained. Just imagine how much an animal weighing several HUNDRED pounds can put out. Just sayin'.

5. I appear to be talking a lot about poop today. Go figure.

6. My husband is coveting a Carhartt coat. He said they are the warmest coats ever. That might make the short list for a Christmas present. Don't tell him.

7. How fun is it to pick out gates? Deep blue? A Rusty red? Or the old standby, silver? (We went with blue, by the way)

8. Last night the girl at the cash register asked if we would like to buy a flashlight? They were on sale. So we did...only because they were super cute. (At least that was my opinion, my husband probably would not describe it that way.) The flashlight can fit in the palm of ones hand, and yet has a very powerful light. Good for night trips to the barn. Or checking on the dogs. Or just walking around the yard for no reason whatsoever...in the dark. Don't ask. One never knows.

9. Sometimes my husband strays to the aisles full of nuts, bolts, screws. Boring stuff. I don't really like those aisles very much. So, while he is looking at the bins of bits and pieces, I occupy myself by counting all the small pieces that have accidentally been dropped on the floor in that aisle. I count them. I think about the store employee that has to get down on their hands and knees and retrieve all those pieces. What a pain. He (or she) is probably cursing the nuts and bolts aisle. Who can blame him?

10. That aisle is near to where the chain is. The other day we needed a length of chain and I enjoyed watching the man put the chain in the machine that cuts it to the desired length. I have to admit that when near that machine I have a nearly uncontrollable urge to throw some other object in the machine to see if it can cut something besides chain. I end up not doing it. I don't want to break the TS chain cutting machine. Besides it would probably cost a lot to replace and I'd feel badly about it. I'll just keep my destructive tendencies to myself. For now.

So, as you can see, Tractor Supply is my new fun and fav store. Some people like Saks, Belks, Proffits, JcPenney, or Kohls.  Hey, all I'm saying is.....give Tractor Supply a chance. You just might be surprised.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Yippie-ki-yay



[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Image via Wikipedia"]An American Quarter Horse in winter.[/caption]


I've always appreciated horses. I check them out at the fair. Love watching a good rodeo. Went on the occasional trail ride growing up. Loved watching the cowboys in westerns...who doesn't love Trigger? Scout? Silver?  How about Black Beauty? Sea Biscuit? Secretariat?  Who doesn't know about Belmont? Preakness? The Kentucky Derby? Hello. It's all about the horses.

When I married Scott I sort of got a more up close and personal experience with horses. My (adult) daughter, Jessica knows all about horses. She even went to school to get educated about horses. She's my go to girl if I have any horse questions. Well, Breanna my youngest daughter, she has Jazz. Jazz has been boarded at 3 different places since Scott and I got married almost 5 years ago. We had Jazz transported all the way from Texas to Ohio. Then she stayed with a horse trainer, and finally with some friends before settling (FINALLY!) here at our house. We brought her home on Sunday afternoon. She seems happy as a clam. I'm looking at her through the window now, as I blog. She cuts quite a beautiful country scene as she grazes in the early morning light.

1. I really don't know much about horses.

2. But I am willing to learn.

3. Horses have really furry ears.

4. I noticed that yesterday while talking to Jazz.

5. Jazz likes to be pet.

6. She watches me with her big brown eyes.

7. Breanna brushed her.

8. She started to close her eyes.

9. I think the horse thought it was a massage.

10. She was being pampered.

11. Horses have big teeth.

12. I noticed these while she was eating.

13. Note to self: Don't get your hands near her food. A chomp from those teeth would probably hurt.

14. If Jazz is not in the mood for you...you get "the butt".

15. I think that is sort of like a person giving someone "the hand". Like, whatever.

16. Hmmppppfff.

17. Also, I've learned in a short amount of time that one should not stand near the back of a horse.

18. Jazz hasn't kicked.

19. But she could if she felt like it.

20. Also, horse poo is not something one wants on them.

21. Just sayin'.

22. Jazz is part Quarter horse and part Welsh pony.

23. Pretty, pretty girl.

24. Having a horse(s) will be fun.

25. The llamas across the road stand at the fence and watch Jazz.

26. The new kid on the block.

27. Let's stare at her.

28. I still love llamas.

29. If you think about it they are sort of like long necked, sheep horses. Kinda.

30. I do love living in the the country.