Trying to find things

After I wrote about Doodle's accident. It reminded me about Belle. She had been hurt ,shortly after we got her. I felt she also deserved space. So I went on the hunt for the pictures. I have torn this house apart, looked places most unlikely, to no avail. So I had to settle for some copies that I had. I was working for a Vet at the time,Harold had gone to feed for me, so when I got off I could just come home. He called me at work and said come to the pasture when you get off Belle needs you to look at her. Not thinking anything was serious, I did not clock out and run home. I finished my day which was only a matter of about 30 minuets. I arrived at the pasture. And again her was an emergency call to the vet. I do not know to this day what she got into. She has sever damage to her left front inside leg, and the inside back right leg.

Now I am sure that you are thinking what kind of a person am I. I have told you about both horses getting hurt. Anyone who has dealt with livestock will tell you. They are going to get into stuff, no matter how careful you are.

Belle was very young at the time . Young horses are like toddlers they are into everything. They run jump play and don't always pay attention where they are. The pasture is very clean. Meaning no piles of debris,etc. The fence is good,so is the barn. So like I said I have no idea what she got into. I tried looking all over to find what she might have gotten into, but have never figured it out.

Since I was working at the Vets, it was decided that it would be better to have her there to treat. So we loaded her up, and took her to work with me. Missy was still living at the time so Doodle had Company to stay with her.

As with any serious injury it took a lot of time and TLC of which Harold was a big Help. The wounds had to be washed,medicated, and wrapped twice a day.She enjoyed

the time spent. And was very good about the doctoring. Harold always

spent a little extra time with her. He felt badly that she had to be away from all of us. He said that she needed a little extra TLC while in the hospital.

She has recovered nicely, with just a little scarring on both legs, but sound as ever. She is still like a toddler and gets into everything. If you are putting hay in the feeder she will be at the back of the pick-up trying to help you get the hay out and of course has to be sure you get it in the feeder correctly.

Harold is very serious about showing her this year in some Halter Classes.

Which should prove interesting. I will have to train them both. Should be fun for the whole family. He has already bought her a beautiful halter with silver trim. Well let me rephrase that He bought 2 because he couldn't decided it the light or dark leather would look best. He tells me of all the new stuff on the market to paint their hooves with, and what color glitter he wants for her. How he will do her mane and tail, with pretty things too. I sit in my recliner drinking my coffee, and smile. Thankful I have found someone like him.

Meet the Girls

The one on the left is Belle Star. The black one is Black Irish Lass AKA Doodle.Because when she was first born that was what she made me think of. A doodle Bug. She is a registered quarter horse and in this picture is 19 years old. Recovering from an accident that I will talk about later the baby as we call her is just 3. She was a birthday gift for me about 2 and half years ago. As you can see the stay close to each other.

My Husband Harold, bought Belle for me, and I guess you might as well say for Doodle also. We had 3 horses. Doodle,Sassy,and Amrica's Pride. We lost Sassy Doodle's Mom to a rare disease that opossums carry. We buried her on the property. That also will have to be a later tale. Anyway, after losing her it was just the two mares. Neither on them had ever been without a pasture mate.As the Palomino(America's Pride) aka: Missy was getting up in years 32 at the time. Harold thought it a good idea to get another one. So when the time came Doodle would have company.
Just so happened he had his eye on this little filly that some friends owned. They had made the comment more than once that Harold should buy her. They made it one time to often, and he did.

I was not all that happy,with this purchase. Doodle is 19 and has never been broken. So the thought of having another horse wasn't a priority with me. I had told myself when I lost Missy I was done getting any more. My heart couldn't take the loss anymore. I have had to put down 4 horse over my lifetime. And it never gets any easier to say goodbye.I had pondered that maybe a goat or donkey to keep Doodle company would be just fine.But now Belle is part of the family and heart strings as well.

The 2 of them are almost inseparable. So when Doodle had her accident, Belle's life was about to change.

Early one morning they decided to escape and go to town, for what I do not know, maybe a Sunday paper.They must have figured that nothing in town was open yet. As they were returning,Doodle didn't look both ways,when crossing the road.She was hit by a car.Horses have 2 defenses ,fight or flight. She chose flight. She returned to her pasture. But being scared she couldn't find her way back in.We rent the pasture from Debbie. Her daughter was on her way to work when she saw the girls were out. She yelled to her mom. Debbie started out,just as a man pulled in the drive. He had gone home before returning to notify anybody hat he had hit a horse.While Debbie was opening the pasture gate, Doodle ran in, and was calling to Belle. Belle followed quickly after her. The man informed Debbie that he had hit the Black one meaning Doodle. She called me right away

It just so happened that I did not work that night as was still up when the phone rang. I yelled at Harold, telling him what had happened while I was grabbing clothes. We only live about 1 mile from the pasture so it didn't take long to get there. As we pulled in, it looked like Belle was standing oddly. I jumped from the car and started over the gate. Debbi said that Doodle had been hit. In midair I changed my direction and was at Doodles side. A quick look over and I saw her inside back leg,was badly cut.(Pictures are graphic so I have posted them at the end in case you don't wish to view them.) I yelled at Harold to call the Vet.He hadn't even had time to get out of the car. we keep an emergency Vet kit in the car. He brought this to me and went to call the Vet. I grabbed bottled water out of it and started washing off the leg.Figured it best to try and wrap it to slow the bleeding. Heavy cotton and vet wrap.Waiting for what seemed a lifetime. Harold returned to inform me that the Vet I had used for some 15 years would have to check his schedule and get back to me. I told Harold call Mineral Wells.(Where I use to work) More waiting. This time when Harold returned good news they were on the way.

I was so glad to finally see the red clinic truck pulling in. Jerry and Dr, Jackson emerged carrying emergency supplies with them. I unwrapped the leg,and the Vet examined it. He didn't think it was broken, however the Achilles tendon had just missed being completely severed. After several shots. For pain and tetanus,he started explaining what kind of treatment was going to be involved. I didn't care if it meant she would have to tucked in my bed,or me sleeping in the barn whatever it would take would be done.It would be a long healing process.

We did water treatment that consists of running cold water from a hose gently over the area. This sloughs off dead tissue and increases blood flow to generate new growth. Then the leg would be rubbed down with DMSO ( like a REALLY hot Ben gay.) Wrap the leg from ankle to above the knee with plastic wrap to generate more heat. Cover this with vet wrap and finish with duct tape to keep it nice and tidy.

She had to be confined for 12 hours then unwrapped and turn loose for 12. That worked out fine since ,my shift is 12 hours long. Before going to work I would do all the doctoring,then when I came home in the morning I would unwrap her and turn her loose. Belle kept a steady vigil outside her stall. Trying to figure out why her buddy couldn't come out and play. In the morning when I would turn her out. Belle would take off like a race horse. And Doodle would do her best, usually on three legs. I worried if the leg would ever be used again.

It has been four months now and she is doing great. The wound has healed all but a very small area. A little puffy around the knee area but doesn't seem to slow her down. She runs,bucks and plays with no visible signs of a limp.

A little insight into me

First, why am I doing this. I can only answer that my Sister,and my Niece both have blogs. After a recent visit from my sister,who now resides in Scotland. She had suggested i might try it. So here I am.
Not sure how this will go, as I was never one for even keeping a diary,or a ledger as some call them.
I live in a little town in west Tn. Close to the Land between the lakes. Married with no children. Well none that have 2 legs. All our kids have four. 2 horses,3 dogs,and at last count I think 7 Cats. The cats have a pet door so they can come and go as they please. Sometimes One will invite a stranger in to eat,and depending on who is on watch at the door, depends on entry or not. Cats are really fun to watch. Mine take turns guarding the pet door. After all it is the entrance to their domain. As we live in the country,people always ask about wild critters coming in. I just laugh shake my head and say " I have never had that problem". They don't know what I do.
The dogs 1 black Labrador retriever, and 2 white Great Danes. The male Lab ,and Dane fight so they must be separated at all times. The female Dane gets along with both, since one of them is her brother.
The horses both quarter. One is Black and 19 years old. The other Harold(my hubby) bought for me as a b-day present and also to keep the other company. My horses have never been alone. The Black one(Doodle) lost her Mother a few years back,but had my yellow mare to keep her company. The Yellow mare was getting old 32 at the time. Harold thought it wise to get another one. The baby(belle) is a sorrel, which is red in color. she is just 3. I finally started to break Doodle this past Thanksgiving. Getting on her back for the first time. She was just fantastic. No bucking, fussing. But she has been handled a lot over the years, just never had anybody on her before. Look forward to doing more with her this spring. And of course Belle will also have to be broke.

How I make a Living

This is the second of my 3 days off. I work a 12 hour shift from 6 at night till 6 in the morning. Three days on and then 3 days off. The first morning off, I sleep for seems like forever. Especially if the night has been cold and or raining. You see I drive what is called a shuttle truck. Yes it is an 18 wheeler.The difference is that it is called a day cab,since it has no sleeper on it. Making it shorter in wheelbase and easier to get around with. You see them on the road alot.Yellow freight, Roadway, Federal Express, etc. They are used for short trips to and from a plant to warehouse,or to move freight around in town.
Mine is used to move product for DuPont. When I go to work,I pull a loaded 48 foot trailer about 5 miles to UTI in New Johnsonville, Tn. This is the warehouse for DuPont, and where they will load outbound over the road trucks.I back the trailer into the dock and if it slow I will wait for them to unload it, then return for another. All night long. If it is busy I will drop my loaded trailer and pick up an empty to take back. It's a pretty physical job, alot of getting in and out of the truck. Plus dolling the trailer down,dropping it and hooking up to another. Plus it can sure enough get wet and cold. Really glad to see 4am come around, that means I only have time for about 1 more trip. Then home to out my blankee in the dryer get it nice and warm. Get my 2 Great Danes, and off the dream land. Nothing beats snuggling under a warm blanket after a cold wet night.