On to Greener Pastures

Julieboo

(Rampions Amira)

 

Feb. 5th, 1980 ~ May 6th, 2013 

 

I got Julieboo after my first horse (of only 10 months), 'Bunnie', died.  Julie was a 2 y/o filly in the same public barn where we kept Bunnie.  The lady that owned her was selling her at the time of Bunnie's death.  So, Julieboo was offered as a gift.  But my dad made sure the gift was compensated... little did I know.  I was 13 y/o at the time.



 

That's one scraggly-headed kid on that pretty mare.

Julieboo had her spunk for sure, but the scraggly kid managed to shape it somehow into a very nice western pleasure horse.... she was a natural, though, all on her own.



Dandy on Julieboo w/ a protective pad under the blanket.  Julieboo had many "tricks up her sleeve".

The last third of her life was spent on our property where I could see her every day.  I'm glad that I was able to give her a nice 'retirement'.  She deserved it.


Julieboo on her pasture of retirement.
She had sweet eyes.

I'm so glad that my kids got to know the ole' grey mare.

E & C on their last ride (didn't know it at the time- though I suspected the time would be soon).

I had been increasing her feed for about 2 years prior to her death- it was then that she started becoming a bit harder to keep.
Several months prior to her death, I had to really start pouring it to her.  But, no amount "would stick" to her ribs.  I gave her so much, I worried I'd colic her.  She just wasn't assimilating it like she needed.



This pic was taken 2 weeks & 1 day before the ole mare just couldn't get up... and the 'decision' was made.



She is buried over on the far right -in this pic- in our big pasture.
She will be missed.
Not many -truly- 'bomb-proof' horses are out there like her.

Done Typing & Still Don't Know What to Call This Post About the Lost Filly

Well, I am struggling what to call this post. I suppose by the time you read this, it will have a name.

I've posted a couple of times now, just in the last week about one of our mares that is pregnant... well, was pregnant. She had her foal this (Monday) AM. It was very foggy here, so even with the binoculars, it was hard to make out that the heap was a foal. It wasn't moving, but was so hard to tell with the fog. And momma wasn't super close... she wasn't far, but further that what I would expect. Called to the horses and I saw an ear flicker. Got our daughter dressed and headed out to the pasture with camera and cell phone.

LONGGG story short.................................................... too long to type and I'm too tired and don't want to cry............. the foal was.... it was a filly... euthanized. All in a matter of 8 hours, we had a birth, a death and a burial.

She was gorgeous. She was huge. First thing, when I saw that she couldn't get up, was to try to get her up. I'm 5'2" and this filly was big. I called a friend that is 1/2 mile away as a crow flies. She and I tried to get this filly up (my 2 1/2 year old was being so good standing where I told her to in the pasture). We couldn't get the filly up. I could only get her on her sternum and had to hold her there to keep her there, otherwise she flopped back down. THAT had me concerned.... if she had such long legs that she had contracted tendons, then we'll deal with that... but she wasn't even able to get herself on her sternum.

My husband came home from work and got there a bit before the vet. He's a big guy- 6'4" and with this foal struggling, it took quite a bit from him to hold her in a standing position. But, like he said, he was completely holding her. Her back legs were useless. Also, her tongue was recessed back more in her mouth than it should have been. Using a trick I learned in a breeding course we took years ago, I got milk from momma in a 60 ml (huge) syringe tube. Momma's milk was/is beautiful. The foal wanted it... couldn't swallow great, but she was trying. She tried all she could... she fought to stand, but her legs would remain prostrate.

When I first saw her, I thought there was something up with that.... and her head would loll back to the side- even with help. She was what is known in the horse world as a "Dummy Foal". Lack of oxygen to the brain during birth... basically makes them... retarded in a sense. A horse that doesn't have the neuro capability to stand... it's not like humans. Horses HAVE to stand- their gut/life depends on it. This filly lost brain function to help her know which way was up and how to stand. Her legs were prostrate stiff because the brain says do that while standing... but she was flat on her side. Could never get on her sternum even.

*****sighhhhhhhh*******

Not a fun decision. But...................

You know, you wait almost a year (a horse's gestation is over 11 months long)........ well, what is, is.

I had taken a picture of her when she was alive........ and stopped after one........ thought........ maybe I shouldn't have....... she was pretty ..............she was just so darn big. I can only guess it took a lot of work on momma's part. Incidentally, momma is fine. Like the vet said (when momma-mare was distant from us while we were assessing the foal) she knew something wasn't right. Normally, she would have been right up there causing a bit of a stink... none of that was going on. She was grazing some sixty feet from us... and this is a good momma mare. She has had four foals before.

I see I'm typing/spending too much time on this... I've got to get to bed so I can be good tomorrow for my daughter. She was so good today. Had the county come out to bury the foal. My husband and I tried to explain it as best we could... about death. She saw the foal before and after. It wasn't an all emotion-laden thing... she's too young for that. Kind of matter of fact. She didn't obsess on it before bed-time... just asked, "The baby horse couldn't stand?" (she saw her trying).... okay enough. Got to get to bed.

I had a poem to post when the foal arrived... a poem I wrote when I was in high school. But... I will have to post it another time... it is no longer fitting for this post.

She was beautiful. But it wasn't meant to be.

(that last line was for me)

Equus Caballus

I have run on middle fingernail through Eolithic morning
And I’ve thundered down the coach road with Revolution’s warning
I have carried countless errant knights who never found the grail
I have strained before the caissons, I’ve moved the nation’s mail
I’ve made knights of lowly tribesmen, kings from ranks of peons
I’ve given pride and arrogance to riding men for eons
I’ve grazed among the lodges, teepees and the yurts
Felt the sting of driving whips, lashes, spurs and quirts

I am roguish- I am flighty, inbred and lowly
I’m a nightmare gone wild- I am
Gallant and exalted, stately and noble
I’m awesome- I am grand- I am
The Horse

I have suffered gross indignities from users and from winners
I’ve felt the touch of kindness from losers and from sinners
I have given for the cruel hand and given for the kind
Heaved a sigh at Appomattox when surrender had been signed
I can be as tough as hardened steel or fragile as a flower
I know not my endurance, I know not my own power
I have died with heart exploded beneath the cheering stands
Calmly stood below the hanging noose of vigilante bands

I am roguish- I am flighty, inbred and lowly
I’m a nightmare gone wild- I am
Gallant and exalted, stately and noble
I’m awesome- I am grand- I am
The Horse

So I’ll run on middle fingernail until the curtain closes
I’ll win for you your Triple Crown, I’ll wear for you your roses
Toward you, who took my freedom, I’ve no malice or remorse
I’ll endure, I’ll last forever, I am The Horse

~Author Unknown

Mondo Mare

I posted the other day how "Foal Patrol" has begun... that is, we are waiting for one to hit the ground any time. Thought I'd catch a 'before' shot- thought of it on the spur, while out feeding. Hence, the graininess of the pics as I used better half's cell phone.

Here's "Tatonka"- not her real name, but nickname from Dances with Wolves... because when she is big pregnant, soon to drop pregnant, miserably Mondo pregnant, she's as big as a buffalo.

Poor thing's got to be miserable.

Foal Patrol has Started

...actually, it's been going on for the better part of a week now.

Got a broodmare due and sheeee's allusive. Couldn't even catch her foaling when we kept her in a foaling stall every night with a wireless video camera feeding back to the computer in our house.

OMGoooosh, the sleep I lost watching that camera all minutes of the night~ only to have her foal out when I went in the house the next day for 30 minutes or so. Late morning, I had put her out in a smaller pasture while I cleaned her stall. Checked on her before I went to the house to get something to eat/drink, bathroom, check messages... she was calm, cool, no sign of anything when I left... and was just grazing along the whole time I cleaned the stall (I could see her from the barn). Came back out and Whallah(!)... we had a long-legged wobbly one.

Sooo, what will be, will be ...or should I say, WHEN will be, will be. For that matter, "What" (it) will be, will be -too.

Thankful Thursday: Sunbathing Among Nature

This 'ole grey mare' is 29 years old. I've had her for 27 of those years. I cannot say enough about her right now... so I'll just tell you, she's priceless.
I caught her taking a break in front of the trough. I am waiting for the day to get a little of Nature's vitamin D, myself.

(Sorry for the graininess of the pic- it was taken from f-a-r away.)

A List from the Past

We own horses. In fact, I've owned one or more horses for 27 years now. For about the last 10 years, we've had a breeding business and specialize in Black Arabians. I used to show, but haven't in awhile- since before I was pregnant with our daughter (and she's 2 1/2)... so it's been a few years since I've shown (would like to show again someday).

Anyway, while on the computer, I stumbled upon a list that was in one of our horse files. It's a list for items to remember to bring, when I was showing. As I read over the list, I thought, "Gees, you needed to add your bra to the list?!? How would you forget that?!?"

... then I remembered that I just about put the milk jug in the pantry the other day. And then this morning, I set the timer to remember to check something and when the timer went off, I stood in the kitchen wondering WHAT did I set that timer for. I figured it out, but it took me about 10-15 seconds of hard consternation.

So, when I looked at the list, it was ...some relief ...kind of like that awkward feelings of being ?? glad (maybe not the right word).. when others fail the college exam along with you. You know, the more the better.. you're not alone... maybe it's the professor's poor test(!). I would guess it's better failing that way than having EVERYone score 90 and above and the only low score is you. POINT being... I had to include bra on the list in BC times -before children. So much for excusing my memory with the donation of brain cells during pregnancy!

Show Items List

Show clothes: shirt, pants, socks, shoes, bra, gloves
Night/other clothes: shirt, shorts, shoes,etc.
Blow dryer
Hair clip/scrunchy/extra scrunchy
Make-up
Video camera/tape
Camera
Mileage Log (Take beginning/ending mileage !!! )
Breezy Acres Info. Frame/papers
Feed
Hay
Hay net
Brushes
Fureson spray
Hoof pick
Hoof black
Towels
Show Glow/Show Sheen
Water bucket
Bucket hook
Feed pan
Show halter
Show whip
Lunch whip
Lunge line
Chain lead rope
Leg/tail wraps, helmet, fly mask
Cooler -Sandwiches/drinks
Velcro pieces/emergency card
Coggins/Health Certificate
Safety pins (show #)
Road trip books
Map/Directions
Show Schedule
Cowboy Magic dry shampoo
Alarm clock
Pillow

A Couple of Our Beauties

(In the background, you can see part of the tree and the bench I referred to in the previous post.)

Dandy was a Dandy

I was given an unregistered German Shepherd puppy when I was just 16 yrs old. I vaguely recall that my mom was out of state (had gone to visit family in Oregon) when the pup came home. Funny, as my dad was home, but somehow the pup made it into my/our lives.
She, Dandy... her full name was "Just Dandy" was just that, 'Dandy'. Got her name while perusing the school dictionary that could be found in the wire baskets under every desk in high school. It was a history class with coach Williams- big burly, sweet man who was a Jeopardy show fanatic and would often gets spit collected in the corners of his mouth because he could talk a blue streak on one breath alone.
Anyway, I was bored as usual with class and had this pup at home that was on my mind... and she needed a name. So, I got the dictionary out from the wire basket and started flipping pages. Can't begin to remember the words/names I passed or considered because, obviously, the one that stuck was when I got to the word 'dandy'. I read the definition. Went something to the effect of: something or someone of exceptional or first-rate quality.
Well, that was enough for me, I knew the pup well enough to consider her as such and she got her name, however masculine it may have been.
She was a good dog... wanted to please, please, please- like most in the herding group. Trained her to hand signals from as far as she (or I!) could see. The only thing I couldn't train her different about was cats, but that's another story.
I had Dandy until the day she was put down at 13 1/2 years old. She is buried under our big pecan tree. Was not an easy task and one that I had made an appointment for once already and cancelled.... won't go into it. If you're a dog-lover, you know... not an easy thing (sighhh).
Anyway, here are a couple of pics. Had her trained to ride the old mare I got was I was 14 yrs old. Had to put a saddle pad under a blanket on the horse, as even trimmed dog nails can poke.
This second pic is a painting that was done from a picture of Dandy. A friend of my mom's did it for her... for me. It hangs at the end of our long hallway in our home... kind of a relaxed old sentinel keeping watch.

Equus Caballus

I have run on middle fingernail through Eolithic morning
And I’ve thundered down the coach road with Revolution’s warning
I have carried countless errant knights who never found the grail
I have strained before the caissons, I’ve moved the nation’s mail
I’ve made knights of lowly tribesmen, kings from ranks of peons
I’ve given pride and arrogance to riding men for eons
I’ve grazed among the lodges, teepees and the yurts
Felt the sting of driving whips, lashes, spurs and quirts

I am roguish- I am flighty, inbred and lowly
I’m a nightmare gone wild- I am
Gallant and exalted, stately and noble
I’m awesome- I am grand- I am
The Horse

I have suffered gross indignities from users and from winners
I’ve felt the touch of kindness from losers and from sinners
I have given for the cruel hand and given for the kind
Heaved a sigh at Appomattox when surrender had been signed
I can be as tough as hardened steel or fragile as a flower
I know not my endurance, I know not my own power
I have died with heart exploded beneath the cheering stands
Calmly stood below the hanging noose of vigilante bands

I am roguish- I am flighty, inbred and lowly
I’m a nightmare gone wild- I am
Gallant and exalted, stately and noble
I’m awesome- I am grand- I am
The Horse

So I’ll run on middle fingernail until the curtain closes
I’ll win for you your Triple Crown, I’ll wear for you your roses
Toward you, who took my freedom, I’ve no malice or remorse
I’ll endure, I’ll last forever, I am The Horse

(author unknown)