June 2005

Isis has been steadily recovering from her fall in the spring. We both have been. My knee and ankle are doing better. She is losing weight and back in regular workouts. She still periodically trips. The chiropractor pointed out that Isis probably trips when she steps on a pointed object, even a small stone would be enough. Most of the time when I’ve noticed Isis mis-stepping, there is a stone in a hoof-print....

We found the swelling on Isis’ legs on Sunday, 6/12. When I cleaned her back hooves, she held her leg at an odd angle — rather like a dog lifting its leg on a water hydrant. She has never done that before. Two days later, she was still sore and was holding her leg a little out, but not nearly as much. By 6/16, she was holding her legs normally when her feet...

Have you ever lost a family member? A family member whose impact and friendship was felt most keenly once he or she was no longer there. The same is true when a horse at a boarding stable dies. My mare’s pasture-mate, Zargo, died early Saturday morning. He was fine, and then 30 minutes later, he was down… His owner did everything she could. Here’s to the big Grey Gentleman, the stately senior gelding...

How many horses do you know who have a full staff of professionals? Isis does. I need to make t-shirts that say “Team Isis” for her farrier (podiatrist), chiropractor/massage therapist, veterinarian (doctor), trainer, and owner (me). Five people trying to make one mare sound. My friends think I’m a little nuts working so hard on my mare. “It’s just an animal,” some of them say. They have never seen the soft glow in...