Rollin Rollin Rollin

I'm short on time but managed to snap some rolling pictures today!

Dr. Pam Was Here

So while I was waiting for Dr. Pam the Vet, I taped Gia ... she is 14.1 or 14.2 hh and weighs around 821 lbs. -- much less than I thought! Of course, when I told Dr. Pam, she said she would have guessed 800 lbs. I guess that's why she gets the big bucks!

First thing is the legs -- she said it's scratches. She recommends some T-Zon stuff that I can get at the feed store. I have picked off the stuff and there is healthy pink under it. We just need to treat it and it should be fine.

Second, the rain scald. She actually recommends a Betadine Scrub wash. That's easy enough and I already have some on hand.

Gia's heart and lungs sounded great! Her teeth confirmed she is no older than 10 but she does have some points and will need a float. Dr. Pam didn't have time yesterday, so we will have to have her back out soon so Gia can maximize her eating!!

Speaking of eating, Dr. Pam was happy with my feeding regimen which has leveled out (since I know she is only 900+ lbs!) at 3/4 scoops of the LMF Gold in the morning with a flake of grass and a flake of the 4-way. In the afternoon I give her a 1/2 flake of the grass and in the evening she gets a 1/2 scoop of the LMF, 1/2 flake of grass and a full flake of the 4-way. The 4-way has some straw that she picks at all day and night and keeps her (and Cupcake at night) busy.

Gia was nice enough to supply some fresh "matter" for us to put in a long glove, add water and check for sand. There was a small amount down in the finger so she recommend I get some Psyllium.

Since Gia had her 3-way, rabies and West Nile in May, she was not due for any vaccinations. Her last wormer was late July and was ivermectin ... Dr. Pam recommended worming September 1 (easy to remember!) with the ivermectin with the praziquantel.

She checked her legs and gait and did say I should get the farrier out -- so I will call my friend's guy today, as I gracefully got out of my last "relationship" because I just wasn't feeling the love as it were, you know? I need someone with a bit more interest in the horse. 'nuff said.

So... all good! Whew!

No pictures of the vet visit but do have one of Gia very worried because her new friends "disappeared" into the barn!

Mare on Mare Action!

I have put Cupcake in with Gia and they get along just fine.

Here is what happened over the fence at the "watering hole" when Missy gets wind of Cupcake and Gia getting on so well.




So it looks like Missy thinks her job in life is to protect Cupcake from the Big Bad New Mare, Gia. I am glad to see some spunk from Gia though. This is her first "big girl pants" moment where she is sticking up for herself.

She loves her LMF and her grass hay ... the 4-way she likes ok, but there is some straw stuff in there she picks around ... but it's good as when she's bored she moseys over for a nibble anyway.

Vet will be here at 2pm tomorrow. tic toc tic toc

The cost of an upgrade...let's find out!

So I have this "free" horse. Anyone that has had a horse knows there's no such thing. That being said a horse that has experienced some hardships is even less free. So, with that in mind, I have decided to keep a tally on what it is costing me to complete the rehab of Miss. Gia.

Some ground rules, I will not be adding the cost of general barn items such as brushes, fly spray and some random bits, pieces and treat. I also will not ad the cost of field maintenance, time or tack.

So here is what I have so far - the first 24-hours!

Transportation to my home cost $60 in gas, $20 bottle of wine and four muffins for $6 (bribing the driver's husband & children - priceless!)
Pasture grass - 2 bales at $15 ea.
4-way + alfalfa - 2 bales at $17 ea.
LMF Gold Mix feed - 1 50lb bag at $32
So Far: $181.99

I'm not sure how long the hay will last. The LMF I am going to feed recommends five to eleven pounds per 1000 lb horse per day. I gave her 5 lbs this morning and may bump it by 1 lb a day to reach 8 lbs. Any other thoughts on this will be well received as (have I mentioned this) I am waiting to see the vet on Wednesday!

In addition to the LMF, I will be feeding the alfalfa mix am and pm and the grass am, pm as well as for a little lunch in the afternoon.

I had purchased some Tea Clenz to take care of the rain rot but have since heard Listerine would work too ... so I may take back the $25 fancy stuff & get the mouthwash!

I am waiting for a referral on a new farrier for Gia -- her hoves are hard but she does seem a bit low in her heels.... but I don't know ... that's what I hire experts for so I'll see what he says.

Herd Politics Update

So Missy, the white rescue mare has decided that Cupcake is her baby and she is going to "protect" her from this new invader! I had them together for a bit and Gia was definitely the outsider. Cupcake got along with her fine, but when Missy got introduced into the mix, Cupcake became an instigator -- knowing Missy would come to her rescue -- and finding humor in that!

They are separate for the night and we will pull Gia out to do so major grooming tomorrow. Eeek... attack of the rain rot.

I'm also going to head off to the feed store tomorrow to figure out what I should be feeding Gia to get good quality weight on her.

Did I mention I'm just dying to have the vet come give me all the info I need??? I hate the waiting part.

Meet My Upgrade

Gia is a Spanish Mustang that, from what I have been told, came from Colorado. Her owner had her shipped to California for a trail horse. After a few years of being just that, the owner became very, very ill. So ill in fact, that Gia and her gelding pasture mate were neglected so badly animal control became involved. Before they were seized some neighbors each took one of her horses with her blessings to find good homes. Two months later, I respond to an ad on BAEN -- brought to my attention from someone I adopted my other mare, Cupcake from. I went to meet Gia and fell in love as she placed her face on my chest.



She was painfully skinny. Her back hips were so thin there were funky bumps I had never seen on another horse (thank god I don't see many starved horse, my heart could not take it).


She had rain rot and some weird lumps on her legs that I was able to pick off and see some pink skin under.


My vet will be out on Wednesday and I'm dying to know what is on her legs and what her opinion is on her weight and her age. I think I'll also get a fecal.

She was such a good girl about the trailer too. She walked right in like a pro and ate her hay the whole time. Coming out she seemed to want to turn around (it was a 2-horse slant) and not back out so I turned her around then she waited a bit and sniffed then popped out.

I put her in my arena - separated from my mare Cupcake and the mare I am letting use my pasture, Missy to see how everyone would behave. Gia had been with only geldings for several years and I know how mean girls can be. There was minimal squealing then when my other girls realized Gia was the only one getting fed they pouted off.

Well, off to do some horse gazing!