It was an exceptionally pretty sunrise this morning - I caught this picture on the way to the barn:
Dawn is healing up well. The cuts on her neck are healing nicely, and the swelling there is almost gone. I think the hematomas on her left side between her front legs have reached their maximum size and are much less sore - it may take them a while to go away but they don't seem to be bothering her much. Here are a couple of pictures from this morning:
If time and weather permit this afternoon, I may pop on her bareback and do a little walking around - we won't do much strenuous work until she's fully healed, and I hope to also have our chiropractor work on her.
After much thought and soul-searching, I've decided to permanently retire Maisie. Melissa and Jason of
Paradigm Farms have graciously agreed to allow Maisie to relocate to Tennessee to live at their horse retirement paradise, where she'll be reunited with Lily and also join our Norman. Melissa and Jason are people whose standards of horse care are probably higher than my own, and I know that she'll be well-cared for there. Being able to move around 24/7 will be great for her legs, and the warm-season grasses down there will be far less likely to cause her problems with laminitis than the cool-season grasses that have bothered her here two years in a row. The plan is for her to travel down there towards the end of September. I will miss her terribly - particularly her sweetness and the signature snuff-a-whuff, but will visit from time to time, and enjoy the thought of her enjoying her remaining years in comfort and ease - and without our terrible winters!
This will mean some changes in my horse life . . . more about that later!
Dawn is healing up well. The cuts on her neck are healing nicely, and the swelling there is almost gone. I think the hematomas on her left side between her front legs have reached their maximum size and are much less sore - it may take them a while to go away but they don't seem to be bothering her much. Here are a couple of pictures from this morning:
If time and weather permit this afternoon, I may pop on her bareback and do a little walking around - we won't do much strenuous work until she's fully healed, and I hope to also have our chiropractor work on her.
How lucky Maisie is to "own" you! I have such great respect for you to give her a life of retirement like that in a more moderate climate.
ReplyDeleteIt will be fun to hear how Lily and Norman react to her. The reunion will be quite interesting.
Glad the chiro is coming for Dawn. That hematoma is big, but it should clear up. Hope she's learned a lesson about trying to spar with the fencing and will look where she's going the next time she's in a playful mood.
Awww how sad that Maisie will be leaving, but I'm sure she will absolutely love it in Tennessee. I know how hard it is to make the decision to give up a horse for their own good, but at least she'll still be "yours" and you can go visit her.
ReplyDeleteGlad Dawn is healing up okay. Poor thing.
I agree with Jean and Achieve1dream--Maisie is very lucky that you have nothing but what is best for her at the top of the list.
ReplyDeleteYou may find that a bit of "walking around bareback" will lessen the swelling of Dawn's hematoma. Circulation is always a good thing.
Glad that Dawn is on the mend. And wishing MAisie a lovely retirement
ReplyDeleteWhat a great option for Maisie. Sometimes I wish I could escape winter.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that Dawn's healing so well, the heamatoma definitely looks less. Good news that Maisie's going to have a happy retirement. A hard decision for you, but a very unselfish one.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind retiring myself to their farm someday--heaven for horses. ;)
ReplyDeleteOoh! Maybe Maisie will get to "inaugurate" their new place? Wouldn't make any sense to get her settled in at the old farm, just to move to the new one in a short time...
ReplyDeleteGlad Dawn's doing better. I agree that the bareback walking will actually probably do her some good.
I know that the retirement home for Maisie is comparable to the ritz, but I don't know how you do it. It makes me cry just to think about separating from any of my animals. I give you a lot of credit. She will have a good life there. It's nice that Melissa has room for her so soon.
ReplyDeleteI wish I were one of your horses, Kate. That retirement sounds perfect! Maisie wiil live out her days in horsey heaven.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear Dawn is well on the mend. For such intelligent, athletic and agile creatures, they can do such dumb stuff!
Lori - I don't know how I do it either, and I will miss Maisie a lot. But I figured out a few years ago that I can only take care of a certain number of horses - 2 is best - with our barn set-up and weather. Also, Maisie needs to be somewhere where the laminitis risk will be lower and where she can be outside 24/7 and not have as much risk of slipping on ice as she does here. She will have a better life and greater health and longevity there than she likely would here. Norman and Lily are there for the same reasons - Lily had heaves and could not tolerate indoor stabling which was sometimes necessary in our inclement weather, and poor Norman was stuck in a dry lot by himself here because our grass was too rich for him to be out with the herd (and he would never keep his grazing muzzle on - little stinker!).
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your well-deserved retirement, Maisie!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that Dawn is on the mend.
Kate... what a decision! Maisie is going to a great place but oh I can;t imagine how much you are going to miss her! It certainly helps that you already have other horses there but still. All in all a great decision for Maisie, she is lucky to have such a wonderful owner :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Dawn was not seriously hurt!
It's sad that you won't be able to see Maisie everyday and play with her. But sometimes we have to make the sacrifice to let them go somewhere else and not keep them around for us. I can't see myself ever doing it with any of mine but I'm sure she will have a wonderful reunion with Lily and Norman and a great life.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear Dawn is healing.
tough decision, but the best ones always are. I just read your post from yesterday and YIKES !!! Here's hoping to a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing that you have such a good place to send Maisie to; not every horse is that lucky or has such a caring owner.
ReplyDeleteMaisie sounds like she will be in good hands and have a wonderful retirement home.
ReplyDeleteI have sympathy for Dawn; I had a hematoma on the small of my back that was so large I couldn't stand up straight for a week.
It's wonderful for Maisie, and I'm glad she'll have a southern winter for a change.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Dawn will get some radar installed in her head so she can avoid another run in...
(okay, everyone is being very composed, but I'm very interested to hear what this means for your Illinois horse life!)
Kate, so sorry that Maisie has to be retired but she is going to a wonderful place. I was wondering, do you every travel to Tennessee to see Lily and Norman? I think it's wonderful that she is going there but I would be so sad that I couldn't see her everyday, as I am sure you are too. A bitter sweet decision I am sure.
ReplyDeleteGlad that Dawn is on the mend and hope you can be back in the saddle again. Are you going to get another horse or just stay at one?
hugs to you....
jane
Thats too bad about Maisie, but it sounds like you made the right decision for her even if its a hard one.
ReplyDeleteGlad Dawn is looking better, sometimes those hematomas last a long time, but if its not bothering thats good.
Waiting to hear what changes are in store for you.
You are a wonderful owner to do what's best for Maisie. I know it's hard.
ReplyDeleteThe hematoma between Dawn's legs looks just like the one Boomer had between his legs when he tried to jump his 5' high gate and didn't quite make it. His hematoma is gone now. Hope Dawn's goes quickly too.
Oh, love the new header too, what a beautiful smile! I love riding bareback (but only in the round pen), I'm not that good at it! ;-)
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ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for you and happy for Maisie - it's a sucky decision for you, but I think it's horse heaven at Paradigm farms. :) - Funder (at work)
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