Yesterday, Monday, the Missouri July heat returned, but Fred arrived to shoe the horses without complaint. We always look forward to Fred’s visits, for laughs and stimulating conversations, along with his shoeing prowess. Often, he brings interesting news, and we were hoping for stories of riding the Nebraska Sand Hills, which had been planned.
Unfortunately, Fred came with some bad news about his wife, Linda. They did not get to Nebraska after all. Two weeks ago, they were riding near their house. Linda’s mare had a nasty fly, and she dismounted to knock the fly off the horse’s flank. When she was remounting, Linda took an awkward step, stumbled and fell. Her horse never moved, as Linda fell in front of her. Fred said they could hear her ankle break. He took the horses home, and got Linda to the hospital. It is a very bad break, both leg bones and disruption to tendons and ligaments. She has had surgery, but will be sidelined for a very long time (non weight bearing for at least 10 weeks).
We all know that horses are big animals that can be dangerous, and we accept that risk. But what is really sobering is the freak second when something benign goes awry, changing life and plans in an instant. Nothing to do with riding or getting stomped, just a bad step on uneven ground. We are very sad for Linda, and are reminded to treasure every ordinary day. Being bedridden is awful, but the summer heat is a pretty good time to miss, and with luck she will be able to enjoy the autumn weather.
Meanwhile, at the barn here, Fred worked his magic. We are very fortunate to have a good farrier, especially with older horses. I credit Fred with keeping our three teenagers sound. And he certainly gets some credit for Derry’s good report at 20.
Oisin is not a perfect horse to shoe. His front feet are very different, one from the other. He is well behaved, but he has trouble relaxing his hind legs at first. Fred is very patient with him. He has been shoeing Oisin for ten years, so he knows him very well. He shoes him the way Nature made him, which is harder to do than it sounds. With horses, less is almost always more. Doing as little as possible is very difficult.
Jane was doing her weekly Monday volunteer work with Tree House (formerly Therapeutic Horsemanship – TH). She returned in time to bring Derry over while Stone was getting his front shoes. Stone stays barefoot behind, having good, strong Quarter Horse feet.
Last one for shoes, Derry’s feet always look beautiful after Fred’s visits. She has great quality hooves, and excellent conformation, which, along with Fred’s shoeing, has helped keep her sound into her third decade.
Fred left here and stopped over at Jane’s house to trim Calvin the pony, and Sandy the donkey. I biked over with the camera, but Fred’s efficiency had Calvin already done by the time I arrived. Calvin was happily eating his lunch of soaked hay pellets. He has very few teeth left. Calvin is in his fourth decade. Sandy is a youthful donkey with dainty feet and is very well behaved. I think she has an uncommonly pretty tail for a donkey.
Even though July Fourth is Tuesday, fireworks have been going strong every evening since Saturday. Weedy is not happy. So far, though, he seems to be healing well. Harry takes him for many short walks every day.
Jane and I had a Fourth of July ride this morning, testing the new shoes on Derry and Bart. We ran into Marilyn and Trigger, which was fun. By the time we finished, though, it was so hot we just couldn’t ride again. The horses were happy in the barn under fans, and I sweated through the day, staying hydrated.
Harry helped with barn chores this evening, and found a little fledgling on the floor of the wash rack. The barn is a dangerous place to fledge, with six cats about, but this little one was lucky. I used a manure fork to lift him and put him out onto the roof. From there, he flew off to his worried mother. He was a tiny little wood pee-wee, I think, one of my favorite birds. I didn’t take pictures, but we were very relieved that all turned out well.
Roscoe reassures Weedy as the fireworks explode. Happy Fourth of July!
Be safe, be well, be lucky. Stay hydrated. Slava Ukraini! Peace.
Another wonderful visit with you all. Thanks so much! We’ve seen some really beautiful horses here in Ireland but none as sweet as your guys! That whole shoe bit was fascinating for this city girl!❤️
A Happy Fourth it was, especially in DC which we watched on TV. No problems here with fireworks going off from all corners. I am so sorry about Linda. Broken bones from a step gone wrong along side a perfect horse. Isn’t it something when that happens, a fox hunter steps off a foot stool and breaks a bone, yet rides in puissance and hunts over fences without many issues. Crazy! A very pleasant photo detail of shoeing horses. Love how you love your farrier! Yay Fred! Oh, must not forget one of the best portraits of Harry and Weedy ever! Thanks Anne, really a delight!
I had one of those side steps dismounting, but was fortunate to only have a stretched ligament. Still no fun.
When you see Fred, please tell him I wish Linda well and a quick recovery.
Weedy looks comfortable. thinking he is healing well. I very much detest tomato worms and find squishing them unpleasant. glad your family is doing weel.
I love the picture of the hummingbird moth. I’ve never heard of that. And I have some phlox right outside my bedroom window, which I will begin watching, and hopefully see one myself.
How I wish people would give up fireworks! Each year there are accidents and fatalities and animals are so traumatized. In Italy they have silent firework displays but I expect they are cost prohibitive and if you are a devotee I suppose the noise is essential. Supposed to frighten off the devil or some such thing. We were lucky here. The only noise was a loud thunderstorm.
Weedy is no fan of thunderstorms, either! I was very relieved that we had rain before the fireworks onslaught. I have no doubt the drought would not have concerned the locals who love their explosions.