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Wildflowers, that is!
I love Wildflowers. How about you?
Once Big-ears was coming alone from the farm of his master to Isleta, carrying a load of curd cheeses done up in buckskin bags. As he came through the hills he met a Coyote, who said:
"Friend Big-ears, what do you carry on your back?"
"I carry many cheeses for my master, friend Too-wháy-deh," answered the Burro.
"Then give me one, friend, for I am hunger-dying."
"No," said the Burro, "I cannot give you one, for my master would blame me--since they are not mine but his, and a man of the pueblo waits for them."
Many times the Coyote asked him, with soft words; but Big-ears would not, and went his way. Then Too-wháy-deh followed him behind, without noise, and slyly bit the bag and stole a cheese. But Big-ears did not know it, for he could not see behind.
When he came to the pueblo, the man who awaited him unloaded the cheeses and counted them. "There lacks one," he said; "for thy master said he would send so many. Where is the other?"
"Truly, I know not," answered Big-ears, "but I think Too-wháy-deh stole it; for he asked me on the way to give him a cheese. But wait--I will pay him!"
So Big-ears went back to the hills and looked for the house of Too-wháy-deh. At last he found it, but the Coyote was nowhere, So he lay down near the hole, and stretched his legs out as if dead, and opened his mouth wide, and was very still.
Time passing so, the Old-Woman-Coyote came out of the house to bring a jar of water. But when she saw the Burro lying there, she dropped her tinaja, and ran in crying:
"Hloo-hli! come out and see! For a buffalo has died out here, and we must take in some meat."
So Old-Man-Coyote came out, and was very glad, and began to sharpen his knife.
But his wife said: "But before you cut him up, get me the liver, for I am very hungry"--and the liver is that which all the coyotes like best.
Then the Old-Man-Coyote, thinking to please her, went into the Burro's mouth to get the liver; but Big-ears shut his teeth on Too-wháy-deh's head, and jumped up and ran home. The Old-Woman-Coyote followed running, crying: "Ay, Nana! Let go!" But Big-ears would not listen to her, and brought the thief to his master. When the master heard what had been, he killed the Coyote, and thanked Big-ears, and gave him much grass.
And this is why, ever since, Big-ears strikes with his hind feet if anything comes behind him slyly; for he remembers how Too-wháy-deh stole the cheese.
(Pueblo Indian folk story.)
We've been keeping a little secret around here because we were worried to really speak about it or even think about it... Wildflower has been lame on her right lead. There. Now it is out there. I've been watching her with worried looks, flexing and poking and trying to not see it... but she is off on the right. It isn't as noticeable when she is gaiting on the straightaway but when she is circling it is clearly visible. Auntie Smrp and I conferred, then we called the farrier and the vet and made an appointment. Plans of putting her under saddle were suspended until we conferred with our vet.
It didn't bode well that the thermometer hovered just inside the forties and clouds hung low over the foothills this morning as I hurried to clean stalls. Raindrops spat at me and I began to dread the freeway drive not only in rush hour but during a storm....double jeopardy. I looked at beautiful Wildflower and took a deep breath. After all she has been through, she deserved a chance at a bright future. She did NOT want to leave her friends and step up in the trailer but step up she did and we were on our way.
Even with the weather we managed to get there early enough that I was able to finish my coffee and have a bit of Danish with an Arab =)
Our farrier Rodney arrived next and his apprentice T.J. was close behind. Dr. Schur arrived and she began examining Wildflower first by examining her legs and flexing her joints.
Trotting straight with the technician...
Dr. Schur sent Wildflower around in both directions. I was proud our little girl remembered all her groundwork.
Dr. Schur had Rodney pull her right front shoe and she gaited Wildflower again. This time Wildflower was more comfortable without the shoe. Dr. Schur used hoof testers on her feet to check for tenderness...
and felt that Wildflower's heels were sore. Off to radiology we went and I've no photos of that part because they threw me out right then... something about radiation.... But afterward Dr. Schur called us in to go over the films with her. I had a tight little ball in my stomach afraid that the news would be bad. Rodney, T.J. and I sat on the sofa in the office while Doc went over the findings with us.
Everything looked good as far as her feet look! Her heels are low and Dr. Schur discussed with our farrier the best way to support her feet and raise up her heel while reducing pressure there. Rodney and the vet talked about several options for her and then Rodney showed Doc two different types of shoes he thought might work and they devised a plan. I sat quietly saying thanks that the long term neglect she had suffered was not threatening her soundness. Okay... maybe I was madly texting Auntie Smrpie that Wildflower was SOUND.
These are her new shoes:
The toe is slightly rolled back and there is a support under the foot while giving the heel a lift and easing pressure there. Dr. Schur wanted Rodney to roll back the front portion of the heel cleat and Rodney went to work.
Then he fit the shoe to Wildflower as T.J. observed a mentor as well as comforted a pretty girl...
Wildflower chews on her tongue to self-comfort during stressful times. There was a great deal going on at the clinic today, babies coming into the world, horses going in and out of treatment and exam. It was clear to me that she was stressed.
Soon enough and in spite of the near freezing temps and pouring rain, Wildflower had a set of shoes that supported her foot and took the pressure off her heels.
See those gaps between the ground an the very back of her shoe? That will keep the pressure off her heels. Aren't they the most beautiful shoes you've ever seen? Dr. Schur gaited her again after she had new shoes and noticed a dramatic difference. In ten days she thought we could start her under saddle again.
And soon enough, this happy hermit camper was back on the interstate on her way back towards the far mountain not even complaining that it was pouring rain and that there was so much traffic in the city because she was elated that this one little red horse was going to be just fine.
Okay... well, perhaps this doesn't look like a dream for you but it does in fact represent our dream that the individuals charged with neglect and abandonment of The Syndicate Mustangs would eventually be held accountable for what they did to these horses. And so that came to pass last week. Guilty! Thanks so much for the hard work and dedication of the Animal Control officer on the case and the District Attorney for not letting this slide.
In a perfect world perhaps there would be a more appropriate sentence like having to go without necessary sustenance and care themselves but on the bright side, the conviction will mean that these individuals will now be ineligible to adopt a Mustang from the BLM again. So in the respect that these abusers were held accountable for their actions it is a dream come true. And I know that I've not been posting much lately but this has all kept me rather busy... read on...
On other dream fronts.....
If you aren't the horse show type you might not know that the Arabian World Breeder's Cup is being held at the Southpoint Casino Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. It so happens that the young girl that purchased the pony cart and harness we had donated to us is a huge Arabian horse fan. When I mentioned Varian Arabians and Sheila Varian this young girl was very interested in the way that young teenage girls that do not wish to appear overly-excited are interested. I wrote to Sheila about this young woman: 'I was struck with how competent, kind and knowledgeable she was. Although some people might perceive this as youthful arrogance, I saw only a young girl that clearly knew what she wanted from her pony, directed those desires in a clear and understandable way for her horse and a youngster that visibly has potential..... She is a huge fan of yours. She knows all of your horses and can not only recite bloodlines and colors but relate specific achievements of your horses....she spoke of how much she admired you as a horsewoman and cited you as the type of equestrian that she aspires to be...'
I will tell you that Sheila Varian is a very gracious woman. Although my own association with her has only been through email, she very kindly agreed to meet this promising young equestrian at the Breeder's Cup and spend some time with her. I was very pleased to be able to be a small part of this.
Thank you Sheila, thank you very much. Perhaps one day Sasha's own dream of a Varian Arabian will happen as well.... yes, dreams can come true, it can happen to you....
The weather this spring has been difficult.... so many days when the wind simply ravaged both man and beast! Still, Lightfoot is making progress with our trainer and we are pleased. I don't think this beautiful boy will have a difficult time getting adopted. He is all flashy with his bright bay coloring and all that chrome.
Tomorrow if the weather holds, I am hoping to see Little Bear under saddle. Little Bear is not nearly as flashy as Lightfoot but he hold a special place in my heart. Calm, quiet and (usually) level headed, there is something very special about him... at least to me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they both find wonderful homes.
(Joe Weitekamp and Little Bear.)
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