Ponies and More

As usual, I've just about forgotten to update my blog. Blah. I keep trying to stay on top of it but it just seems to slip through my mind from time to time.

Saturday we went and picked up my ponies! A seven year old Welsh mare and her yearling Welsh/Shetland filly. I was told the mare was well broke, and the filly was thrown in free after I'd agreed to take in the mare.

Well when we get there, we find the filly lassoed and tied to a tree while they struggle with her. She'd never even had a halter on before. Joy. Our trailer shows up along with a new friend of mine who is doing us the favor of hauling, and we watch them fuss with this poor yearling before stepping in finally. We got mama pony loaded fairly easily, but the yearling was a nightmare. Finally we put Steven, my very big and strong husband, at the end of the lead rope and drug her into the trailer. Poor girl.

They made it back safely, though I wasn't too amused by the project in front of me. Not that I really minded.

Wasn't too pleased when the mare turned out to be NOT well broke, or at least spoiled. She refused to move forward and if you put pressure on her, bucks and rears. She unseated me the first time but not the second time. So we're going back to square one. She had an attitude adjustment session the other day on the lunge line and it went well. Today she moved out really nicely for me. I think she just needs time.

Yearling filly is coming along really great, she is even leading without balking most of the time. But both are a bit buddy sour. They need to be separated, and will be soon. My good friend and neighbor fell in love with the yearling and is trading me three very nice does for her. So it works out well.

On other news, we lost our Great Pyrenees, Rogue. She came down with Parvo Virus and it destroyed her at a shocking rate. Despite me staying up all night forcing fluids into her every way possible, she gave up while I was on the phone with the vet trying to get in. It was a devastating blow to the entire family.
Parvo is not a joke. Even vaccinated puppies sometimes catch it. It can be spread simply by walking through where an infected dog has defecated, and then carrying it home on your shoes. There is no cure for it, and it kills your puppy by destroying the intestinal wall and track, dehydrating the dog until it dies. Symptoms include lethargy, lack of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, elevated temperature, and a very unique smell. 80% of puppies who contract Parvo die.

The virus cannot be killed by normal cleaners. I bleached down everywhere Rogue had been recently, though I could not bleach the goat pen. Which now means no dogs can be inside of it for at least six months, as the virus can live in the soil that long.

I must have caught her symptoms too late...and for that I will eternally be sorry.
On that note I will end this posting. I pray that next time it will be not so depressing.