Never Stop Worrying

When our two boys were at home, we would always worry when they got sick (still do, even though they're grown with their own families). Now, we have horses that we worry about.

We've had Sugar, my Rocky Mountain mare, for over four years. During that time there have been 3 or 4 times when she would be under the weather. She wouldn't want to eat and was a little lethargic. In all of those times, it passed in about an hour and she would be fine - eating, drinking and pooping, all the signs of a healthy horse.

This morning she was a little slow coming in for her morning hay. A couple of hours later we needed to go out for a few hours and, as we were leaving, we noticed there was still a lot of hay left and Sugar was laying down. I went out to check and I could hear some bowel sounds so I assumed she was having another one of these small bouts of stomach upset.

The concern with horses is colic which is an impaction in their bowels. If serious, it can even be fatal. So, that's always the concern.

When we got home, Sugar had not recovered to her old self. I walked her a little and even offered her a little hay which she had no interest in. Since this had lasted well beyond an hour or so, I called our vet. He suggested we give her a shot of Banamine which we keep available here at the house. Banamine is a pain killer. He also wanted me to take her temperature.

So, Betty and I went out and Betty gave her the shot of Banamine. I took her temperature and it was normal at 98 degrees F so infection was ruled out as part of her problem.

Banamine works pretty quickly and that happened this time as well. Within less than five minutes she was eating the hay in her stall I had put in there earlier. She also came to the water trough outside our kitchen window and drank some water. We haven't seen her poop, but she may have and we just missed it.

We'll go out to feed them their evening hay at 4:00 PM and we'll see how she eats then.

Here's a picture of her resting with Morgunn standing guard.

Kids! What's a parent to do?

 

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Snow on the Mountain

We've had several storm systems around us for the past couple of days. All we got was a lot of cold wind and a few snow showers. However, the top of our mountain got the most snow we've seen so far.

We need the snows on the mountains, especially in Northern New Mexico, to feed the Spring run off for the rivers, especially the Rio Grande.

 

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Monday Video - Remembering Summer

In the deepest part of our winter, it's nice to remember that summer will come (I hope).

Enjoy.

 

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Sunday Reflection - Saddle Up Your Horses

Friday night, Betty, Molly and I went to the New Mexico Stampede, the professional rodeo that's held each January in Rio Rancho, NM - our neighbor community. It's also the time when Galloping Grace Youth Ranch thanks it's volunteers. GGYR is the official charity of the Stampede so we're able to get discounted tickets

I love rodeo. It's a truly American sport that takes courage (perhaps a little craziness as well). Participants have to pay an entry fee to bruise their bodies and most don't win any money. They do it because they love it. I admire that kind of passion and commitment.

Here are my pictures from Friday night (there is a spiritual component toward the end). WARNING! Lots and lots of pictures.

The rodeo always starts with the running of the mustangs which is pretty neat...

Rodeos are still very patriotic so the flag and God are both honored before the rodeo starts...

There are the bareback bronc riders. The only participants who take more beating than these guys are the bull riders. First, waiting for his ride...

Open the gate and let's get this ride over with...

Watch the facial expressions and tell me if this is fun...

Maybe this guy was hoping for extra style points with a different riding style. I'm pretty sure you're supposed to keep your feet on each side of the horse...

If the horse holds still, perhaps I can pretend it's a wild ride..

The tie-down ropers throw a loop around a 100+ pound calf, flank him (throw him to the ground) and tie three feet together with a pigging string (see the rider's mouth below).

The horses in these timed events are amazing. They're trained to stop and keep pressure on the rope. Too much backing up by the horse and they'll pull the calf along the ground which is not good. Too little pressure and there will be slack in the rope which will allow the calf to struggle so much it makes it hard for the cowboy to control him. It's amazing to watch horse and cowboy work together as they have done for hundreds of years on American ranches...

The saddle bronc riders are similar to the bareback riders except they're smart enough to ride with a saddle...

The pick up riders are the unsong heroes of these events. You have to have a great horse and a strong back...

The team ropers are the dance duos of the rodeo. The header ropes the steer's head and pulls him around...

Once the steer is in position, the heeler ropes the two back feet. This is what's done on ranches at branding time. It sounds easy, right...

The steer wrestlers are the linebackers of rodeo. It takes a strong, beefy guy to wrestle a 200+ pound steer to the ground where all four feet are pointed up into the air...

The barrel racers are the get up and go girls of rodeo...

Then there are the guys who ride bulls -- courageous, crazy or both? Who knows, but they seem to love it...

My favorite performers of all are the bull fighters. These are the guys who sacrifice themselves when the bull rider is thrown from the bull and most vulnerable to an angry bull. The bull fighters throw their bodies into the bull's field of vision to distract the bull from the rider. They purposely try to get the bull to chase them. Many bull fighters have been seriously hurt protecting the riders. Watch these guys in action...

Here's the spiritual part and I've written about it before. Bullfighters who sacrifice their bodies and even their lives for the riders remind me of Christ who sacrificed himself for us.

So, if you made it this far through all the pictures, congratulations and thanks. You may now resume your normal activities.

 

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Nice January Day

Yesterday, Betty and I took our friend from Ohio, Molly, to the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort. We walked their Bosque Trail which is a mile walk through the Bosque and along the Rio Grande River.

After our walk, we had a late lunch on the patio of the Rio Grande Lounge in the resort. It was a little windy, but with the sun it still very nice - especially for late January.

Here are a few pictures from our walk.

A good day with a good friend.

 

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