Our day began with a visit to the dog vet, to introduce ourselves and get updates on medicines. We went to Treasure Valley Vet. Quite nice folks, with one of the most efficient, organized "behind the desk" people I've ever met. Was able to get a referral for an equine vet, as well, since two of the office folks were also horse folks. The vet there is from California, and he specializes in exotics as well as dogs and cats. So while we were there, a large snake came in, and two turtles. One of the turtles requires surgery for an abcess. The woman who brought them in said her grandson needed to get a job to support his turtles, or she'd just own his allowance for a long, long time to come. I can't imagine performing surgery on a turtle the size of a silver dollar!
After the long vet visit- 1.5 hours all told- the girls came home and wolfed down the new, highly expensive food the vet recommended. H/D for heart problems. Then they went down for a nap. Once they were settled, I headed out to see how the footing was for working with horses. Brought out Berhwood, and trimmed his feet. Then I groomed him, which was a workout in and of itself, given the mud encrusted everywhere. How he got mud all up under his jaw, I'll never know. It seems physically impossible...
Here he is, all pretty and ready for work. Boy, he's a tank.
While I had Berhwood out, Giovanna proceeded to act like a nut. She ran up and down, sliding into her stall, slipping around corners, bucking, rearing, neighing. Basically acting like an insane herd-bound horse. She could see him the whole time, because the hitching post is in plain view. But she insisted on running around until she got tired of that and stood in her pen watching him. I closed her pen gate so she wouldn't interfere while we worked.
Here's the mud princess, impatiently waiting for her turn.
Berhwood was a model horse, not a single fuss, and he looked pretty good. Footing not the best, so we just walked and trotted on the lunge line.
I switched horses. Wasn't going to take Giovanna out because I was a bit tired after trimming, grooming, and working with Berhwood. But it was clear that she expected to be next, the way she followed me into her stall and intended to follow me right out the gate. Got her tied up to the hitching post, and you know what Berhwood did? He rolled. He went into the middle pasture to eat. He couldn't care less where Giovanna was. And Giovanna? She didn't care that Berhwood was out of site in the middle pasture. What a nut.
After all the grooming, here's the de-mudded Giovanna, ready to go.
Giovanna has a few things to teach Ber about where mud can go and how thick it can be caked on. Combing out her mane alone took 15 minutes, at least. The mud gobules surrounding individual hairs...mud not only around her eye, but on her eye lashes, like mascara. After tacking her up, I lunged her. Ber stayed in the middle pasture, eating, so I didn't lock him up. Giovanna worked well. The footing didn't bother her as much as it had Berhwood (can you say athlete?), but we still stayed with walk and trot and transitions.
Just love how she opens up her shoulder and lets those front legs swing forward. Lovely.
All in all, not bad for the first day working in our new place. I was pleased.
When I arrived back in the house, the girls insisted on another can of their new dog food. I guess it might be worth that price...
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