CATCHING UP ON THINGS

Well now, let's catch up!!

Things are going pretty good here at Hawk's Acres.  Gary's cancer is stable. He is taking Xaloda, a chemo pill.  He is feeling pretty good.

The new barn is about done. The stalls are finished, feed/tack room done except for a water heater which is ordered.  Saddles are hung as is all the tack. Looks pretty neat.

We managed to get enough hay purchased for the winter which was no easy feat since we had to start feeding it in June this year.  That's a bummer but this stupid drought just won't stop.

The above pictures of Rose were taken at Johnston Vet Clinic the middle of October. This was the 2nd time Rose had injured the same fetlock. This time, her leg swelled terribly. A week of antibiotics and daily dressings and it was no better. A trip to Oakridge Equine in Edmond, Ok for x-rays and ultrasound was made. The results weren't good at all. Infection in the joint and half of the cartilage gone in the fetlock joint. They recommended euthanasia.  I called Johnston Vet and made the appointment. The day we were to put her down, we had a meeting of the minds between Jan the vet, Karen at Rainbow Meadows and Gary and I.  
The decision was to do more antibiotics and see if the infection would encapsulate. So, she was not put down and is now actually galloping around the pasture. Walking sound and on 1/4 Prevacox daily.  The fetlock joint is still larger than normal and probably will be from now on. But, she is a happy horse. I'm so happy too. This old girl is special to me.

I also have taken some riding lessons. I have learned to ride better and bought an English saddle for my fat boy Hawk.  The saddle fits him much better than my western saddle ever did and he is a happy horse too.

I also went on a cattle drive with 2 other volunteers from Rainbow Meadows and we all 3 rode rescue horses.  Had a blast.

Today, 14 members of Sigma Pi from Oklahoma State University came to the rescue and helped out doing all kinds of work. Had a great time with them. They were very nice young men. They want to come back and bring more members.

That's all for now.  Have a great weekend everyone.

RENA GETS FREEDOM

I went along with Karen of Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue in Sedan, Ks to return this mustang mare to freedom.  One of the most exciting things I have done in my life.  The BLM is fast taking the mustangs away from their land and putting them in holding pens and private ranches. Soon, there will be no mustangs left on the open range.

Rena was accepted by Madeline Pickens into her ecosanctuary in Wells, Nevada last week.  Bless you Mrs. Pickens for taking her.  Rena joined 600+ wild horses at the ecosanctuary. After exiting the trailer (where she had been since leaving Sedan on Tuesday morning), she trotted a little ways then looked back, as if to say, "Am I really free?".  She trotted through the herd introducing herself, then trotted back towards me as I was snapping pictures with the 3rd lady's  (who went with us) camera.  I shed many tears after Rena was free. Such an emotional thing had happened.  Rena will no more be made to do something a human wants her too.  She will live free for the rest of her life.  As they all should be allowed to do. 

http://www.celebratethehorse.com/2010/10/blm-is-our-mustangs-to-extinction-very.html

Please click on the above link to read what is happening to our wild ones. 

Rena is one of the lucky ones. She got her freedom back.

THE LAND OF OZ

Good grief!  Didn't realize it's been 5 months since I last wrote in this blog. Lots of things have taken place since the last entry.

Gary was on some heavy chemo and it was making him so very sick. I was afraid it was going to kill him before the cancer did.  But, it put the cancer in remission. He chose to stop taking the chemo after the PET scan showed no uptake.  We both know the cancer is still there and will rear it's ugly head at some point in the future. We will enjoy whatever amount of time we have left together.

We decided to downsize and bought 22 acres in SE Kansas. This place is just 3 hours from family in Mo and just minutes from Rainbow Meadows Equine rescue. We have become good friends with Karen and David. The four of us have a lot in common and enjoy each other's company.

The place in OK is sold already. Thank the good Lord. We now have a much smaller house for me to take care of. The 3 dogs are here as well as Miss Kitty and Pepper the silly goat.  I placed one of the horses we had in Ok and we brought the 2 blind girls as well as our original 4 horses. Of course all my donkeys are here too.  We had a huge barn built, it's not finished on the inside but we will do that this Spring. The house needs some finish work also but we are old hands at remodeling, lol.

All in all, we are very happy here.......well, we could have done without the snow we got last night.  But, the pond can use the water.