Nibs is Closer

Carrie picked up Nibs from Sonya and Jeff's Wednesday. She trailered her up to her new home here.

Carrie said she was an absolute nervous wreck driving Nibs, but they made it alright. 

 

Nibs joins Captain as field mates. Carrie's been going out to check on them morning and night. Apparently, Captain is a little jealous.

Carrie sent me a video of Nibs in her new home. I noticed Nibs would run around and then return to where Carrie was. 

I also noticed Nibs pooped. If you know the history, you'd know that made Carrie very happy.

Horse Town

Shane and I went with Carrie to check on Nibs. It's old hat for Shane now. He complained about the drive.

He enjoyed listening to Disney songs and running around the barn, though. 

He found all three cats (and they all found me).

Note: Natural sunlight doesn't aide pictures with broken cover glass.

Carrie gave Nibs her first bath.

Nibs was nervous and unsure about the whole procedure, but she did well. She was much more obstinate and worried about going in the round pen.

I took a much clearer picture with Carrie's phone.

Physically, Nibs is doing better, but not perfect. Carrie dropped off a fecal sample on Friday and Nibs has some sort of stomach bug (If it's not one thing...). 

Mentally, Nibs is a bit of a basket case. She trusts humans, but not other horses. When Sonya puts her out to pasture, she doesn't seek out her fellow equines. She begs to be let back into her stall. It's become a safe zone. So far the other horses either disregard her or bully her. We haven't found a companion horse to teach Nibs how to be a horse. 

Orphaned foals are a lot of work. Carrie trusts Sonya and Jeff implicitly, but it's enough of a drive I've asked Carrie if there's anywhere closer. No one wants to deal with an orphaned foal for a reasonable price near us that we've learned about. The drives will have to continue for at least several more months.

I opened up Pandora's Box by giving Shane a booster pack of Pokemon cards on the ride home. I wanted him to do something awesome so it'd be a surprise reward. He was okay, so I just gave them as entertainment for the ride home.

He's probably never going to stop begging for more.

He got a ~$12 fancy foil on the first try. Shane ooh'd and aah'd the whole way home.

We grabbed dinner in Lynchburg. We sure do scoot around.

Other horse note:

Carrie's trying to ride Korra more regularly now that she works from home. She built a little jump in the arena and we took Shane out for a ride once.

I don't know how regular Shane riding will be, but I'm all for it. It's a nice activity he can do with Mommy.

Hopefully, Shane will learn and behave enough Carrie gets comfortable enough to take him out there on their own. Neither of them have my sun or horse allergy.

Horse Update - Nibs Ahoy

Carrie's home, but her mind often wanders to Sonya's barn. Nibs has been touch and go, but is doing well now.

When the vet put Nibs on stimulus restriction, the little filly would not stop chewing at her stitches. She pulled them out and gave herself a nice little infection.

Multiple rounds of antibiotics and days later, Nibs got past the worst of it. She should have a nasty little scar, but her energy level is undiminished. The stimulus restriction lifted, Sonya moved Nibs over to the main barn to be around other horses.

She went wild with joy. Nibs hadn't seen the sun for a couple of weeks.

She has a friend her age next door now. Sonya said Nibs tried to jump the fence to be with her.

Lots of personality in this one.

The newest thing is her ball. Sometimes she loves it...

...and other times it freaks her out. She tried to stomp on it when it rolled under her.

Which made it move and that panicked her. 

"Silly, filly."   - Carrie

Mommy's Back!

Carrie made it back Saturday afternoon! Hooray!

We've missed her.....and I think she missed us and sleep. Carrie took no less than three naps in two days.

And she always had company.

Not always the furry kind, either. Shane burrowed in like a tick to watch an episode. I made him sneak out when it was done.

We have her back for two nights, but then she's going to swing by the barn on Monday before redirecting over to Grandma and Grandpas. Carrie's going to help them part time with their business, because she's not allergic to travel.

Easter Sunday

Shane cried and whined when I made him go on a trail walk. The sunrise was worth it.

Shane decided to be happy once we were underway.

There are trails all over Sonya and Jeff's property. They have 118 acres or so. We followed this one down to the road where the bridge was under construction.

Our absence gave Mira, filly, Sonya, and all the horses more time to sleep. Carrie checked on little bits, of course.

The weather was beautiful, so Shane had another nature day. He dropped rocks through the have-a-heart trap, and tried to pet all the cats.

Note: The barn cats were busy overnight. 

My biggest worry while walking around Sonya's property is that Shane is going to try to lick or pee on one of the electric fences. I don't know how strong the charge is and I don't really want to find out.

I was amused by the name of the manufacturing company that made the power source, though.

Eventually, Sonya woke up, horse chores were accomplished, and Carrie came out to play.

Little bits was frisky and running around her stall and having a good ole day.

Mira, however, was having potty problems. Carrie had thought Sonya was picking her stall. Sonya had thought Carrie was doing it. Instead, Mira was in pain. She wasn't able to poop more than a little at a time and wasn't peeing at all. We knew she was sore, because she grunted and jumped half the time her daughter tried to nurse. Carrie put in a call for an emergency vet visit.

We went to church while we waited. I don't have any pictures of the church, because Carrie and I swapped phone batteries. Hers was dead and she wanted to be able to answer if the vet called.

The church was a small country, baptist church. When we walked in the front door, it looked very traditional and there were only a few people filling the front pews. The youngest of which looked about seventy and wore a suit. I was in jeans and a t-shirt (It's not like I planned on spending the night!).

However, after a hymn and a news call everyone broke up to go to Sunday School classes. The back of the church was filled with people and children. Coffee was found. There was a class for Shane and then Carrie and I went to a class, too. I'm so glad we found a place to worship!

The vet showed up after we returned.

Mira got an enema and looked over.

Baby enjoyed the sun and my son.

Jeff offered to take Shane and I on a gator tour of the property while the ladies talked to the vet.

We visited the pigs and even saw a wild turkey fly. Jeff hunts on the trails, so he had plenty of stories.

We got back later to help Mom. My neck was sunburned.

Mira wasn't out of the woods yet, but she had meds and it was time to wait and see.

Shane and I took Carrie out for Cook Out in Farmville. Shane passed out and slept an hour while I drove back and forth. We went through a drive through and Carrie enjoyed the reception and caught up with the outside world (She's been mostly incommunicado at Sonya's).

Shane and I had to move on from there. School beckoned. We dropped Carrie off at the trailer and said our good-byes. Hopefully, Mira will do better and Carrie will be home soon.

Carrie's Obviously Thrilled

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