Stall rest....

I'm on stall rest. I have so much more empathy for my horses when they suffer an injury and need to heal. Pain sucks, it wears away at you. Resting is boring. I understand stall walking and cribbing, both take the mind off the tingling nerve pain. But I also acknowledge the wonder of modern medicine. The first picture is my leg at six weeks post -op. The compound fracture wound is healed and I can almost see both sides of my ankle bones. Amazing! Everything was broken and now it is put back together and I am so grateful to my ortho surgeon. It is really stiff and the pins and needles of nerve "regrowth" is pretty bad at night. I can get around on the crutches some, tho its tiring . I can start to use a cane in a couple weeks and hopefully by mid December be walking "normally".  I am hoping to ride mid January! I guess that will depend on weather.  I asked Mike to build me a bigger mounting platform because the idea of mounting and  dismounting is a little daunting. Though for inspiration I have a good friend who recovered from a similar injury to both legs and who is now riding and showing successfully! So I got this and I'm trying to appreciate that I can get away with basically doing nothing for a bit longer . Meanwhile Danny is enjoying hunting for me!

                                                                                                                   

 

Contemplation....

This is the view I am missing. Missing it in my bones, in my breath, in my soul. I know everyone who has ever been hurt feels the same hole. It is the tough part of healing. I can take pain pills, I can read, watch TV, ask Alexa to find music, but nothing really fills the empty space where my wild child played. 

I am lucky that I can watch my horses a little bit in the fields near the house. With the screen door open I can even yell their name and say " I'm still here". The ears prick for a moment, they look up at the door, then go back to munching hay in the feeder. Maybe they heard me, maybe...  

To while away the time I give them human characters as I watch. My only mare, Polly, is Angelina Jolie. Beautiful, difficult, finnicky, kinda likes to be alone but really wants to be appreciated. Don't push her too hard!  There are two geldings in the side field.  Bull, my daughter's horse, who is the "perfect horse", I call him George Clooney. A gentleman, he would hold the door, pull out your chair, wait patiently for you to be ready. He's perfect. My daughter loves him. His pasture mate, Beau, is young and eager. He reminds me of Kevin Hart, fast-talking, kinda loud and aggressive in a nice way. He wants to please but can't contain his enthusiasm sometimes. He bites everyone like a puppy except Bull, so they live together.  I have three OTTB geldings that are my main foxhunters. One, who I have earlier referred to as Brad Pitt, has gone to be a huntsman's horse in Virginia. He is doing great they say. The other two boys keep each other company close by. Frank is a plain brown package and I call him John Krasinzki. He is rugged handsome, strong and take care of business ( think Jack Ryan). I feel safe with him ( the horse), he never spooks or tries to be difficult. He enjoys his job. Then there is Punch, my tall, gangly goofball. He reminds me of Ryan Gosling, ( mainly in Remember the Titans). I worry he will tangle up his legs sometimes so I don't ask him to jump big fences.  He is honest and willing,  just a little off-balance.

Then there are two retirees in the back field who live with my husband's Quarter horse, Raider. Raider is like Dave Bautista. Big, solid, a guy of few words, a few tattoos and needs to be give directions. You want him on your side. Bob, the old chestnut was my husband's first horse, he is now almost 30, which is very old for a Quarter horse. And he seems alright. A Robert Duvall, been there, done that, a wise man. He is very cool. Last but not least is my retired foxhunter, Red.  I asked my vet if horses get dementia because Red seemed to lose his mind about two years ago. Trembling and spooking at ghosts, he seemed to forget how to be ridden. After being bucked off him when he spooked at a stick I decided he had earned a life of leisure with Bob. I would call him Mel Gibson! Very handsome but he lost his mind and got dangerous. I leave him alone now and am always careful around him!  

These are the things that take up the hours while the leg heals. Let me know who comes to mind when you  give your horse a character!  Watch the Maryland 5-star this weekend on MPT tv - should be awesome.
 

Danny Boy has a new job

I gave my lovely Thoroughbred, Danny Boy, to Tim at Bull Run to use as a huntsman's horse while I am recuperating. He is young and did not need to just sit around for months. He seems to enjoy his new job and I hope he takes care of Tim as he did me. ( not the one I came off). He had a good race career and has become a great hunter, with a powerful, nice jump. Likes to be in front which is why I let Tim use him this fall. I love him and call him, my "Brad Pitt" horse. The kind of chestnut every one wants. Thank you Laura Roadcap!

Apparently he does not like the hound trailer- probably says it smells like hounds! But he looks good and I know he will have fun in Virginia.

Tomorrow the TAR Field Hunter Championship starts, at Bull Run. I was going to be there on another TB, Frank, who is better in the field. Hard to ask whip horses to go in field but he was the easiest of mine to do that transition. Oh Well! Not this year. Good luck to everyone. It is the most fun and I am sorry to miss. I will be eagerly looking forward to the photos!  

The leg feels better elevated, so I am trying be a good patient. Rather be riding but watching football will work today. I have been enjoying listening to music ( Thank you Alexa), old songs I remember but never hear on the current kind of radio stations. I am fortunate to have a friend to keep riding all the other horses. Even Michael's Quarter horse will get to go occasionally. I watch as she goes by the window and it is fun to see what my horses look like! I actually never see them that way. And she keeps me up to date on all the news and stories. I love that my MD huntsman gives me a little comment about the day's hunting afterwards, so I can still feel connected. It all helps. Thanks guys!