| My daughter's desire to get involved in horseback | | | | finishes his examination of "Little Guy ", he calls me |
| riding became a life-changing experience for me. I was | | | | over to talk with him. My hope is we will be told to just |
| about to learn about things I never wanted to know, | | | | get on with the horseback riding lessons. Nope, it was |
| and find out what it takes to care for an animal | | | | not to pay the bill, but rather to show me what my little |
| weighing in excess of 1,000 pounds! Fortunately for me, | | | | daughter and I would have to do twice a day to |
| "Little Guy" was a great quarter horse, and was quite | | | | medicate this horse. |
| happy to let me learn. | | | | The vet hands me this huge syringe consisting of a |
| After we had acquired the first things we needed for | | | | large tube, long needle along with a bottle of something, |
| horseback riding (saddle, bridle, tack etc), secured a | | | | (I don't remember what it was), and instructs us to give |
| locker and a few grooming tools I thought we were in | | | | the horse a shot twice a day! I stood there for a few |
| good shape. It turns out flies love horses, and in | | | | moments gathering my thoughts, trying to figure out |
| particular what comes out of the rear end of horses. | | | | how in the world we were going to accomplish this! I |
| Speaking of that stuff, it comes out in great quantity | | | | thought we were in this just for the horseback riding! |
| and often, and needs to be removed from the horse | | | | Once again I was grateful for "Little Guy". As it turns |
| stall daily. You use a shovel, fork and wheelbarrow to | | | | out it was not a problem. You simply pick out the spot |
| take it to a pile which grows exponentially. At least it | | | | on his rump where you want to insert the needle, slap |
| was not my job to get rid of that pile! | | | | it really hard, jam the needle in and give him the shot. |
| OK, so now we have the horse, we have a stall, a | | | | Piece of cake! Soon my daughter could resume her |
| few necessities and have learned the basics of caring | | | | horseback riding lessons. |
| for the horse. Now it is time to get on with horseback | | | | Next we needed to get the horse to the veterinary |
| riding, right? But, hold on a minute, now the horse has a | | | | clinic and we discover that "Little Guy" has an aversion |
| medical problem. Fortunately for us, vets make stable | | | | to trailers. So, with my daughter hauling on his halter |
| calls. The Vet examines the horse and then asks my | | | | and good old dad pushing on the rear end (I always |
| daughter and I to join him. We are informed that he | | | | got the raw end of the deal) we work for thirty or |
| needs to give the horse a sedative in order to | | | | forty minutes until the horse gives up and gets in the |
| complete his examination, and that we need to make | | | | trailer. Of course the horse needed to relieve himself in |
| sure the horse doesn't fall over while sedated! | | | | the trailer and, you got it, another cleanup job. Ah the |
| Using one wall of the stall my daughter (remember, this | | | | joys of horseback riding. |
| is a little ten year old girl) and I pin the horse up against | | | | Do not misunderstand me, it was a great learning |
| one wall of the stall and place our shoulders on him so | | | | experience for both my daughter and I. We got to |
| he will not fall over; however, he does sway quite a bit. | | | | spend a lot of quality time together, learned a lot, and |
| There I am ... thinking, what to do if this 1,000 pound plus | | | | grew to respect anyone who is involved in horseback |
| animal begins to tip over on us! But, my luck held, and | | | | riding. |
| we got through the procedure. So, after the vet | | | | |