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