Cheri,

Horses are definitely a treat.....even though they are a lot of work. Hunter/jumper riding is rather fun, but I ended up with such anxiety attacks just going over cross rails that I realized that wasn't for me. I do think eventing is awsome....it pulls together all of the english riding....jumping, dressage, & cross country. When I was looking for my farm in KY in April, they had the Rolex eventing show at the horse park. I enjoyed watching the cross country.

I got my first horse at the age of 50+. It was something I wanted all my life, but my parents couldn't afford it, so when my career ended & depression hit....all the therapists & pdocs told me to find something I always wanted to do in my life....HORSES. That was when I purchased Mister.....he was only 16 then & a wonderful sound thoroughbred that had some dressage training. We have stuck together from that point on.

I then went in on the ownership of the stallion & purchased a mare....that was where Izzy came from.....the only successful breeding out of 5 trys.....thus the name "Itssabout Tyme". That bond is an amazing one. I never knew how loving horses could be....she is just like a puppy dog (a huge puppy, but a puppy). That was definitely reinforced after our Sunday night experience.

I realized even more how lucky I was not to be hurt more than I was......especially when I found sore spots all around my head that didn't show up immediately. Those pipe rails don't give at all with a 1200lb 17 hand high horse shoving you into them....think my head bounced around a bit between the pipes. I sure learned a lesson on that one.....don't tie a baby down when something might hurt them. Poor baby, she is now in an isolation pen away from all the other horses......she is definitely boared, but it is the safest thing since strangles is very contagious especially to young horses & there are quite a few babies at the ranch.....the stallion is always quite busy & so are the mares. We have a bucket of bleach to wash off with everytime we touch Izzy & I make sure she is the last horse I am with before leaving. That absess is really grose looking & nasty to keep clean. I took a swab & am taking it in to be cultured so we can know exactly what it is....but I am sure it is strangles which is the strep for horses. It isn't catching, but heard that the nasel vaccination with the strep can cause some human problems. My vet was telling about one of the vets who gave the nasel vaccination & the horse sneezed.....the vet was bald & somehow the strep made sores all over his head where the vaccine hit.....how strange!!!!

Tomorrow morning comes the horse dentist & Misters oral surgery.....that is going to be a long day for sure. Horses are a lot of work, but worth every minute of it.

Debbie