Day 88 - FREE AT LAST

Some pictures from day 88.

Day 88

The vet came down yesterday to take all of mine and Bridget’s money because it was shot day.  ;-)  The horses are fully vaccinated until the Spring and we also received the wonderful news that Mocha is allowed to see daylight.  She is no longer captive to her stall – which her barn door will grateful to hear since she has been kicking the hell out of it for 88 days.  :-)  Bridget did get this stuff to spray on her leg just to toughen it up a little because the skin is new.  It looks like silver spray paint which makes me want to graffiti her body, but I don’t think anyone else would appreciate that idea.

The vet’s plan was to hand walk Mocha for three days, then turn her out by herself for a week and then start introducing her to the other horses again (preferably Belle first since Belle is just a fatty that doesn’t care about pecking orders).  I always have to laugh at how well the vet knows our horses personalities even though they only see them twice a year (well – if it is a good year).  Then, once everyone can be hands on deck, we can introduce Treza and Mocha again just in case they want to work out their pecking order in a nasty battle. 

When the vet got into her truck, we started walking Mocha around in our nice front field.  She was soooo happy.  Her head was up, her ears were up, and she was trotting her stuff.  Looked gorgeous.  Bridget and I think way too much alike and once the vet was out of sight – we both said (almost in unison) so should we let her go?  And then again (once again almost in unison) we agreed that letting her go was the right thing to do.  And oh my, was it!  She ran, she galloped, she neighed, she screamed, SHE ROLLED... she farted.  haha.  She had the time of her life.  We sat on the back porch sipping a cup of coffee and watched her play for probably a half hour or more.  When we went to bring her in, she was a filthy mess – but you could just see how happy she was. 

Bridget is going down there this morning to let Mocha play again for a little while.  This weekend we will turn her out in one field and mine in another so they can at least see each other.  Next weekend we will start introducing them again and fingers crossed Mocha and Treza have learned their lessons and will just get along! 

But, Mocha made it!  She survived.

P.S.  I have photos from yesterday that will be uploaded later tonight.  I forgot to email them to myself!  

Day 58

Mocha continues to improve. The vet came today and said she is actually growing skin instead of meat. We are pass the proud flesh stage, so Bridget can breath again. Thank gosh! The vet did give Bridget some calmer stuff to give Mocha, which is administered twice a day to keep Mocha from ripping my barn down (seriously). It was a little costly, which made Bridget cry, but you have to do what you have to do. In three days, once the medicine is in Mocha's system, Bridget will attempt to hand graze her again. Hopefully, Mocha will soon be able to join her girlfriend's soon! Steak alert ahead!

Day 44

So I haven't posted in awhile.  To be honest, Bridget's and mine schedule hasn't been the same so I really haven't been helping her.  Every one is always busy - this is life.  However, Bridget has still done an amazing job at keeping Mocha's leg clean and ensuring that it continues to heal.  The vet came out last week, gave her some stronger ointment to put on her leg and told Bridget she can start wrapping it only twice a week - which makes every one happy.  Mocha was also cleared to go for short walks to eat grass for 10 to 15 minutes a night.  All of us THOUGHT this was amazing news until the first walk (Sunday afternoon).  The walk made Mocha very anxious, she started kicking the stall really bad, and screaming to the other horses.  We ended up having to give her Calm and Cool that night to get her to calm down in her stall.  Today her back leg looked a little swollen, so I am going to watch her until bed time to ensure she keeps calm.  Hopefully, she gets cleared to go back out with the other ponies in a few weeks (fingers crossed).

Anyway, so the steak is looking AWESOME, even though Bridget is very concerned about proud flesh now even though I told her she shouldn't worry so much because it would be obvious if Mocha has proud flesh.  Bridget though, is a worrier - especially when it comes to Mocha.  I seriously think it would be better if she wasn't present at the vet visits or the vet could just write a note about things to worry about and hide it in a location that Bridget doesn't know about so I could read it later without Bridget present.  ;-)

Here is the steak before it was cleaned:

Zoey was proud of herself because Bridget let her hand her the supplies, so she wanted a pic of her with Mocha:

Another view of the steak (after it was cleaned):

Geesh, someone made Mocha gansta (You Only Live Once - YOLO):

No Proud Flesh!  Zoey drew the heart with Bridget's assistance.  Just ignore the other writing:

Somehow, I was elected to clean Mocha's stall - I am still trying to figure out how and why:

Mocha thinks we are boring - STILL!  Will this horse ever get a sense of humor!?!

Bridget works every one at the barn, even the three year old:

  

Day 25 - Thought we forgot about you didn't you?

So Mocha's leg is looking amazing.  Bridget has been doing the every other day wrapping and it continues to surprise every one every time the wrap comes off.  The steak piece is getting smaller and smaller and you can actually stare at it for a long while without feeling your stomach turn.  So, it is coming along - which makes us happy, happy, happy.  The vet is due out again next week so we will see what she says, but I am pretty confident that it will be nothing but good results.  Mocha is a pro at standing - Bridget doesn't really need help anymore (even though I know she secretly LOVES it when I come out with her because I am the most entertaining person EVER).  For example, today Mocha kept hitting Bridget in her face with her tail (because flies suck lately) and I made up this wonderful rap to sing over and over:

My vision has been compromised because I have a sty in my eye because Mocha was hitting a fly.

You know you love my skills just like Bridget, makes you a little jealous.  But, seriously... Bridget just likes me out there because I talk and talk, do Mocha's voice (a horse person thing) so she knows what Mocha is saying/thinking, sing random songs, and make up long stories about absolutely nothing.  Bridget wouldn't have it any other way.  But enough rambling... This is what you were really waiting for, here are the pics of the legs today (I am not sure if I need to label these graphic anymore - we will just say STEAK ALERT!).

Steak before it was cleaned:

Steak after it was cleaned... so pruddy:

Us posing (yes, we are dorks - I already have made that clear).  And please take note - Bridget has no shoes on AGAIN.  And you thought I was kidding in my last post about her never wearing shoes.  I literally only thinks she wears them when the vet comes down because she doesn't want the vet to judge her... but you can judge her... judge away.  And just cause I always make fun of her and she gets upset, I should disclose that those boots you see on my feet - I have literally had them since I was 16 and they became my barn boots when I was 17 - that is 13 years of barn wearing.  They are the best boots ever though.  I will cry when they finally fall apart.

Bridget stole my rhyme because it was awesome... oh and in case you haven't noticed, Mocha has a jenk leg!

Omigod - who would ever write such a thing!  I plead the 5th!

Day 17 - GOOOOO TEAM!

The vet came out today and gave us some great news!  We were really excited.  I literally did a little dance (a couple of times).  Here is all the great news we received:

1.) She said was that the leg looked FABULOUS!  FABULOUS - you hear that people - it looks FABULOUS.  So looking like a steak is a good thing.  Woo-hoo!!!

2.) She said was that we did a wonderful job (big pat on the back for Bridget and I, big pat on the back).

3.) The bone is completely COVERED!!!

4.) We can STOP bute!!!

5.) Only five more days of the antibotic!!!

6.) (This was a big one!!!) We can try wrapping the leg only every OTHER day.  She said to try that for a week and then if everything continues to improve go to every THREE days.

7.) Hand grazing was approved!!!  (YAY for MOCHA!!!)

So everything is moving along GREAT.  We are so happy!!!  And because the vet was here, you get a picture (graphic):

So great news all the way around!!!  YAYAYAYAYAY!

Big shout out to our newest readers at SMEVS and the best vet in the world - SHERI!!!  :)

Day 15 - Mocha is gloomy :(

Not sure if it is because it was a beautiful day outside and she is stuck inside or she is just tired of seeing our faces :) - but Mocha was gloomy today. She literally looked sad. :( Bridget tried to cheer her up with some special treats in her grain, but I am not sure it worked. The vet comes out on Tuesday, so we are hoping the vet clears her to walk and eat some grass (by hand, of course).  That should lift her spirits a little... so it should be allowed.

Anyways, since it is Sunday you guys get the weekly pictures.

Weekly progress (only graphic picture for today).  I think that it is looking a lot better; still meaty, but it is looking smaller to me:

Mocha taught us how to get her to stand while Bridget is cleaning her leg - FEED HER!  (You will never guess how long it took us to realize this!!!):

Bridget has become a pro at wrapping!  And yes for those wondering - Bridget has no shoes on!  Believe it or not this is how I met her eight years ago - she walking around the barn with no shoes on, except it was winter time and I kept staring at her Flintstone feet thinking how cold they must be - eight years later, nothing has changed, she still doesn't wear shoes - ever.  (BTW:  Never try this at home, kids.  You should ALWAYS wear shoes while working with a 1500 pound animal!):  

Treza looking like a bug because she likes to rip her eyelids off (no joke).  She was screaming at me because she wanted to be on the blog and she is everyone's favorite.  It is okay - you (the reader) can admit it.  Everyone LOVES Treza.  And make sure the next time you see Bridget, you tell her how much Treza is your favorite horse EVER.  This literally drives her crazy and you can watch her turn red and then tell you 1,000,000,000 reasons why Mocha should be your favorite - but everyone already knows that Treza is everyone's favorite:

The end product.  And yes, we were dorks and signed the cast again.  Maybe you can come down tomorrow or the next day or the next day (I think we will be wrapping for the next two months or longer - so whenever really) and bring Mocha treats, sign her cast, and tell her how beautiful she is even though Treza is your favorite: