Failing the Jog

MEGAN: After an extra hour of sleep (how lucky am I?) I got my laundry folded and was at the barn via Annie’s Taxi Service by 8:00 am. I fed my boy and gave him water, then turned out Chuck in Paddock #2 and Luke and LB on the hill. It took a bit longer than usual, but eventually all the patient, shuffling horses got out in their appropriate fields. Cleaning Simba’s stall was a bit of an adventure with the slippery ramp up to the dirty straw wagon, but it was complete in time for me to turn out my next set of horses. The trunks in Mica’s barn were the next thing on the agenda, and after sweeping out behind them and cleaning all of them, I cleaned Smartpak containers in the feedroom and took her laundry to the office. Then Annie looked at Simba’s leg which was still swollen, cool, and sound. Unfortunately we still match (with the exception of soundness- one of us needs a good set of legs and that is Simba's responsibility at the moment!). I dressed Dado and Banana to go out on the hill, and after taking LB and Luke back to their stalls walked Dado up to the hill- where he promptly dragged me five feet across the field on my bad leg and took off with the lead rope still attached to his halter. Fifteen minutes later with help from Annie I finally caught him and removed the lead rope from his halter. Annie kindly took me to the drugstore on her way to get lunch and I got an ACE bandage which greatly helped with walking for the rest of the day. After handwalking Simba I swept Mica’s tackroom and rescooped for dinner, then checked and replaced salt blocks in all four barns. Emma and I cleaned up the Hunter barn, fed, and rescooped and I handwalked Mouse and jogged him for Annie. She pronounced him sound, and me lame. It is sad when the handler does not pass the jog, but the horse does! After helping Laura feed the Main barn and helping Mica rescoop for the next day Mica took me home to change and all of us went to Susan Rubin’s house to swim. She has a horse at Gleneden and very kindly provided us with snacks and her gorgeous yard and pool for the afternoon. Wow! Let’s just say that her pool house has a fridge, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher all of which are nicer than the ones in my home. We all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and upon returning to the house, I leveled Lendon’s mulch pile with help from Emma, swept the front porch, stairs, back deck, and cleaned the kitchen counter. Then I brushed Flurry and gave her a bath complete with shampoo and conditioner. She is beautiful now!! After a quick chat with Annie (Heeder)- who informed me that things were a little crazy because we are all aunts and uncles due to the fact that Christopher’s guppy gave birth to six baby guppies- I talked to Mom and am now sitting with my leg wrapped in ice up to my knee ready for bed. I am exhausted- talk to you all tomorrow!

SIMBA: Mom is moving a bit better today, though I would pass a vet exam much more cleanly then she. She really need to work on articulating that left knee, and stepping more underneath herself with her left hind. But, what can you do? She won’t take any advice from me! Being the mother that she is she still did my stall, gave me breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and walked me- though a bit slower than usual. A horse would expect no less, however, especially when she asks so much of me. With all the work I do for her she should be here from dawn until dusk waiting on my every need. Like a servant I suppose. Allow me to remind you of my royal status. It is King Simba, mother. Remember that in the morning when you greet me. And be sure to add carrots to that breakfast. It is no less than a king would expect.