The Equine Report

Disclaimer:  If you cannot tolerated gross medical stuff... read no further.  If you have a morbid curiosity - you've come to the right place.

For the last several months, equine life has been relatively uneventful - a welcomed change from all of the tumor related problems of the previous year.  

I have been keeping a close eye on Chloe and her sarcoid issues and am happy to report that she is free from any lumps or bumps at the present time.  Fingers crossed, we stay this way!

And Moonie... for all of his winter travails, is doing wonderfully.

This week's worry (a minor one) was Red.  

I noticed a couple days ago that he had a walnut sized lump on his neck beneath his long, flowing, beautiful mane. (He's got great hair - that one!)

It was soft and felt like it was filled with fluid, so I was not worried that it might be a tumor, but figured it was either filled with blood or pus.

I braided his hair to get it out of the way so that Dr. Becky could inspect the lump.

As she clipped the fur from the area and cleaned the skin around the lump, it "popped."  (You were warned!)

A little more pressure and a whole lot of thick pus drained out.  I am sure it felt good to get all of that out of there.  Apparently this was a reaction to the booster shot that Red had gotten earlier.  Years ago, he had a reaction to a booster... but nothing this severe.

After a quick lancing and irrigation with antibacterial, an empty sac of skin was all that remained.

I will keep it clean and open so that it can continue to drain if need be.  I also use a fly-repellant cream around it, although his mane is so thick that a fly would have a hard time entering.  We'll keep a close eye on it over the coming days, but I am sure he will heal without any issues.

There are now several families of barn swallows swooping and soaring around the dry lot.  They seem to love gathering together on the telephone wire that leads into the barn.  Then they fly in circles around and through the dry lot and in and out of the barn.  This is great news for the equines, because these wonderful little birds can eat up to 6o insects per hour!  

We've had a dry few days this week, and finally I felt the need to water my garden.  

This is, perhaps, the best that the garden has ever looked.  And although I do have a bit of weeding to do... I have been successful in keeping after the tomato plants - pruning and tying them up.

 Finally, we are beginning to see some large tomatoes ripening.

Here is yesterday's haul...

The mass of leaves and stems on the right is Purslane.

If you are a gardener, you will recognize this plant.  It is a succulent weed that grows from the center like spokes on a wheel.  It is most definitely edible... in fact, it is a superfood... filled with minerals, and omega  3 fatty acids.  It is one of the most nutritious things in a garden... and most people pull it out and dispose of it.  The leaves are good in salads and stir fries.  (I use it for both!)

Lastly, while I may someday rue the day that I planted all of these morning glories on this trellis,

 I am loving my lush, verdant, tunnel of blossoms!

This, most likely, will become my morning glory tunnel for the rest of my life, as these vines are excellent re-seeders!