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!



Comments

jaz@octoberfarm said…
another example of how well cared for your animals are. red is lucky you found that! i love your morning glory tunnel but you might need to rename your place 'morning glory farm'!
Anonymous said…
Dr Pimple Popper for horses!!!
Marcia LaRue said…
Yup ... like Marsha above ... I watch Dr. Pimple Popper [Dr. Sandra Lee] so I have seen waaaay worse then that little cyst on Red's neck! Dr. Becky needs to totally remove the sac the cyst was in or it will continue to come back!!
Your haul of tomatoes is so wonderful ... such a great variety!!
Wanda Devers said…
Poor Red! Glad it wasn't worse. I watch the Pimple Popper, The Toe Bro, etc. so I'm not squeamish. Can't watch liposuction though!


I'm afraid the morning glories will haunt you forever! They are beautiful but will absolutely take over your garden--they can grow yards almost overnight.
Katmom said…
Red is so lucky, as are all of your critters to have BHA as their fur-ever home! They get the best love, treats and treatment..

As for the tomatoes,, I sort of blew it this year,, I planted Mammoth Sunflowers and morning glories amongst my tomatoes,, the idea was for the Sunflowers to be the 'post' for my 'maters to grow against and the morning glories to wrap around the maters to keep them attached to the Sunflower posts.. well what I did not count on,, everything going crazy and exploding in massive amonts of tomatoes and blooms!
I need to come live at BHA and learn what to and not to do! lol!

BTW.. Pursulane.. grows crazy good here too!
HAve a lovely weekend... farm-girl hugz
>^..^<




This N That said…
Yuck!! You probably loved it LOL
Morning Glories, beautiful as they are...RULE!! I hope they don't pull your trellis over..
Never heard of PURSLANE but there is another much smaller weed that grows the same way...flat though.
XXOO

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THE BEARDED ONE said…
IT IS GREAT TO KNOW THAT MORNING GLORIES AND GOOD TO EAT AND HEALTHY FOR YOU... SO HAPPY THAT THE KNOT WAS NOT A SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUE!!!!THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH... LOVE THESE SO MUCH...THEY SRE BRING JOY TO ME !!!!


EDGAR C. BEARD
Love your morning glories! They are gorgeous. Glad Red will be OK. You're so good at noticing things early on!