A tough week at The Place (aka 10 Firs)

This week was a hard  one--lots and lots of smoke and then Big Zig had a major injury. Somehow, he was rammed by something extremely hard and pointy (probably metal) on the inside of his upper leg. He had bone fragments in his wound and scrapes on his leg bone. Dr. Branch told Lynn it was very important to keep the wound flushed and clean and that Ziggy take his medicine. He said bone infections are common with this kind of injury; so he gave her the strongest antibiotic he has, told her to irrigate it twice a day, keep track of his temperature, and if the swelling went above a line he drew on Zig's thigh, to bring him in immediately. Scary stuff.

The good news is: his temperature is down to normal and he has been running and bucking. He is still a little swollen and getting tired of the irrigation tube, but he likes the grain mixed with his meds. He really doesn't like the hose spraying off the iodine from his leg. Star is extremely jealous and has now taken to cutting Zigs out and away from Lynn so he can't go get his "special treatment." Jupes ran directly to me yesterday when I got out of my car--talking the whole way, so I sure he was saying that Lynn wasn't being fair! He wanted some grain, too!

Dr. Branch gave Lynn a compliment and said that we all did a good job of taking care of our horses and Ziggy would most likely heal quickly and be fine because of it. He's a good age and up on all his shots, as well as in good condition.

We did not ride on Saturday, because it seemed like it would be too smoky, but Sunday, we saddled up Star, Buster, and Jupiter and went up the Hennessey. Lynn had a great time on Buster, who took the lead and lined right out. She said he was so smooth and perfect. Star and Shirley did well also and me and Jupes were fine, too. No mountain lions and the girls were good, too.

A great day was had by all. Now we can get through another week! :)

A Smoky Labor Day Weekend

This is what it looks like from my deck. 

There is supposed to be a mountain ridge there.

      This is out my kitchen window.

Guess you know we did not ride this weekend. I drove to Santa Rosa on Friday and it was smoky the whole way. We had talked about going to Cueno Creek, but it was smoky there, too. Maybe in the redwood grove it would have been okay--I don't know. Even Orick is smoky. I think all of Northern California is under this blanket of smoke. The heat on the coast is crazy as well--high 80s. I think it was in the 100s at Blue Lake. We are not hot like predicted--we have smoke to insulate us. :(