Get your Mojo risin'...

So beautiful this morning. Crisp and clear. I just stood and looked at the mountains when I came outside. AB.SO.LUTE.LY perfect. Did I mention that I love fall?!

The horses were calling to me, so I loaded up the barrow and headed out to the barn to feed. Nickers and snorts, pawing and ears back...everyone so glad to see me! Or at least glad to see hay. Nothing like being appreciated :0O

About an hour later, I went out and let everyone out of stalls and into the pasture area. It is always so fun to watch these guys barrel out of the turnout! Sort of like watching a dam explode, but my favorites to watch are always the babies. Little Pink is growing daily and is almost as big as Koko now. And my little Mojo is not really all that little any longer. He came busting out of his stall and showing off as he whizzed by, tossing that red mane and snorting. SO cute! He hit the gate bucking and tooting and proceeded to run the entire property just as randomly and fast as he could. I laughed and encouraged him and he just fed off it!



I love this little red horse. He is a constant source of wonder for me. I still remember how spooky and scared he was when I first met him. I look at that shiny coat and remember the dull hair he had when I first saw him. I see that elegant head and neck and remember in my minds eye how HUGE his head was in comparison to that starved little body. I thought for sure he was deformed from malnourishment! But grow he did and although he is not as tall as Houdini, he bypassed Czeerz and Mossimo a long time ago. He hasn't Bears girth, but he has his height. Been a long time coming.

Mojo BACK THEN

 

Later as I finished dishes and was thinking about getting ready for church, I looked out the window to see Mojo laying on his side out in the field. Others were grazing around him but he was just laying there. I thought at first he was sunning himself, but that thought had hardly passed through my mind when he sat up and started biting at his tummy.

OH NO! I am never prepared, regardless of how prepared I am, to deal with one of my babies being sick.

I grabbed a halter and headed out. As the other horses heard me coming, they began to run to me because my pockets are usually full of peppermints, but right now, I had purpose and they seemed to understand that. Mojo stood up, and rather than avoiding me, as is his normal wont, he came to me slowly, head down and obviously in pain.

What. The. Heck? Gut sounds, but faint. No fever, but respirations were elevated. He was grinding his teeth. Back to the barn we go and I tie him in his stall, grab his grooming tools and start to work, singing softly as I brush him.

I know what you are thinking. CRAZY lady! But this is what I do. When I have gut sounds, most times, if I brush and sing, my horses calm down enough and relax enough to where things can get moving again. This time was no different. Mojo calmed down, gut sounds came back on both sides and were strong. I let him off the halter and watched.

No sooner than I breathed a sigh of relief, Mojo dropped and started to roll again. So back on the halter and into the fridge for banamine. Of which I had none. My bottle is still in Colorado with the other horses! It is SUNDAY! No vets open! So I did what any country girl would do. I called my nearest horse neighbor and of course she set off down the lane with a shot of banamine for my little Mojo. In the meantime, Mojo pooped and although it was not as moist as I would have liked, it wasn't slimy and that was a big relief.

After the infamous shot in the backside with the banamine, Mojo and I walked and then I brushed him and went through our calming routine again. It took a long time, but worth the effort.

We are not out of the woods yet, but he is doing well.  I will not be sleeping well tonight. Some days seem to go on forever, but he is calm, is drinking and pooping. Good moist poop and I like that.

He is so special. I just know he is going to be an awesome reiner someday. And he so loves those kids....God blessed me really good when He found this horse for me. I will be forever grateful...

Houdini and Mojo