Grace Under Pressure

As I mentioned in the last post, River, my Equine Coach and 1000 pound baby-girl, has been having some health issues -- specifically laminitis.  Laminitis is a serious hoof condition and if not treated can have huge consequences.  As a result, I have been monitoring River's condition very closely as I follow the vet's orders; however,  I noticed this week that she was walking very stiffly and ended up taking her in a trailer to the vet. 

On the chance that her laminitis was actually getting worse, we soaked River's two front feet in an ice bath.  Now, an ice bath is uncomfortable for me to even THINK about much less do it for my own feet;  imagine trying to coax a 1000 pound horse to put her two front feet into a large bucket of ice water!  Amazingly enough, River, with some gentle prodding, put both hooves in the bucket and stood there for the requisite soaking time, a vision of patience and stoicism.  She actually started looking sleepy during her "pedicure"! 

Later in the afternoon, we put River in the trailer and started out on the hour's drive to the vet hospital.  River was good as gold through the whole experience.  Once we got to the vet, the vet looked her over closely and let her do some grazing.  The news was good.  Her laminitis was actually improving!  As the vet went to make notes and give me some additional medicines, I followed him over to his vehicle -- River made to follow, then placidly decided that she enjoyed the grass and watching the cars go by on the street nearby, as well as checking out the vet's other horses.  With the good news and some additional medication, River was back on the trailer.  As she got off the trailer after arriving home, she made a quick beeline for her stall, where she happily started noshing on some hay that was waiting for her.

So, needless to say, I was relieved; though I know her recuperation is going to take a while and her long-term prognosis is still to be determined.  What struck me throughout the whole day was the grace she showed while in pain and under stress.

In our high stress world, it is so easy to succumb to the pressures around us and not act with "grace".  River was a living example of how to act with grace under pressure.

Get well, my girl.  You are truly an inspiration to me -- in good times and in bad.

Pain and Patience

River, my Equine Coach, has been dealing with a hurt foot these past two weeks.  After rest and visits from the farrier, the veterinarian came to visit.  Being that River can't speak in human terms, there was a deductive process that the vet used to isolate the location of the problem.  River, due to the way she is built,  has some imperfect conformation, which she has been able to compensate for all her life.  Her new horse shoes may have changed the way she compensates and she has become sore.  So, off come the shoes, and she is now recuperating with anti-inflammatories and rest, as well as some compound to apply to her feet to make her the bottom of her hooves stronger.

Watching River as she was given shots for nerve blocks to isolate the cause of her pain, I was impressed with how stoically she withstood the shots injected into her foot area and how patiently she stood during the x-rays.   She was a model of perfect behavior, whether an equine or human patient!

In our lives, we often have to deal with pain -- whether it be physical or emotional -- sometimes as minor as just not wanting to do something because we find it unpleasant.  Strength to do what is necessarily in the face of pain takes courage.  And sometimes pain can last longer than we would like.  To cultivate patience in the face of pain or adversity takes strength and courage.  As this is all part of the human (and equine) condition, my wish for all is the strength of courage and patience through pain and adversity.  And of course, a speedy recovery for my beloved Equine Coach.  Love you, River!

Space and Time

When I last wrote, I spoke of a new horse at the Barn.  His name is Ray-Ray.  Ray-Ray and River have been getting along well.  They have stalls next to each other and River is smitten with the new "boy" in town.  Today, Ray-Ray and River were introduced into the same pasture (under close human supervision).  River coyly walked up next to Ray-Ray and started to eat grass.  Ray-Ray kept watching her with a close eye and proceeded to keep his distance.  River would advance and Ray-Ray would retreat.  This dynamic kept going, though River never pushed it.  Now I should mention that Ray-Ray towers over River -- Ray-Ray being part Warm Blood and part Thoroughbred;  River is barely above pony-size.  Finally, the two horses did touch noses and sniff each other.  Ray-Ray then went back to keeping his distance.  It was a successful first meeting.  No fussing or fighting.  No hard feelings.

In the human realm, this reminds me of the idea of personal space and getting to know a person on their terms, not ours.  In our face-paced world of deadlines and speed-dating, the idea of taking the time to get to know a person sometimes is forgotten.  River and Ray-Ray are a reminder to me to respect one other and our personal space and to take the time to know each other.