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Lucy Update

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Nancy DeMarco

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Nov 21, 2009, 4:02:53 PM11/21/09
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Lucy continues to be challenging. To recap, she has a mass on her
colon and a tendency to be always gassy. Her manure ranges from
formed and soft, to small, hard balls that threaten impaction, on a
daily basis. She has neck threadworm, which makes her sore and stiff,
and causes her to break out in hives and open sores on a regular
basis. She has resistant Lyme issues. She is insulin resistant. And
she has chronic SI issues.

She is also a fun, smart, friendly mare who always tries her best, and
who loves, loves, loves to jump. She tends to be fat, and it is
challenging to get her fit. But when she's in shape, she becomes a
lovely, athletic, graceful thing who is very fancy and turns heads
wherever she goes.

Last week, I just wanted to cry. On Monday I started soaking her hay,
started her on HEIRO for insulin resistance, and I treated her with a
double dose of Equimax for the neck threadworm. She is also on a good
probiotic, a vitamin/mineral supplement, gets extra B vitamins, E and
Se, MgOx and cat's claw.

She was swollen - swelling and sores in front of the udder, legs large
and hard, sores on one side in the saddle area... Her back hurt. Her
coat was standing up, dry and dull and disturbed by scratching. She
couldn't easily turn her neck in either direction. She was stiff in
front and downright lame behind. Her belly was bloated and hanging,
and she looked pregnant, despite a restricted diet, 24/7 turnout and
daily forced exercise. She was cranky and depressed and wanted to be
left alone.

But today, her belly is deflating, her coat is smooth and shiny, her
neck is free, her back feels fine, and she is not only sound behind -
she is stepping under herself better than I have ever seen before.
The sores are almost healed, and I see no new ones coming behind
them. Her legs are still a bit swollen, but not nearly as hard. She
is less gassy, and her manure is more consistent. I am definitely
seeing an increase in energy. She looks happy.

I think maybe we're on the right track. :)

Nancy

Diane

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Nov 21, 2009, 5:03:14 PM11/21/09
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"Nancy DeMarco" <nancy...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:077d7995-0773-46b4...@o9g2000vbj.googlegroups.com...

hang in there and good luck

diane

Nancy DeMarco

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Nov 21, 2009, 5:21:58 PM11/21/09
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"Diane" <df...@optonline.net> wrote:

> hang in there and good luck

Thanks, Diane,

Lucy is very special to me. I won't spend myself into the poor house
for her. But I'll do anything within reason. And she does continue
to be useful - I do ride her nearly every day, and she is helping me
to regain my seat. She is completely honest over fences - I can ditch
my stirrups, tie up my reins, kinda sorta aim for the grid, and just
work on me.

She's a very, very good girl.

Nancy

betsey

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Nov 21, 2009, 7:55:04 PM11/21/09
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>
> I think maybe we're on the right track. :)
>
> Nancy


Oh, i hope so!! she's a gorgeous mare, and you have done so much with
her. I can't offer an advice, but I can offer continued good thoughts
for Lucy.....

Betsey

Dr Corinne B Leek

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Nov 21, 2009, 8:52:59 PM11/21/09
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On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:02:53 -0800 (PST), Nancy DeMarco
<nancy...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Lucy continues to be challenging. ......


>I think maybe we're on the right track. :)

Hallelujah!
May the track continue and be easy.

Corinne & Crazy Canuck Crew, sending the medicinal Fizz and COE
Healing Dancing.....

--
*** Conserve Energy: Laughter is easier than Anger!
*** cl...@ns.sympatico.ca

AKogler

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Nov 21, 2009, 10:58:59 PM11/21/09
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On Nov 21, 1:02 pm, Nancy DeMarco <nancyd....@gmail.com> wrote:
> Lucy continues to be challenging.  To recap, she has a mass on her
> colon and a tendency to be always gassy.  Her manure ranges from
> formed and soft, to small, hard balls that threaten impaction, on a
> daily basis.  She has neck threadworm, which makes her sore and stiff,
> and causes her to break out in hives and open sores on a regular
> basis.  She has resistant Lyme issues.  She is insulin resistant.  And
> she has chronic SI issues.
>

Dang!! And so glad that she is responding to your protocol. I hope she
continues to do well Nancy. Youre right, she is Quite a Girl.

What do you hear from Jinxie? hope that is working out.

Abby

Nancy DeMarco

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Nov 21, 2009, 11:14:56 PM11/21/09
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AKogler <akog...@san.rr.com> wrote:

> Dang!! And so glad that she is responding to your protocol. I hope she
> continues to do well Nancy. Youre right, she is Quite a Girl.

She's a sweetie. Next time you're out this way you'll have to meet
her. :)

> What do you hear from Jinxie? hope that is working out.

Jinksie is now "Windsor." He's at a H/J barn, and his owner
absolutely loves him. She can't get over how quiet and sweet he is.
She has really taken her time with him, has his flatwork well in
place, and has just started doing X-rails and little fences. The barn
kids adore him too and enjoy fussing over him. He seems quite
happy. :)

Nancy

Diane

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Nov 22, 2009, 10:02:00 AM11/22/09
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"Nancy DeMarco" <nancy...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f4cd1306-ebb2-4a52...@p36g2000vbn.googlegroups.com...

She sounds very special

Diane

AKogler

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Nov 22, 2009, 11:10:45 AM11/22/09
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On Nov 21, 8:14 pm, Nancy DeMarco <nancyd....@gmail.com> wrote:
> AKogler <akog...@san.rr.com> wrote:
> > Dang!! And so glad that she is responding to your protocol. I hope she
> > continues to do well Nancy. Youre right, she is Quite a Girl.
>
> She's a sweetie.  Next time you're out this way you'll have to meet
> her. :)
>

I kept thinking I would make it out there this fall. Life is crazy
busy; Dad moved, Hannah in SB with my brothers family, so many family
tasks. No trips >;-< My mum in laws 96 birthday is Feb..I am going to
try to come then. If not, then in the spring for sure.

> > What do you hear from Jinxie? hope that is working out.
>
> Jinksie is now "Windsor."  He's at a H/J barn, and his owner
> absolutely loves him.  She can't get over how quiet and sweet he is.
> She has really taken her time with him, has his flatwork well in
> place, and has just started doing X-rails and little fences.  The barn
> kids adore him too and enjoy fussing over him.  He seems quite
> happy. :)
>

Awwww. He is a great Windsor! Did she keep him barefoot? Such a nice
boy and such a cute mover.

Keep the entertainment coming >;-> Between the guineas and the pones,
you are keeping us all very amused!

Abby

Nancy DeMarco

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Nov 22, 2009, 3:57:51 PM11/22/09
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AKogler <akog...@san.rr.com> wrote:

> I kept thinking I would make it out there this fall. Life is crazy
> busy; Dad moved, Hannah in SB with my brothers family, so many family
> tasks. No trips >;-< My mum in laws 96 birthday is Feb..I am going to
> try to come then. If not, then in the spring for sure.

This is a tough hill in February, for someone who is out of
practice. ;) Spring is very purty.

> Awwww. He is a great Windsor! Did she keep him barefoot? Such a nice
> boy and such a cute mover.

He was shod by the person who had him on trial for three weeks. I
think his current owner may still have him shod in front.

> Keep the entertainment coming >;-> Between the guineas and the pones,
> you are keeping us all very amused!

They keep me laughing. :)

A neighbor came over this morning to try to canter her greenie in the
ring. He bucks with her on the trails, and she figured she'd be safer
with a fence. I warned her about the guineas, but she figured he'd be
fine since they have chickens. I thought I'd better get the ring
dragged to fluff up the sand for a better landing.

Well, all went pretty well until one of the hens laid an egg, and the
chicken cheering section started up. They all started cackling and
running and flapping. A few flew up onto the ring fence; a couple
flew up onto the tractor. The guineas came running and honking to see
what was going on. Louise bolted for the woods, and the greenie lost
his cookies.

My ring is not for the faint of heart. :)

Nancy

Dr Corinne B Leek

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Nov 22, 2009, 4:48:41 PM11/22/09
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On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:57:51 -0800 (PST), Nancy DeMarco
<nancy...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Well, all went pretty well until one of the hens laid an egg, and the
>chicken cheering section started up. They all started cackling and
>running and flapping. A few flew up onto the ring fence; a couple
>flew up onto the tractor. The guineas came running and honking to see
>what was going on. Louise bolted for the woods, and the greenie lost
>his cookies.

How come you aren't on "Funniest Home Videos"?
This is another episode for your book, too... ;-)

>My ring is not for the faint of heart. :)

You do realise that by now, whenever I see one of your posts, I
automatically make sure I'm on Spew Alert.
Your posts are not for the faint of heart, spew-wise! ROFL!

Corinne & Chuckling Crazy Canuck Crew...

Nancy DeMarco

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Nov 22, 2009, 5:28:55 PM11/22/09
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Dr Corinne B Leek <cl...@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:

> How come you aren't on "Funniest Home Videos"?
> This is another episode for your book, too...  ;-)

I had just got on Lucy when the commotion started. I figured a steady
horse would be a help, and she complied by cocking a hip and taking a
nap. Louise's anxiety canceled out Lucy's contribution of calm, but
at least no one fell off. My neighbor hastily departed.

Lu looks much better today, and her energy level is very good - I am
very encouraged. :) Her belly is definitely decreasing - girth is up
a hole. Still no new bumps or sores. Minimal scratching. I chopped
off six inches of ratty tail, and the remainder looks thick and
strong. Her tail was bugging her in a "Don't touch it!" kinda way,
and she's fine with it now. Her coat is glowing, and her dapples are
standing out. Her digital pulses are not bounding, for the first
time, I think, since she was two years old. I'm thinking this HEIRO
might just be the real deal. Soaking her hay doesn't hurt either.

We did lots of trot/canter/trot transitions, lots of turn on the
forehand to turn on the haunches to turn on the forehand, etc, down
the long sides, backing the short sides. This exercise has done
wonders for her SI issues. I worked on breathing. :) My neighbor
asked what the row of cavaletti was for, and she was impressed when
Lucy romped through them. (I have 4 cavaletti, set up as a triple
bounce. For Lucy, it's a big ho hum.)

We finished up with a hack down the road. Then I did w/t/c and
trotting poles with Louise. She was very good too, although she kept
a wary eye on the coop, and the run-in, and the chickens outside the
fence, and the road, and the guineas... :)

A great horsie day. :)

> You do realise that by now, whenever I see one of your posts, I
> automatically make sure I'm on Spew Alert.
> Your posts are not for the faint of heart, spew-wise!   ROFL!

Oh, good. :) Laughter *is* the best medicine. :)

Nancy

Cricket

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Nov 22, 2009, 6:06:20 PM11/22/09
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"Nancy DeMarco" <nancy...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1d91c1a8-65cb-4443...@k4g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...

>
> A neighbor came over this morning to try to canter her greenie in the
> ring. He bucks with her on the trails, and she figured she'd be safer
> with a fence. I warned her about the guineas, but she figured he'd be
> fine since they have chickens. I thought I'd better get the ring
> dragged to fluff up the sand for a better landing.
>
> Well, all went pretty well until one of the hens laid an egg, and the
> chicken cheering section started up. They all started cackling and
> running and flapping. A few flew up onto the ring fence; a couple
> flew up onto the tractor. The guineas came running and honking to see
> what was going on. Louise bolted for the woods, and the greenie lost
> his cookies.
>
> My ring is not for the faint of heart. :)
>
> Nancy

Sounds like riding at my house...

I like a person who thinks ahead (softening up the arena landing area -
that's service...;>)

Cricket

redbranch

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Nov 22, 2009, 6:25:15 PM11/22/09
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On Nov 22, 2:57 pm, Nancy DeMarco <nancyd....@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Well, all went pretty well until one of the hens laid an egg, and the
> chicken cheering section started up.  They all started cackling and
> running and flapping.  A few flew up onto the ring fence; a couple
> flew up onto the tractor.  The guineas came running and honking to see
> what was going on.  Louise bolted for the woods, and the greenie lost
> his cookies.
>
> My ring is not for the faint of heart. :)
>
> Nancy

LOL, Nancy....this brought back memories! I once rode with a trainer
who kept chickens in his indoor arena. They roosted in the rafters
and would dart out of the aisles into the arena. He said it made his
western horses bombproof and kept his saddleseat horses eared up. We
used to have chicken cutting contests on horseback, working them up
and down the wall with the western horses. Thanks for reminding me!

Sharon Potter
Red Branch

Nancy DeMarco

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Nov 22, 2009, 11:08:07 PM11/22/09
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"Cricket" <cricketc...@wmis.net> wrote:

> Sounds like riding at my house...

It does cut down on people wanting to use my ring. :)

> I like a person who thinks ahead (softening up the arena landing area -
> that's service...;>)

I try. :) I forgot to put up the chains in front of the run-in,
though - glad she wasn't beheaded.

Nancy

Nancy DeMarco

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Nov 22, 2009, 11:09:35 PM11/22/09
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redbranch <chocoda...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> LOL, Nancy....this brought back memories!  I once rode with a trainer
> who kept chickens in his indoor arena.  They roosted in the rafters
> and would dart out of the aisles into the arena.  He said it made his
> western horses bombproof and kept his saddleseat horses eared up.  We
> used to have chicken cutting contests on horseback, working them up
> and down the wall with the western horses.  Thanks for reminding me!

Oooohhhh! Guinea cutting could be a great addition to our fall
gymkhana. I love it. :)

Nancy

Cricket

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Nov 22, 2009, 11:40:52 PM11/22/09
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"Nancy DeMarco" <nancy...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:5d653555-110d-42d1...@j35g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
redbranch <chocoda...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Nancy

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

My sister and a friend and I took off after a fox once - *that* was
interesting.

Kinda got the point of why they use hounds...

Cricket

Cricket

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Nov 22, 2009, 11:41:26 PM11/22/09
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"Nancy DeMarco" <nancy...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:6cefb10d-6a55-4897...@k9g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...

Oh, god yes - that whole being beheaded thing is *such* a drag...

;>D

Cricket


Catja Pafort

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Nov 23, 2009, 7:12:21 AM11/23/09
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Cricket wrote:

Instant horsemanship: but will it sell?


Catja


--
writing blog @ http://beyond-elechan.livejournal.com

Cricket

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Nov 23, 2009, 9:38:19 AM11/23/09
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"Catja Pafort" <green_...@greenknight.org.uk.invalid> wrote in message
news:1j9mnw6.zth49iqnx2x6N%green_...@greenknight.org.uk.invalid...

Probably not more than once to a customer... ;>)

Cricket

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