Friday morning started normal. I was mostly done with chores and had come back in the house. My plan was to head to the garden and pick what veggies I could find in preparation for canning pickles.

But then I heard my horses outside making a ruckus and looked out the window to see my sis-in-law’s two horses at my back fence line! They had gone through their hot-wire fence and escaped. Thankfully, they usually head to my house to visit my horses.

I saw them at the gate so grabbed some hay and tossed it over so they’d stay put as my sister walked down the hill to catch them. But then I noticed the blood flowing out of her mare’s fetlock (lower leg joint). I quickly ran to grab halters and had her caught about the time my sis arrived and caught the gelding. (the two are mid-twenties, half brother and sister and have grown up together. The mare is mostly blind now and her brother is her eyes and security blanket).

I grabbed some bandaging products and she applied pressure. We did a couple layers of wrap and finally got the bleeding stopped. But the horse needed stitches for sure. We called a couple different vets but both wanted the horse to come to their clinic if at all possible.

My sis does not have a trailer and this mare had not been in one for over twenty years. Thankfully we have two; a smaller straight load two horse trailer and the “dog” trailer. The dog trailer I specifically bought in case we ever needed to evacuate dogs and animals because of a forest fire. It’s a big open three-horse stock trailer. Most horses are happier to walk into a big open box over a small, narrow one. We prayed we could get her loaded.

And of course, we had to take both horses because they would panic being separated. Thankfully the big guy loaded up first and the mare went quietly in after him. Whew!

We got to the clinic as quickly and safely as possible. The vet got the horse sedated okay, but trying to put a local anesthetic into the area that needed suturing took several attempts and more sedation. Plus the horse had severed an artery and it took a while for the poor doctor to locate it in the mess and get the bleeding stopped. Hours later Humpty Dumpty was back together again!Heavily sedated and snoozing away

By the time we got home it was evening, and the power was out! The forecast had predicted rain and wind and it hit just about the time I got back home and parked the truck. I quickly ran around to bring the dogs in (that hubby had just let out to potty and exercise) and get the horses fed. Oh, what a day! Thankfully, we do have a generator so we are able to power up and have some conveniences (although we don’t usually run it all day and night).

Thankfully hubby was home to look after puppies. They are doing so well! How can they keep getting cuter each day?!

This morning I was scheduled to take a chicken to church. What?! Yes, you read that correctly. My friend who teaches the little children’s class at church, was doing a farm theme this quarter and asked if I could bring animals to share. Last week the rabbit went. This week I took a chicken.

Fingers crossed that tomorrow is a “normal” day so I can get my pickles done and some six-week old pictures of our Olympic crew!