updates Fiona at UGA

Fiona's Opthamologist is a terrific guy who calls me "Mom" when he talks about Fiona...as in "Mom, we're doing this or that." I love him! 

Updates are very positive although they had a scare where she quit sweating and respiratory rate went to 60.  This was after shavings were tossed around her (and me) and I noticed I was having trouble breathing in the shaving dust.  They told me that wasn't it (I'm not convinced).  I was afraid for her...but she's improved now.  They put two fans on her and She's breathing around 40 bpm now.

They are to call tomorrow to let me know if I can go pick her up after 12noon.  I'm getting the truck ready first thing in the AM so I can go pronto! 

Wish us luck. Albert (hubby) is taking day off to help bless his little heart. 

I'll get him to drive down there while I keep leg elevated (I hurt my knee) but I'll drive my girl home.   :)

Fingers and toes crossed for her to be home tomorrow!  We'll have to treat her every 6 hours for weeks.   No worries since I do this at work, too.  Can't wait to have my pretty girl back home. 

Keep her in your prayers and me, too. 

Fiona Emergeny Trip to UGA (warning ugly picture)

my pirate girl. 

arriving at UGA

On Saturday I noticed that Fiona had a horrible looking eye, called the vet.  No one called me back.  I was freaking, gave her some antibiotic ointment.  FINALLY got someone on the phone on Sunday, he says he is out of town, and a vet is coming on Monday to see patients.  Sheesh!  I'm ticked.

OK so I work all night, get the vet there first thing, and she says ya gotta go to Univ. of GA vet school. 
I'm still mad cause someone should have looked at her eye on SATURDAY.  Not her fault, so I don't take it out on her.

Got Fiona loaded in about 15-20 mins.  This is a record.  She is TERRIFIED of the trailer and I just kept saying to myself, "this is not about the trailer, this is about me as the trusted leader."  She snorted a few times, I let her go on and off a few times, and then we closed the doors in stages, open closed, open closed, repeat a few more times, I closed them and took off.  Stopped at McDonald's to get a bite and checked on her--she was sweat soaked-- offered her water (she would not take any) and then we were off for good.  I threw a little water on her to cool her at least.  Drove a little more than 1.5 hours to UGA (I'm lucky I'm that close) and they admitted us.

I asked for a few moments to "settle her."  I had her walk sideways and backwards, and then we went to the barn. 

First time in the barn she was a little RB calling and head was up but not on the ceiling, I was happy with her.  She immediately began calming. 

Hopped right up on the obstacle (I mean scale).  They were impressed. 

Took her right away to an exam room and they poked and prodded her, she behaved gloriously taking it all in stride.  I was about to burst with pride.  I told everyone who would listen "this is a Parelli horse.  check it out!  Parelli.com."  yes, I'm a nerd.

Head was occasionally up, but I asked her to put it down and she calmed.  Re-read the blog title...she was a STAR! 

They sedated her (she did VERY well with the needle--one guy, no histronics) twice--did well both times.  Again, about to pop with pride.  She was SO BRAVE.  And SO Well behaved!  Yes! 

They put a catheter in her eye under her eyelid and that was a tiny bit hard to watch cause a student did it (Main Doc supervised very well).   Fiona tolerated it very well (drunk) and when she was coming around they were still sutering but she took it amazingly well. 

I brought treats and when she could have them she got some!  Also used Lavendar aromatherapy during the procedure and she eagerly sniffed it.  I left it with them for her.

coming home without her was HARD.

Relationship and Draw building

Spontaneous session today.
 Dad came over and picked up a broken lawn mower, and some of our dogs like to bite the guests' tires, so carrot stick in hand I prepared to defend Dad's tires. 

Exy watched the proceedings so I thought let's play!

Asking her to come to me, very successful and she actually stopped outside my space, which is huge.  (she's a space hog=dominant).  Something I've been working on, making the horses staying out of my space.

I rewarded her for that with some scratches.

We went to the two salt holders and did at Liberty figure of 8 around the holders with salt.  At first I was able to get her to go in a circle one way, but when I drove zone 1 it was too much so she left (although calmly) so I went to her, got her attention, smiled and backed up really fast inviting her.  SHE CAME!  I was so happy I scratched her some more.  Lip action (must bring camera for that, she's hilarious) so I was successful with my reward.

Trying to keep my energy WAY down as I'm LOUD with body and energy sometimes, and she's very sensitive and I can throw her into RB behaviour with too much asking/demanding. 

So that was my focus.  Be gentle, be calm be clear.  Take breaks.  Not straight line.  Think laterally...(hard for me). 

Moved front end and hind end around with phase 1 and then had to touch her hair a ltitle, so that was good.  I'm proud of her, she's really trying to get it and do as I ask.
Pause for dwell...licked, chewed.  Waited til she looked at me and then we moved on.

There was a grazing incident and I had to stalk hineys...everyone gave me their face pronto!  I was just going after Exy's butt but everyone else was in on it, too, and turned and faced.  Good herd.  I greeted Boss and let him touch me. 

We did liberty put your nose on something after that and she got it right away...good girl. Nose on the ball, nose on fence.  She stuck with me pretty good but then wanted to get behind me.  Got a little frightened when I applied pressure in zone 4/5 way out from her body come up here with me.  Tried to before this do friendly on whithers and would have driven from there but couldn't reach there she was so far back.   She walked away and started grazing (I'm boring?) so I made noise, she looked at me, and then we started again.  Was coming to pop her under her tummy or something to get her attention (yes, I'm the leader, sister) but she gave me it before I got there so I didn't have to go there. 

A couple of times she lagged so I ran backwards and she came to me with a lovely pert expression. 

I quit and came in, cooked a lovely pesto with basil from the garden and am having a glass of wine.

:)