Horses Doing Horse Things

 I wasn't going to update until I had an actual update. But, we're still about 3 weeks out from an in person vet visit so do you want to go down the how-my-horse-hurt-themselves-in-new-and-interesting-ways rabbit hole panic spiral with me?

Come on, we've got baby horses down here

The baby horses are fine (*knocks hard on wood*). It's Sophie (again). You'll recall Sophie ran headfirst into a tree earlier this summer. I saw it happen, obviously didn't feel great about it, and cancelled her summer lease/sale plans (for the second year in a row, if we're keeping track). 

Day of 

Fast forward and everything looked fine-ish for a few weeks, the cuts healed, everything felt normal to the touch.  Until it just wasn't anymore.  

So upsetting, status as of last week. That dent is real, not a shadow

And a big ridge across her face

Pictures were of course sent to the vet and the verdict is she's likely fractured her skull in a couple of places and the weird stuff I'm seeing is bone healing and remodeling. The apparent good news is it's cold and hard and there's been no swelling. In the vast majority of cases, it's not like if you or I fractured our skulls. If no serious complications have appeared by now, it's likely going to heal up all on it's own. It's going to look ugly, possibly forever, but she should be fine otherwise. The guilt is still real, though. 

Is still entirely herself. Not pictured is her shouting at me because she wants to go home for dinner now, thank you very much.

As things stand, we're going to xray her head and her poll the next time the vet is here and see what exactly happened. There's a few other general neck and body soreness things popping up that make sense from a chain reaction "horse hit their head hard enough to fracture bone" perspective, and we'll obviously treat that if needed. I'm of course worried about catastrophic findings and the gap between the thing happening and now, but the vet seems less so and thinks continued field time and conservative treatment is going to be the answer.

 For now, she's enjoying days out in the various fields with the boys and coming back to her paddock at night. Feel free to judge me, but I'm reluctant to sink more time or finances into riding pony goals with her and as long as she's content in the field, she's just going to stay on hiatus for the foreseeable. It's been a bit of a journey of bad luck and one thing after another for at least two years now, and I need to get off the train for a bit. I'm at a point in life where this needs to stay fun and if that means just holding steady and focusing on the cob boys then I think that's where we're at.

They are the friendliest

wildfire smoke making it easy to make excuses to not do much this week

She's not a supporting cast kind of girl, but don't worry, behind the scenes she still goes everywhere first, gets fed first, groomed when she wants to be, and we accommodate her (many) demands.

(Fingers crossed) The boys continue to be happy and healthy. They both are maturing well, and both seem to have pretty solid temperaments. I'm seeing a little spicy and a lot forward thinking, but mostly just sensible, uncomplicated, low maintenance and good natured. They also both came installed with the standard Welsh Cob sense of self preservation that I'm growing to appreciate more and more :)

Three horses long term means contemplating an extra stall. I don't think this is the way, but it was an idea.