Well it has been a while since I have posted.  I have been keeping busy doing chores and riding my mules.  I had Red out the other day and we did OK until he spooked and stumbled and fell, sending me rolling out of the way.  We need to work on leg cues and maybe things will work themselfs out.  He has never been real good at leg cues, cut that has to change.  He shy's away from things that he can see in his right eye, and doesn't see things on the left since he doesn't have a left eye.  Other than that I can't wait until spring gets here or at least warmer weather.

Lazy J

Well i got red out the other day and rode him for the first time since he lost his eye.  He did really good and we had no problems.  We rode for about a mile and he seemed to be more responsive than he was before.  He responded with a light touch both of rein and leg.  I had him walk over some downed logs and told him watch when we went over them.  He tripped twice and then when I said watch his nose went down and he was looking for the obsticle.  He seemed happy to be going, and he responded to the training of verbal cues for left and right.  Instead of his ears moving as usual, his blind side ear was turned back like he was listening for me to tell him something.  He seems to be using his ears to compensate for the loss of sight.  He has more head movement than before, but that is to be expected.  His is trying to see what is going on.  As far as his drinking his is drinking better now that he knows that there is two tanks of water and he doesn't have to fight for a drink of water.  He is also now standing up for himself when it comes to the other horses or mules.  He must be feeling better.  hope all your dreams and wishes come true for the new year.  Well hello to all the new people and let me know if there is anything you might want to know about mules.

Lazy J

Well now that the holidays are over now things can get back to normal.  Red's stitches have been out for about three weeks now and the skin has sunken in.  From a distance he looks just fine but up close he is differant, but I LOVE him.  He gets the rest of the winter off to adjust to his new sight.  I will be starting my colt under saddle this summer and hope all goes well.  Now is having a rescued horse a thing that I should be into.  Here is the situation.  I have been offered a 4 yr old blanket appaloosa that is broke to ride and is very timid.  She need to gain weight.  The owner needs to thin down her rescues and wants me to take this horse.  Has anyone delt with a rescue and is it a hard thing to do.  Here is a picture of Red now.

 Jon  AKA Lazy J

Good news Red's eye is healing really good.  Despite the cold weather all things are going well, after cleaning up the drainage, we apply vasoline to help keep drainage and to help with chafing of new skin.  He at this time is dealing really well at this time.  My father in law rode him bareback for a short time with just a leadrope and halter.  He turned to the blind side and steped over logs without any problems.  Sounds like he will not have any trouble riding after all is healed.  One more week for the sutures and then a checkup by the vet.  The only way you would know that anything was wrong with him is to watch him drink,  his depth perception is off, he aproaches the tank two or three times before drinking.  He gets along well with the other animals and they kink of look out for him, except the old mare, what a grouch.  Sounds like she is big dog now, red and stormy have been batteling for domanance off and on for a while.  More to come later.  MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and all you equine friends.

Lazy J

Well on Monday 12-3-07 Red had his eye removed.  He is doing quite well.  The vet said that they were able to get all the infection out because the lining of the eye socket kept it from spreading.  We have him on Bute 2gm every day for five days.  I have to go out and clean the dried blood off the sutures every day so it can drain.  He doesn't care much for this but it has to be done.  No antibiotics at this time as long as he is acting right and eating and drinking.  Which he is doing very well at.  The sutures have to stay in for 10-14 days and then can come out.  The vet was impressed that he doesn't favor that side like others have and that he is very strong willed and very well behaved.  This makes me feel good.  Here is a picture of the eye the day after surgery.  The dark spots is dried blood that I have to remove daily.  By for now more to come later.

Lazy J