Hubby is taking me out for Valentine’s tonight (Sat) so I don’t have much time buuuuuuttt…
She’s back!
Dr. Errico wanted me to come get her today so I hauled over there after work, readied all of her overnight goods and put them in the trailer, signed MT out (carefully reading all the instructions) and then… fought with her for 30 minutes. Once again MT refused to load.
I cannot really blame her as I’m sure riding in a trailer hurts her foot… But we are going to have to see if this loading thing persists after her foot is more healed…
Anyway, finally, one of the vets there who I had never met but was trying to help, came over and asked if he could give her a ‘little sedative’.
Sure!
So, he did and she got in.
I guess it took the edge off.
She was back home but she refused to look at me or engage in any way. She was angry about the trailer ride…
Once home, she was sweaty and upset from the ride. I felt badly for her but she couldn’t spend the rest of her life at the hospital. She had to endure the ride…
MT wouldn’t look at me. She absolutely refused to make any eye contact.
I let her ride the Theraplate (Thank you, Chip) which she loves… I gave her all of her favorite (allowable) foods … I put her in her favorite coat.
Nope. Nothing. I was on her Enemy List.
Mama Tess was going to make me pay for whatever was upsetting her.
That was fine. I’m fairly certain her pain is worse than mine… ;)
Tomorrow will be the first day of our new relationship: HEALING TESS, THE UPSWING.
I’m thinking we have finally turned the corner!
(Crossing arms and fingers…)
I even gave her all of her favorite foods… I got down right to her eye level and she still refused to engage. Ah well, tomorrow is another day and I think we are starting a new phase… the UPSWING of her healing.
Bella is our February Bucket Fund Foal! Click image to read her story!
Marge: Good thought… And, I recommend that to everyone myself.
And, I pondered that quite a bit…wondering if I had changed my trailer driving acumen. If this hadn’t been the same (nice) trailer that I’ve used with her for 20 years (with annual checks and brand new tires), I would agree. My first thought was to trade mine in and purchase a new stock trailer just for her… But, then I got my wits and realized that all the other horses ride fine – and Tess wouldn’t load into ANY trailer we presented. So, although your idea is sound, I think Tess’ issue was her foot during a trailer ride, not the trailer. (But, I still might get a stock trailer some day soon!)
There is a reason why Tess does not want to load….she is trying to tell you something is not right and you are not listening.
My suggestion is to have hubby drive the truck and you ride in the trailer either with Tess or without and listen for what it is that is disturbing her. You just might be surprised!!
The way you drive a truck and trailer can also cause issues, to fast into the corners, applying the brakes to fast etc.