No Place Like Home

I've been fighting a blue funk lately. I haven't felt like doing anything, much less writing. Job and money woes, with their accompanying uncertainty, have surreptitiously crept into my psyche. I find myself even more insular than normal, wanting to sleep a lot, or at least dull my senses. Mike says I'm depressed (ya think?) and I know he's concerned. I'm old enough not to get terribly self-absorbed about it; this, too, shall pass, one way or another. Meanwhile, I have to force myself to do anything and everything.

The Boyz had been at Heather's since we threw seed and fertilizer back in August. Since that time, we've had less than .6" rain, and most of the rye grass and oat seed ended up feeding the crows. What a bust. That in itself is depressing -- it cost a lot of money we could ill-afford to spend. We were going to bring them home two weeks ago, but decided to leave them until we got rain again. We finally got .3" (included in the above total) last Monday, so Mike and I picked them up Tuesday afternoon. It was cool and windy. Poco had that look in his eyes. I would not have been surprised if he had given me trouble getting in the trailer, but both horses loaded calmly the first time. The ride home was without incident. Say what you will about anthropomorphism, but they knew they were home and were downright joyful to be here.

The horses did not have free access to hay or grazing at Heather's. This isn't about the way Heather keeps her horses, rather Poco's inability to grasp the fact that he's a gelding. He can't be put out in the pasture with the herd, or he'll challenge all comers (and win), then round up the mares for himself. His behavior becomes insufferable, and he'll drive the stallions to distraction. So he and Jaz were kept in a big double pen and fed twice a day. Both horses lost a little weight, but that's not a bad thing. In addition to ample grazing, they now have a round bale, but I don't think they've touched it yet. They haven't lifted their heads since they've been home and have probably already gained back most of what they had lost. I haven't given them any grain or supplements. They need to be purge-wormed and put back on their daily wormer. I don't want to hit them with too much change at one time.

There's grass everywhere...except here.
And there's a round bale about a hundred feet away.
So why the fascination with the few nubs in the sand?

Wasn't interested in coming over until he saw Jaz getting attention.

Getting his silvery roan winter coat.
I'm surprised at how quickly they have gotten so fuzzy.

I haven't messed with them much since they've been home. I groomed them a little, checked their feet and such, but other than that, my visits have been strictly for pats and treats. Like Pony Girl's spotted pill, Poco has been playing the "catch me if you can" game. Then he gets all pouty when I turn my attention to Jaz and he realizes he's missing out on a treat or being groomed. Silly beast.

Mike and I have both been suffering from off-the-charts levels of ragweed (which could be part of the funk), and I'm thinking Poco may also be feeling the effects. His eyes have appeared very swollen, runny and irritated. Heather says it could also be a slight cold. I don't feel the need to call the vet at this point, but I'm keeping an eye on him. When I groomed them the other day, I held cold compresses on his eyes, which he seemed to enjoy, and it did help the swelling a little. When I checked him this morning, they looked fine. Jaz is not showing any signs or symptoms.

It's a cool, gray morning so far. I have off from work today and am supposed to go out and ride with Heather and Nita, unless it rains. I definitely won't take a horse; I'll ride one of theirs (probably Quaker). The blue funk has me hoping it will rain so I don't have to muster the energy and motivation to ride. I know it will be good for me to get out of myself and just do it.