Cativa Cativa Cativa & Ferrary Enzo

[Sarah]

Aw poor Enzo! I hope he's feeling better soon Do they know what it is, exactly?

[happilyeverafter]

Sandra didnt tell me exactly what the diagnosis was, but that he probably got it from drinking from a puddle in the field...something like that.

He should be better soon!!!

[happilyeverafter]

Another email from Christina...





Hi Gillian

Good to hear from you, but very sorry to learn about Beauty's decline. How
old is she? The weight and muscle loss doesn't sound good, and it's even
more troubling when you don't know what's wrong. Makes it difficult to come
to any decision about what to do for her best interests and well being. Is
she happy to se you? Happy at all? I don't think Billy was still at
Applehill when you came, was he? As he got older he was asthmatic and used a
puffer. Sandra would cover one nostril and puff the other - he was very good
about it because I think he knew it helped. Eventually she retired him to a
large acreage where he would be outdoors with one other horse, and used on
weekends for some light trail riding only. Beauty sounds as if she has other
complicating issues beyond the breathing problems.

News from here is not so good - but not dire either. On Thursday Enzo
suddenly became very ill. (Mark was joking that he was missing you.) High
fever, inflamed joints, lethargic - just plain sicker than a dog. Sandra was
very, very upset because of what happened with Queenie, Enzo's mother. The
vet told her to give him a shot of something - sorry, don't know what -
which helped to start bringing the fever down. He came right away and has
diagnosed some sort of bacterial enteritis, or, less likely, Potomac, which
I gather is some sort of organism found in stagnant water. They think Enzo
may have eaten grass growing in a puddle, or have taken a drink from a
puddle rather that walk to the clean water in the trough. They gave him IV
right away and he's on three medications - and yogurt! (to reestablish the
good bacteria in the gut that the antibiotic wipes out, same as with
people). The fever was normal within 24 hours but Enzo is still feeling
rotten and very sorry for himself. He was out for a couple of hours
yesterday to get some sunshine, but walks as if on eggshells, not limping,
but very slowly and carefully. He's getting better, but slowly. They think
it will take five days or so longer before he's back to his usual self. He
seems to go up and down, sometimes looking quite alert and interested in
life again. Poor Enzo. Cativa meanwhile let it be known that she was getting
very bored with being inside to keep Enzo company, so yesterday John and
Balzano stayed in with him. Cativa didn't mind at all when Enzo was taken in
without her; I think she's tired of him for the moment. What a diva!

Other News: the people coming to look at the geldings left without wanting
even to ride any of them. Sandra is disappointed, of course, but this seems
to be the way it goes. She too considers horses and says "no", but she
doesn't see it that way. Solar has been given the O.K. for light walk-trot
work, with the knowledge that his knee is going to give out sooner or later.
Alissa has told Penny she will no longer lease him. She likes him, but if
he's feeling good he's too much horse for her; if she can't ride him unless
he's calm because he's hurting - well, enough said. So I guess Penny is
going to try to retire him. She can't ride him either because of her bad
back, full time job and two demanding children; she certainly couldn't do
what she wants with him - jump. Everybody else is O.K. John is awesome.
Sandra rode him for me and figured out, and showed me, how to gently keep
his head low - very low for now - and his back round. Everybody is happy
about it! He's so much easier for me to ride - I don't get so out of breath,
sore, disorganized - he's starting to feel like a "real" horse. We may
canter this week.

Hope your summer is going well and that Beauty may be able to get better as
soon as possible.

Christina

[happilyeverafter]

Unforunately things are not well in Ottawa....





Hi Gillian

Well, it's not really good news from here, at least not yet. Enzo continues
to be one sick and sorry horse. It's been two weeks and although he seems a
little better some days, or parts of some days, he's not doing well. Sandra
keeps saying he's better, trying to convince herself, but I'm not seeing it.
He's eating and drinking and manure almost normal, but they can't get his
fever down without medication. With the medication it's around 100-101 which
isn't too bad - short term, but this is going on way too long. One of the
many injections (he hates them) they think must have damaged a nerve so that
he moves his head in an odd jerky fashion and has trouble walking. His front
end looks very weak. The vet is coming again tomorrow ( he's been there so
many times!) so we'll hope there's some further help for Enzo. The vet will
also be looking at John who for the first time has become slightly lame;
Sandra thinks stifle, which is not good, but not dire either. So no, I
haven't cantered him or even ridden for a while.

On the up side, on Thursday Sandra and I are going to look at a little -
very little - red roan QH as a trade for Gazella. Gazella is a far better
horse - or will be - but this little guy is doing w-t-c, jumps and goes
round. He would be much more useful in the school, and Sandra thinks she may
have someone to lease him even if just for the summer. He's 6 or 7. I think
he looks very attractive, but I'm partial to smaller horses. I really hope
this works out well for her; Sandra is pretty worried about Enzo although
she tries not to show it. Something positive happening would be very
welcome.

Of course we're wondering about Beauty, hoping she's doing better, and about
your friend's horse too. Hope the news is good from your end!

What a start to the summer! I'll let you know tomorrow what the vet has to
say. Cativa is FINE, though fed up with poor Enzo being such a wash out. She
keeps trying to stir him up, and he just can't respond to her. When she goes
out for her time off (Jaye or John stays in with Enzo) she's feeling so
bolshie that she challenges Collena! That's chutzpah! When I brushed her the
other day I asked for her foot and with much trepidation she gave both
front. (Not at the same time, ha-ha:)) Then settled down and was fine with
me holding her hoof. Good Girl. Good job, you!

Talk to you tomorrow.

Christina

[Sarah]

Oh Enzo! Hopefully the vet knows what it is ... and it isn't too bad.

[Sarah and Rudy]

Oh no! Poor Enzo!!I hope he gets better VERY soon!

[happilyeverafter]

Hi Gillian

Enzo does seem to be doing better. I was wrong. He has been off all meds
since Sunday. His temperature is still above normal but not outrageously
high. Whatever the infection is, he's still fighting it but seems to be
winning. I had hoped to be there today for the vet's visit, but he was later
than anticipated and I had to leave. I'll know more tonight. We're just on
our way to Sandra's for dinner and to watch the hockey game on their huge
screen. Sandra makes no excuses for knowing nothing about the arts; I know
even less about hockey. We'll have fun anyway.

Let you know more tomorrow.
Christina

[Joan]

aww,sad to hear about Enzo but i am happy that he is starting to do better,it's harder on the little guys!Glad to hear tho that everything is beeing done and that Cativa is tryin to cheer him up!!she's a cutie!!
send my wishes to them and all of their horses!

[Sarah]

It's good to hear that he's doing better - you must be relieved!

[nat]

that's really good to hear!!

[Elsabé]

I wish i had a horse..... i could have my own training log ;D

Nice to hear that he's better!!!

[happilyeverafter]

Hi again

Sandra says Enzo seems better today; he's outside in the wood pen with
Cativa, and seems happy to be out. (A few days ago all he wanted was to go
back to his stall.) The issue now is the odd swinging of the head from side
to side as he haltingly walks. It is much more pronounced and on both sides
now. The vet has checked him thoroughly again, turning him, walking him, and
says now that this strange movement is not because of a pinched nerve. It is
so bizarre looking that it freaked John right out when John was keeping Enzo
company in the wood pen. "Why is he DOING that!?!" The vet doesn't know
what's causing this; possibly part of whatever infection he's fighting. Enzo
looks very weak, has lost a lot of condition, but he is eating "like a horse
" and yesterday looked brighter than I'd seen in a while, wanting to play
with things with his mouth. Sandra has been getting him special feed and he
gets as much as he can eat. Carrots, too. Any amount. Cativa thinks she's
hit the jackpot, because of course she gets something every time he does; it
keeps her happier about being in with him..

As for John . . . Have you seen John and Balzano playing? The vet figures
John reared and Balzano knocked him over backwards. OUCH! John has pulled
BOTH hamstrings. OUCH again. So he is to have hot soaks (that's going to be
interesting) and then be ridden right after to help him stretch out. We may
lunge or free lunge canter him, but canter with rider is on indefinite hold.

We went to see the red roan this morning. No go. Way, way, way too green.
And flaky. Definitely "not as advertised" and not for us. No way I'd get on
after watching him go for 60 seconds! The young girl did not ride him well;
she didn't ask for anything, he was all over the place. It was obviously all
she could do to hold him. Sandra did ride him for a very few minutes. When
she asked for round in the trot and he bolted, she just got off and handed
back the reins. She was peeved at the waste of a morning, but the drive up
the valley was beautiful.

So I think Enzo will be off the rest of the summer getting well and strong
again till you come back. Sandra says she hopes we'll keep Cativa going so
as not to lose the good start she's had.

Will let you know what transpires next. Get well. Summer colds are a pain!
Christina

[happilyeverafter]

Another email from Christina



Hi Gillian

Yes, I'm plugged in again. A bit overwhelmed with the capabilities of
this new Mac, but impressed and enthusiastic about figuring out some
of the things I can do. For a confirmed old-fogey non-techy, I can't
believe how much I missed the computer. This new flat big screen is
amazing. You can now send me all the Applehill pics - if you want
to, if you have time. Even the dark arena ones are good on this
screen. And of course can be modified in photo-shop.

I just got the pictures from Sandra of the newbies out in the herd,
but I'm having trouble figuring out who's who. Yes, Enzo and Cativa
are back out in the melée now too; Cativa is being VERY protective of
Enzo, putting herself between him and any flack coming his way. Sweet
of her. Because he's vulnerable still, and doesn't look quite kosher
(still an odd weave to the head when he walks, but trot and canter
seem excellent!) Bella in particular was giving him a hard time when
they first went out. Odd. Balzano, of course, too. Enzo does better
every day, though, and is looking about 100% better than he was a
week or so ago. He'll soon be holding his own.

Glad to hear Beauty is doing better and that you two are enjoying
each other's company to the fullest. Hope the rest of your summer is
going well too. You would be very lucky to have lessons on a prix St.
G. horse! They can teach you so much when they already know what
you're looking for from them.

As for John, I think the whole thing was a bit of a hoax. I did the
hot compresses only once (we were out of hot water the following day,
and after that it was obvious he didn't require further ministrations
of that sort). We didn't even finish the full course of Robaxin -
muscle relaxant, I think. John is just fine. Covered stem to stern
with little bald, scabby patches from playing with his friends, but
that's the way John always has been. I think it won't be long before
some of the fillies are higher than he is in the herd. Oh well . . .
I've been off for a week or so with a nasty cold/chest infection of
some sort - better now. Hope yours is too! Getting going again now;
I'm sure the weather isn't helping - frost to 33 and back again in
the course of a few days. Weird!

Bill wants back on the new machine, so I'd better keep this short.
Talk to you again soon,
Christina







I miss my kids so much (brokenhearttt)

[horsecrazy]

thats so good that enzo is better!

[happilyeverafter]

Well, not too much to update here, just that I got a beautiful birthday card from Christina today that said Cativa and Enzo were well and send their 'hellos'