Gatsby's guide to getting treats and play time

Hello old sports,

I know. I'm slacking off on the blog posts again, aren't I. It's been a bit of a hectic time since my surgery. Spode had her exams so left me again (no treats for two days. Sucked), and that also meant no computer time for me. But the good news is, Spode is back and finished school for the summer. And whoa! She graduated! As a literary horse, I'm very proud. Disappointed that she only read The Great Gatsby once though. I should write a letter to the department and tell them to put it on more syllabi...

Anyway, the other reason I've not been posting is because I'm sick again. Really sick. My uveitis is back, and this time I can't see out of my left eye. It's never been this bad before, and it frightens me. I feel anxious a lot of the time and I'm having difficulty standing still. And as the nice vet at Caledon explained, my right eye was the one with damage. He said the damage is not so bad--he said I wouldn't be able to read but I'm a horse so I don't need to read small print anyway (everyone laughed when the vet said that. Little do they know, reading is my favourite pastime... Get me some glasses! Or a visit to Dr. T.J. Eckleburg!). So life is not so great right now. I hope my vision returns in that eye but no one knows yet. I'm getting more medication now than I ever thought possible. Eight eye meds a day, plus medication in my food. And I'm stuck inside or in a teeny tiny pen outside when the weather cooperates.

So, how does one make this sad situation work to your advantage? First, use the pity card. I've been getting loads of treats since I'm sick.  Perhaps in part because Spode feels bad she couldn't come and see me during exams. The pity card usually works, but add guilt to the mix and Spode becomes an automatic treat dispenser.

Next, behave for the things that she doesn't expect you to behave for. That also earns you more treats. Example? I let people do whatever they want to my eyes. 8 times a day someone shoves their finger in my eye and I don't do anything. I let Spode do it without a halter, even. I get tons of treats for my good behaviour!

I did not behave when she tried to take me for a walk today though, and she wasn't expecting that. You can hardly blame me though. I've been trapped inside for 2 whole weeks and never even been able to trot! Combine my energy with the fact that I can't see out of one eye, and you've got one hyper horse. I did not hold back on expressing this fact to Spode as she held the rope. She said it was like holding the string of a kite as I leapt into the air repeatedly. Airs above the ground extraordinaire! She was not happy and actually rather frightened. But she scared me, too. I was having so much fun, I kind of forgot she was there... She put her hand on me and I completely flipped my lid. Oops, my bad. I didn't intend to go quite that far in scaring Spode into letting me loose. But it didn't work!! She carefully led me back inside and instead told me I'd probably not be able to go for a walk again unless she sedated me first--at least until I had some more time to adjust to my changing vision. What!? Lucky for me, just as she was telling me this the vet called to discuss my meds. While on the phone, Spode explained how I was behaving and asked if I was allowed to run on my own to try and keep everyone safe. It was decided that the risk of me hitting my head on the wall was not as high as the risk of me hitting Spode's head with a hoof. Yes! I win! But it was really a win for Spode too, as she gets a kick out of watching me kick up my heels.  I guess my ploy worked after all!

And that, old sports, is how you get treats and exercise from your human. I'm such a smarty pants.

And now for the pictures of the party!

First, a nice flying trot--a special treat for Spode's dressage heart..

Then a little running....

And then I got a little faster...

And then I got a little higher.... 

And a little higher still....

WEEEE!

Try and ride that, Spode!

"I believe I can fly" (Yeah, this is what I did while Spode was holding the rope. See? A horse kite)

And I can go even higher!

That felt AWESOME. I'm afraid I did hit the wall just a few times, but I didn't do too badly. I hit it gently, and my eye mask protected me. I also tripped over a pylon twice, but other than that I was okay. I was usually good at judging the distance from the wall with my other eye. Can't wait to do it again tomorrow! Even a half blind horse has got to have some fun. I showed Spode that she had done well by standing still when we came back in the barn and once again letting her poke my eye with her finger. You're welcome, kid. 

As for my eye, there's still no change in my vision. It hurts less though. The vet made her next appointment today for Friday afternoon and she's bringing someone else with her so that even more people can poke around at my eye. Oh joy. 

Until later, old sports. 

In the meantime, I'm going to keep playing!

Jay.

P.S. Spode tells me that you've all been leaving kind messages for my health with her. Thank you all!  Much love.  

Gatsby's Grand Adventure

Ahhhh. I now know the meaning of the expression "Home Sweet Home".  Old sports, my week has been just crazy!  It started on Sunday.  Spode didn't come until after dinner, and she brought her mum with her. They took me outside in a thunder storm to clean me off and shampoo my legs. Seriously? I was enjoying my dinner!! What gives? Yes, I have mud splattered up to my knees and hocks, but who cares? (Apparently Spode does...).

Spode spent a long time grooming me even though I tried to tell her that I was bound to get covered in poop over night (I kept that promise, too). She left around 8, which was a good thing because I was super tired by that point.

The next morning, Spode showed up at the crack of dawn and woke me up. I was lying down and everything. She totally ruined my snooze time! She cleaned me up (except the poop stains stuck!) and wrapped me up in a helmet, bell boots, and shipping boots. So embarrassing.

Why do we have to wake up so early?

And now you're just standing around waiting! Let's get this show on the road!

After waiting for what seemed like ages (I was about ready to lie down again. I just couldn't stop yawning!) the trailer showed up. I got some sweet wheels! Maybe not quite as nice as Fitzgerald's Gatsby's Rolls Royce, but pretty darn close.

From out of nowhere, Spode brought out a bucket of grain and unlatched my stall. I followed her like a puppy dog and hardly noticed that I'd just gotten on a ramp. After I ate the grain I was a little nervous, but the trailer was moving then and I settled in for the drive. I had a little routine in there. I loved looking out the window, so I would stare out of the side window and then back up three steps so that I could turn my head and see out the back window. There's a whole world outside of Fox Hollow! And cars drive really fast! I wish I had a radio...

Um, just what did I walk myself into??

On the way to pick up a buddy for the ride down to Caledon, I stopped at the infamous McDonalds. Yeah. Me. See? I have proof:

These shoes look about my size, so I just had to donate!

I didn't partake in any greasy food though. I was enjoying my hay and looking out the window at all the people walking by.

Hello, old Sports! Come and join my party, won't you?

After that stop, we arrived at another farm to pick up a friend. He was a pretty grey, and we had a nose to nose chat over the partition before we started moving. Our conversation down to Toronto? It started out like this:

"Look here, old sport. What's your opinion of me anyhow?"
-silence-
"I’ll tell you God’s truth. I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West — all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all my ancestors have been educated there for many years. It is a family tradition."
-snorting, he looked at me sideways-
"After that I lived like a young rajah in all the capitals of Europe — Paris, Venice, Rome — collecting jewels, chiefly rubies, hunting big game, painting a little, things for myself only, and trying to forget something very sad that had happened to me long ago."
"Then came the war, old sport. I was promoted to be a major, and every Allied government gave me a decoration — even Montenegro, little Montenegro down on the Adriatic Sea!"

But alas, unlike Fitzgerald's Gatsby I was not carrying my medal from little Montenegro, so I was unable to produce it at whim for my new friend. That was pretty much the end of our conversation and we travelled the rest of the way to Toronto in silence. How I longed for a friend like Nick Carraway...

It was a very long trip, I'll tell you that. But Toronto seems like an interesting place from my vantage point on the 401. My Spode is coming here in the fall, so I was glad to see what it's like. I'll leave her to it. 

Wow! Here we are about to enter the big city! Can I see the CN tower from here? What about UofT? I gotta check out where my mama is going!!

Once we arrived at the hospital, I got off the trailer like a gentleman (with nary a word to my "friend") and entered the doors of the hospital, or horspital as the sign read.

Oh hey, that's me!

The hospital smelled really clean. I walked into a huge stall that was all sparkling white walls with fluffy white shavings.  A very nice horsey hotel. I got a bucket of water asap and then a rest while I waited for my turn to see the doctor. Spode had to leave me behind, but I was okay adjusting to my surroundings by myself. 

After a while, Spode returned and led me into a green room to see the special vet. I liked the vet a lot. He was very kind to me and kind to my Spode. Of course I wasn't able to keep on top of their conversation for very long because a second vet sedated me and then Spode had to hold my head up. 

Nice to meet ya, Dr. Brooks!

The vet shone some lights in my eyes and looked at me with special glasses. He called me a perfect candidate for surgery, which pleased my Spode but also made us both nervous.  She led me back to my stall and said good bye and good luck. And then it was just me...

I woke up on Tuesday morning and was immediately led into a padded room. They sedated me, and that's all I remember.  I woke up in the same padded room, but with very sore eyes. Ow. Ow. Once I was steady on my feet again, they led me back to my stall and gave me more painkillers.  Something like this happened, I know, because my pasterns were sore and there was a cut on one of my legs! And they shaved off my gorgeous eye lashes!! Oh no!

(photo from Caledon Equine Hospital)

(Yeah, it's gross. Try being a horse, why don't you?) Photo from google, so at least it's not my eye!

Later in the day, Spode came to visit me. I was so happy to see her. She told me it was snowing outside and all the grass was covered, so I might as well be happy to be in. Hmm, I wasn't convinced. My eyes hurt and I felt really tired. I lay down a lot to sleep.

Don't worry, Spode. I'm okay. 

I only got one flake of hay every 4 hours, so boy was I happy for this hay!

Can I go home now, mum? 

Spode didn't get to stay very long because the vets were busy with other patients, but I got my quick brush and hugs and then they left me to recover. 

The next day, Spode came in the morning to say hello. I was feeling a lot better by then and was starting to get back my usual character. Spode was allowed to give me a single treat, and it was delicious! If only I had savoured it...

Spode didn't get to spend much time with me, but the hospital staff loved me. They groomed me and cleaned out my stall all the time. It was like being in a 5 star hotel! Spode said they were all gushing over me and were very impressed that I didn't act like a typical 2 year old. I'm far too mature for that! 

I was supposed to get on the trailer early this morning. The trailer arrived, but I didn't get on. Suddenly the hospital staff were rushing outside to the trailer and I heard a commotion. The trailer was carrying another horse to keep me company on my journey home, but it had an accident and was very frightened. Spode said that it was upside down, over the chest bar, and over the divider before the vet could sedate it and get it home safely. They weren't about to put me on a trailer with a crazy horse, even if it was sedated, because they didn't want to risk me getting hurt when the sedation wore off. I was okay waiting my turn. It gave me more time for the hospital staff to fawn over me. A few more hours at the horse hotel! 

I didn't get home until around 6 pm. Boy was I glad to see Fox Hollow out the window.

I don't know which one of us was more excited to be back!

Here I come!

HOME!!!

Alas, I was not allowed out with my buddies.  It was straight into a stall for me. Oh well, there was food in there and my buddy Charlie was beside me.

Sure, the walls aren't white and the bed isn't all fluffy, but coming home to your own bed is AWESOME!

All in all, it was quite an adventure for this young horse. Wow. I didn't expect to be going to Toronto in my life time. 

Now I have a lot of medication to get through over the next couple of weeks, but then I hope that will be it for me. It'll be a big disappointment if it doesn't work. We'll know more in a month! 

Until later, old sports.  It's good to be back!

Jay. 

Feel the Tide Turning....

When you live the life of a horse, some things are thrust upon you.  My name and allll the literary references surrounding, it for instance.  But my Spode and I are content with that arrangement because she has good taste (disclaimer: I am a horse and may not actually know what good taste is. Except apples. They have a good taste. Carrots? Meh, not really.)
Anyway, all this is to say that I'm a Mumford and Sons fan. Surprise, surprise. There's one song I really like at the moment.  It goes:

"But you and I now, we can be all right. Just hold on to what we know is true. You and I now, though it's cold inside, feel the tide turning." 

Spode's been humming it at the barn and it's stuck in my head. I haven't been blogging much lately because so much has been happening. My good friend Striker went blind from the same disease I have. He got it a lot worse than I did, and he passed away last week. I am very sad. While he was in the barn getting treated I said hello to him twice a day with a nose through the stall bars. Senator and I miss him a lot, and I've been hanging out by myself lately.  It's pretty strange not having him around. Spode has been sad too but we're both getting back on our feet humming our tune. 

Striker and I had a few good laughs fooling Spode, that's for sure!

And he was a pretty good teacher, too. 

Much love, dear Striker.

On top of all of that, Spode has her final exams at Queen's coming up and I have my eye surgery. Tomorrow is our big day--we travel to Toronto at 7am. Nervous? Spode is a lot more nervous than I am. But guess who is getting the chill tonight? Me, that's who. I think Spode should take a double dose instead.

The vet has been out a lot lately checking to make sure my eyes are good to go, so I think she's nervous as well. I've been on meds for almost a month now in an attempt to stop my eyes from flaring up before we go for surgery. If that happens, the whole thing is a bust and everything will need to be cancelled and we'd have to wait another month. Ack. But so far so good even though I really want to be done with these eye drops.  My eyes are okay and I have two more doses of steroids before I head down to Caledon. I think Spode might have a heart attack if my eyes suddenly flare up tomorrow morning, so we're all hoping that I'll be just fine!

I'm staying inside tonight to make sure I'm warm and dry for the long journey. Spode promised to come early in the morning so I can have a quick run in the arena before the trailer arrives and I spend the next four days in a stall. Ugh. Stall rest is going to suck but if it means I don't have any more eye problems for the next 3 years, it's worth it! Then I can spend my days relaxing without a worry in the world. Ahh. 

Except of course that Spode is eager for me to stop having eye issues so that she can really focus on my training and stop having these super long breaks where I do absolutely nothing (hmmmm). I have been doing some stuff though. Yesterday we did ground driving and lots of figure eights and trotting across the diagonal. I remember my stuff pretty well. Just saying. 

And Spode's been putting my saddle on periodically, even if just to stand there.  Same goes for my bridle and wearing polos (I don't like standing still for those. Blech).

So, are we going anywhere!? No? Oh. 

Of course, mostly I've just been allowed to run around in the arena so I don't lose my mind with boredom and get myself stressed out. I gotta run sometimes...

Weeeee! 

But yes. For the most part it's been pretty quiet for me while everything else has been going on. I'm hoping for a turning tide when I'm back, fully recovered, and Spode is done with school. Here's hoping for a happy and healthy May for everyone. It starts tomorrow when the specialist gives his opinion on my eyes and says yea or "neigh" for the actual surgery (please say yea!!!!).

Until then, old sports.

Snuggles for everybody!

Jay.