I work at a Veterinary Hospital where there are, I think, 19 doctors and over 100 employees. It’s a lot of fun to work there for the reason that I get to see so many different things and animals. I see the different types of surgeries from simple spay and neuters to c-sections which I get to help out with sometimes. I also get to see all types of animals from the typical dog and cat to great horned owls, fawns, snakes, ducks, squirrels, and even the occasional goat or two.

There are also those pets that come in for boarding or who are the “regulars”. One particular boarder who came in often was Rizza. She was a black lab mix who was in a car accident and nearly broke her back. Her owner was paralyzed and has a hard time taking care of Rizza so the hospital let him board her there whenever he needed to.

Rizza is a sweet girl and, like I do with all the animals, I fell in love with her. I came into work one day and noticed a sign on the board asking if anyone would be able to foster Rizza for a short time. I didn’t even hesitate. I went up to her doctor and told him that I would be more than happy to help. I wanted Rizza to be able to run around and stretch her legs and not stay in a cage.

The next day I took her home. She was so happy to be out of the hospital. I took her everywhere with me. I lived in an apartment that only had a small back yard so when I would go to the barn she would come with me. The barn has a large area for her to run around in and she loved it. She loved the horses and Charlie. I took her into work every day to keep an eye on her and everyone was so pleased to see how happy she was doing. She always had a smile on her face. Her owner would stop by every week to see how she was doing and it was amazing to see her reaction when she saw him. She would jump up on his lap and give him a million and one kisses.

I eventually moved to the place where my horses were. Rizza was so happy to have that big yard to run and play in. She was so wonderful. I made her a bed and she knew that it was hers. We had a great routine in the morning and at night when it was time to feed the horses. It was fantastic having her around and knowing that she was much happier being with me than staying at the hospital.

After a couple of months it was time for her to go back to her owner. He was so happy getting her back; they were a match made in heaven. It was hard to let her go but I knew I would be seeing her again.

Walk in the Woods

It was a nice day out and the dogs were getting frisky. There is a little stream out back in the woods with a trial running along side of it that needed some exploration.

My boyfriend and I decided to investigate it to see where it leads. We were heading down to the back of our land where the stream is when he said “why don’t you bring Lady along?” I thought, hey why not. She is a good girl and she needs to get out and see what the woods are like. She has never been on a trial before and I wanted to see how she would react. Would she freak out and not want to go and try running home or would she just come along for the adventure? I grabbed her halter and walked her out of the paddock. Pony of course tried escaping but lost the battle. He hates being left by himself; he ran back and forth trying to get to us.

To get to the stream you have to climb down a steep hill. I wasn’t sure how Lady would do so I kept talking to her, letting her know to go slow. She did great. We got to the stream in one piece but I had forgotten that she is not trained to go in water. I walked her up to the stream, I had a feeling that she was going to try and jump it so I moved off to the side. Not to my surprise, she jumped. Mud and water went flying and all in one second she was on the other side of the stream with the look in her eye as if she had just seen a ghost. I walked over to her and patted her on the neck and told her she did well.

Dude went running around as he always does. He loves the water! Charlie on the other hand, not so much. He tries his best to find a way across without getting wet. Then Dude runs up next to him and splashes him with a big wet wave. Lady was just standing there taking everything in. Again, this was her first true time being in the woods. We kept walking up the trial. She stayed right next to me and not once did she try and take off. Out in the distance, there is the sad sound of the pony whinnying.

We walked and walked. The dogs would run up ahead then run back. They were having a grand time. The trail then forked. Jim and I wanted to fallow the stream to see where it led but the trail didn’t go that way. Jim went ahead and made sure that there was a way for us to get through. Lady and I followed, walking under and around trees. She was so good. A couple of times me and her had to stop and wait for Jim to clear a path for us. Lady wouldn’t stand still; she wanted to go be with Jim.

We got to the part where the stream met the river. It’s a big river and Dude was in his glory! He jumped right in, no questions asked! Lady was just staring at it with the look in her eyes as if she was saying “please don’t make me go in there!” Charlie just hung back with Lady and me while watching Dude fool around in the rapids. We got to part of the river where there was a patch of grass. I tied Miss Lady up to a fallen tree and she just hung out and ate the grass. It was so nice to see her out and about in the midst of all the nature.

It was time to head back home. The bugs where thick and it was getting late. We got back to the stream near home. I took my shoes off and went in the water to try and help Lady understand that it’s not going to hurt. Again, I stood off to the side to avoid getting squashed by her if she were to jump. She tried, but I stopped her. I tried walking her in over and over and eventually she got it. She didn’t jump it, she ran through it but at least she went in. We walked up the steep incline and headed home. The pony was so happy to see us! Jim and I let Lady stay out on the lawn to eat some grass because she was so good. Jim has never really bonded with Lady before this day. They both did really well!

Lady in the field

My friend Calli came down to visit me from Maine one weekend. I thought that it would be great fun to take her riding. We had never been riding together before so it was something we “needed” to do. My horse Lady, I don’t trust her with anyone due to her crazy, flip out moments. But my landlord had a horse, Moe, at the house that I knew was safe for her.

Moe was the type of horse that I could but my five year old sister on and not be worried. He was one big lug. He was a chestnut with a star and was about 16 hands tall; a big horse but with no worries. I had always enjoyed riding him because he never gave me any lip. If I wanted to jump he would jump, if I wanted to canter he would canter. He also had breaks, which is key. He was a great horse to ride, comfortable too. He was so good that when it came to dinner time, all I had to do was open the gate and he would run right into his stall without any problems.

Lady on the other hand, she is a whole other story. She was a rescue and an ex-racer so she came to me with only one thing in mind, to RUN! She doesn’t know much about anything when it comes to commands and keeping things slow and that’s why I don’t trust her with anyone else. I have been trying to train her to jump but when we get up to the rail she rears. Even if the rail is just simply sitting on the ground she freaks. If I want her to trot, it turns into a canter and ears back in I want to run mode. She really needs an experienced rider, someone who has the confidence and knowledge. Now, I’m not saying that that is me but it will be if I keep riding her.

There is a field at the end of my road that I have always wanted to ride in. Just hop on and take off! So, Calli got Moe ready and I got my crazy girl ready. We walked them down, I didn’t want to ride them because I was unsure of how they would be with all of the traffic. The field has a small wooden fence with a couple of breaks in it so that people can get through. There is a base ball field on one side and a soccer field on the other. We walked them through the break in the fence and hopped on.
Moe was great of course! Lady…not so good. She freaked! She was rearing and wanting to run, run home that is! I tried and tried to calm her down but she got so scared that she took off running toward home which involves crossing a busy road. I realized what she was thinking so I made an emergency dismount. The second I hit the ground she stopped, looked at me like she was asking “what are you doing down there?” I was so mad! This was the first time I have “fallen” off of her.

Calli came over to make sure I was ok. I got up all in a huff and got back on. I rode her around a little bit more just to make sure she knew that I was not going to give up. Eventually I really wanted to take off. So I jumped off of Lady, handed her over to Calli and hopped on Moe. When I got on him I knew it was going to magical. He took off running, moving like he was flying! It was beautiful! I had never been that fast and in control before. Having such a big animal under me, I could feel his power. My hair flying in the wind, the breeze on my face, it was amazing! I came back around to where Calli and Lady were and got off of Moe with a huge smile on my face.

It was time to go home. The horses were tired and we were tired. On the way back out of the field I knew there was a little brook in the woods and I thought that the horses would like to get a quick drink before heading home. I walked Lady down to it and she, of course, didn’t like the idea of being there. I turned around and walked us back out of the woods. When we got to the edge of the tree line I stopped just to get my bearings. I stopped, but Lady didn’t. One moment I was looking over at Calli and the next I was looking up at my horse’s feet and belly. It all went in slow motion. I curled up in a ball, trying to get out of the way. Her feet never touched me. I got up, Calli ran over to me to make sure that I was ok yet again. Lady just stared at me again like she was asking me “how did that happen?” I was ok, no cuts, scrapes, bruises, or broken bones. I was lucky! By this time, I was furious with her. We walked back home and I didn’t let her miss one step. I put her back in the paddock and that was it until dinner time.

The Barn Cat Gretchen

When I moved into the house that I am living in now, the landlord had a cat that lived in the barn. She had gotten the cat from a friend who was ill and could no longer take care of her. I told my landlord that it was ok for her to leave the cat there in the barn and I will look after her. She had left some dry food for me to provide to her.

She wasn’t a very friendly cat at first. She used to sleep on the hay and I would just talk to her and tell her she was a good kitty. I couldn’t remember what my landlord had named her so I changed it to Gretchen, perfect for her country living style. She is a fat cat with tan stripes and a white face, a cutie. If I tried to go to her she would look at me with wide eyes and run off. After a while of talking to her and trying to win her trust, she started coming down off the hay. I did nothing; I just kept on talking to her to let her know that I wasn’t going to hurt her.

After about 3 months went by of me talking to her and giving her the space she wanted, I went over to her. I talked in a soft whisper voice to keep her calm and went slow. I was able to pat her and after a couple of minutes she let me pick her up. I felt so good! I did this every day and she has now turned into a nice little girl.

When ever I go down to the barn she is there to greet me. She cries and cries, for food of course. She hops onto the table that has her bowl and yells at me. Every time I walk by her, if I haven’t fed her yet, she smacks me! It hurts! She puts her nails out and literally smacks me as I walk by. I don’t get it; she catches birds and mice but leaves them there without eating them. She’s a barn cat! She should know these things! I still end up having to give her dry food or she will continue smacking me.

My Chihuahua, Charlie, doesn’t like Gretchen very much. He will chase after her from the house all the way down to the barn; barking, growling, and hair up. Gretchen just jumps up onto her table where her food bowl is and does nothing. She knows that he is too small and can’t reach her but he still tries. She looks at him and I know she must be laughing thinking “you can’t get me….muhahaha!” Charlie barks and barks, jumping around, trying to get to her. After a while he gives up and moves onto something else. Meanwhile, I’m stuck getting smacked. But it’s nice to have her around to pat and talk to. It feels good knowing that she trusts me now and that I can be her friend.

Dude and the Empire Carpet Commercial, by Lora.

 
When my boyfriend and I first started dating, he told me his dog Dude loved the Empire Carpet commercial. He said that Dude could be sleeping, eating, doing anything and he will stop and literally watch the commercial.
 
We were lying on the couch one day watching television and this commercial came on. Dude was in the other room sleeping away, lying on his back with his black paws and white toes up in the air. And even with his loud, snoring nose awoke from his sound sleep instantly. He flipped over, came galloping into the room, sat and watched the whole commercial. His head would rotate from side to side with his ears forward listening contently. It was hilarious! I never saw a dog do that before. He was so into it.
 
Jim, my boyfriend, then went over to his computer and found the commercial on the website youtube. Dude came rushing over to the computer and started listening. Jim turned the sound all the way up and played the commercial over and over again. Eventually, Dude started howling at the end. I ran and got my camera and recorded the whole thing.
 
When we show this video to others, Dude sits and gazes at himself on the computer and starts to howl away. It’s a funny sight to see him on the computer howling and then have him in real life howling at himself. We have no idea why he loves this commercial so much.

Watch the video here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH1o11cXZNE

‘Pony’ being a nosy boy! 

For Christmas last year, my mom gave me a flashlight that is in the shape of a horse, since I love horses she gives me anything and everything that has to do with them and I happily accept. To work the flashlight you have to squeeze the tail. Each time you squeeze the tail it makes a whinny noise or a “horse blowing it’s nose” noise, I’m not sure what the name is for that but all you horse people know what noise this is.

I was walking down to the barn one day with this flashlight. I squeezed the tail and Lady freaked! We had just recently sold a horse that was her friend and I think that she thought he was back. Her ears went up and she was looking all over for him. She would whinny back and run back and forth looking. I kind of felt bad.

The pony on the other hand just wanted to eat it. He is so nosey! I got a great video of him in “Pony Mode” (a.k.a. him being his nosey self!)

Now, every time I have to use the flashlight I have to tell Lady that it’s ok and that it’s just a flashlight, I think she is getting used to it now. She has come to the sad realization that her friend isn’t going to be returning. But at least she has her little pony shadow.

 Lady & Pony Video Clip

Opening Day of the Back Paddock

At my barn I have two paddocks for my horses to stay in. One is used all year round. It’s nice, it has a lean too for weather protection and I can see them easily from the house to make sure that they aren’t getting into any kind of mischief. I also have a back paddock which is just electric fencing. It’s not as nice as the other paddock. There are rocks and a slight ditch that if they weren’t being careful they could slip and get hurt. I don’t let them out there in the winter due to there being a bigger risk for trouble.

At the beginning of spring, I make my way to that paddock in the back and make sure that the fencing is still up to par and that it’s completely horse proof. My horses like to come over and watch to see what I am up to. They look at me with wondering eyes that say “whatcha doin?” They know what it is that I am doing and they are itching to get their hooves over there, they want to run!

So, I’m all done, done with getting the branches and sticks off the fence. Check to make sure the charge is good so that they don’t go running into the neighbor’s yard, go and get my camera and get ready to open the flood gate.

I get over to the part of the fence that has the two boards keeping the horses from getting into the back paddock and they know what’s about to happen. I lift up the top board and the pony tries to jump the bottom one but being the pony, he has no luck. I get the bottom one off, move out of the way, and “their off!” They bound and leap and kick and buck. They were in heaven! Both of them would run back and forth from the main paddock to the back. Back and forth, back and forth they would go. Only stopping to make sure that a strange noise they heard, which was just the neighbor’s dog, was not going to be joining them. I get my camera out and take as many pictures as I could. It was a sight that had to be captured.

Eventually they stop and eat the grass. The excitement is over. The leaves have settled and the thunder has been brought to a halt. It’s time to go back down from heaven and back to earth. Seeing them being as happy as ever made my day. They make me happy and that’s what I want for them!

Hi All,

It’s been great to share my stories with you, but I am passing on the blogging torch to someone new. Her name is Lora and she is very excited about sharing stories about her horse, pony and dogs as well as stories from her job as  a vet technician.

I’m sure you will enjoy what she has to share and I will stop in from time to time to update you on the adventures of Riley Roo & Miss Kitty.

Here is how Lora describes herself:

“Hi there, my name is Lora Hilton. I am 22 going on 23 in July. I work at a veterinary hospital where I see, learn, and experience a lot of different things. I have an ex-racer thoroughbred named Outlandishlady but I call her Lady for short and a pony named Harley but everyone just calls him Pony. I also have a Chihuahua who is the best in the whole world name Charlie. I rescued him from a really bad situation as well as my horse. I was born and raised in Maine and moved to CT five years ago to go to school. I attended UCONN for animal science equine program but I had to stop because it was too expensive. I will go back someday! I live with my boyfriend and his Labrador/Pointer mix named Dude. Charlie and he get along great! I will be writing a lot about my little pack. They all have great personalities that make for good stories!”