JFC, 2020 can just staaahhhp

What else is in store for us this year?  I was doing ok with all of this stay-at-home stuff and the new way things work up until recently.

The last 10 days have just sucked. No other way to put it.   I'm aware that many people are in far worse situations than I am.  It seems tho, feelings are just a bit raw and it doesn't take much to weigh you down with anxiety and sadness.  Don't worry - I'm ok now, but sheesh...2020 can take a break and maybe we could just coast through the rest of the year?

Coping mechanisms

To start, my hubby got laid off from his job.  Now, this isn't a shock as I have been expecting it since the work from home order started.  We were just hoping maybe his company would hold on a bit longer and ride out the storm.  We have plans and options during this time, but it just sucks.

And then.  On top of all the shit the world is going through, on April 18/19, Nova Scotia had the highest casualty mass shooting that we have ever seen in Canada.   There 22 deaths, including one of our police officers.  The police force I work for is across the country and everyone is connected - I didn't know her personally, but coworkers did - and it sucks.  This fucking situation is just brutal.  The poor families can't even have funerals right now for their loved ones.  The towns where these crimes took place are all very small and community-focused and it must be very hard for them. 

Here is a link to a work-related photo - the officer that died was on the Musical Ride earlier in her career and they did a tribute to her: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10158189310303917&set=a.390936358916

Phew. Sorry for the heavy post. But wait, there's more!

Friday morning when I went out to the barn, Fred was lame.  There wasn't an obvious injury, so assumed abscess.  I soaked and poulticed and crossed my fingers that would drain soon, or I'd need the vet or farrier to come check it.

Update:  I didn't get this post finished the other day so I'm tacking more on here.  I had the vet out for Fred today, since his leg was all swollen yesterday when I went to remove the poultice.  The soaking and poulticing didn't get the abscess to drain, so I was worried there was a soft tissue injury. 

Sausage leg.  Ignore the dings - those are old.  

The vet found a super soft spot on his heel bulb (why there? sigh) and dug around in his hoof, but couldn't get it to drain.  I have to soak, poultice and give antibiotics and see if the farrier can find something on Thursday when he is here.   In the end, I'm glad it is an abscess and not something more serious (although this is Fred we're talking about here - 2 vet visits in a month! lol). 

pink unicorn duct tape? Yessir.  

How are you guys doing?  I hope everyone is hanging in there in these times. 

The latest happenings at BBQH HQ!

*editor's note:  I started this post 2 weeks ago! 
Here are a few updates from the past couple of weeks:

We got 100 bales of 1st cut tucked in the barn (yeah!) and I even used my truck for the first time to get a round bale!  I love having a truck, even though it is a small one.

Lil' Red being a farm truck!

My friend/boarder and I started fixing the electric fence too.  Fred has broken the electric rope in 3 places so far this spring, so it was time!  We fixed the spots he trashed and then we replaced all the wiring from the barn to the start of the circuit and even dug up one of three grounding rods to replace the wiring.

Since Fred wrecked the fence, he gave himself some rope burn on both pasterns.  *sigh*  I've been doctoring it, but the left hind gets a little puffy on me if I don't stay on top of putting ointment on it.  And to make matters worse, I noticed Fred was limping a bit this past week - not super lame, but definitely NQR. I was hoping it was just the rope burn bugging him or at worst an abscess. Sure enough Monday morning the farrier was out and was able to open up an abscess on his the sole of his RH.  Fred seems to like being kept in his stall and all the attention and food he has been getting, but his leg was swelling too much being kept in, so I tossed him outside last night to see if that would help get the fluid moving.  It looks much better this morning, thankfully.

Bingo - abscess on the RH and rope burn.  And a puffy R leg. Oh Fred...

 Trying to get pictures with a giant cuddly 4yo gelding is tough. 

Oh hai!  Do you has fud?  Fred, probably.

Fred has been in the barn for his legs lately, but as well to keep Bailey company. Bailey somehow cut his lip open and needed some stitches.  It was one of those injuries that we can't quite figure out. My hunch is that he was rubbing his face on his leg and cut it on the nails of his shoe. He has been pulling shoes like crazy and one had nails sticking out.  Horses, I tell ya - always keeping us on our toes!

partially healed cut - he's blown 4/5 stitches, but hopefully it is healing

Spencer is totally judging those horses that get hurt all the time - he would *never* do something so silly as to get hurt at his advanced age.  Lol  He has a big scar on his face from an injury when he was young, so I guess he learned his lesson?  I was trying to get a picture of his scar to show you guys, but I had a hard time with the light and with photo bombers!!

Not 1, but 2 photobombers!

I have my fingers crossed that Fred is back to being sound now that the abscess has done its thing.  Having a hospital ward going for these guys is a lot of work!