Siera update.

I put Siera in the pasture in front of the house so I could keep an eye on her.

Siera did 'self - exercising' along the fence line. 

Her reaction was to walk up and down and complain. Below is the view from the porch.

She was a bit better ----> and then this Monday morning with the cold temps a bit worse. 

The issue seems to also be in her leg and shoulder. I guess time will tell. 

Yes, I have someone coming to see her. 

Update on that. 

Best guess is that she is stiff and sore either from some tearing around the pasture, age, or a strained muscle. It isn't like she will tell us anything. Everything is normal with her stats and she is eating and pooping just fine. 

The vet recommended to leave her in the pasture with her buddies. She can lay down when she wants, move when she wants. She is definitely off, but the vet wants her to move and not be confined. He feels that she will self regulate until she feels better. So it is a watch and wait deal.

I will probably then take Sunshine at the end of May to my friend's farm to ride instead of Siera. 

In 2010 Sunshine had a pretty radical injury which involved tendons and her shoulder and knee. We did put her in confinement as she was a 3 legged mule. X-rays didn't show anything, but the vet thought she'd injured her collateral ligament.

The vet didn't think she'd come out of it but we gave her the chance. After she was able to hobble around we put her out with the foals and she started moving and improving, slow but sure. She self regulated and did her own PT with her little 6 month old half sister.

In 6 months after that, she was riding [gently] once more. 

She is sound as ever right now 16 years later.

The mule pictured below is Sunshine who is 29 years old. 

I will be giving them all mule haircuts and riding Sunshine. She is not frail or even achy. When she and her sister decide to chase and buck in the pasture, it is a wonder to see. She is still the quickest and most athletic mule I have.

 

She still has it. This shot is from last year when they all got crazy going to the summer meadow. Sunshine is on the left.

I guess I should say that I'm pretty close to her as I pulled the birth sack off her face when she was born as her mom was exhausted.

Photos of Sunshine:

The little mule that could and always has done a good job.

She is tolerant of almost everything. One of the reasons I love her. Even kids who have no idea of what they are doing.

So the Siera Saga continues and I need to give her time to heal and recover. The progress is slow, just think of how we feel when we pull a muscle and how we recover. Siera is good with kids also, she is gentle and quiet.

Yet one more reason to make sure she gets back to good health with lots of tenderness and care.