Badger COPD Equine ROA...my buddy

Badger.  The best mule ever in the world.  Well, he is to me.

Badger suffers from ROA, Reoccurring Obstructive Airway Disease.  COPD, Heaves...nasty stuff.

But.

But.

Butt.

We go back and forth, he has terrible days, awful days...and then something happens like tonight.

We have an amazing evening.

I wanted to ride, but didn't really have time for all the saddling and messing around that I usually have to do with the 'younger' mules.  Badger came and stood at the gate.

What could I do?

It was hot and humid.  But.

He was standing there braying in a soft voice that broke my heart.

I opened the gate, groomed him and took out a 5 gallon bucket and .. turned it upside down in the driveway.  [Badger is 15 hands and I'm just a couple of inches over that.]

I tossed his bridle on and then took the leap from the bucket.

I swear Badger smiled.  Really.

He started up our steep driveway.  He stopped midway up and caught his breath, wheezing a bit.  I laid over his neck and offered loving encouragement.  We stood for a while in the driveway.  A wren

scolded us.  Some black birds called and a hoot owl called from the woods.  I laid across Badger's neck and wrapped my arms around him.  

After a few minutes he started up the hill.  I dropped the reins on his neck and put my arms up in the air.  

Free riding.

No saddle ... no directions.. he knew what was expected of him.

We rode up to the neighbor's place on the ridge to watch the sunset.  

Just like the old days.

As dark started to settle in I headed towards home. 

The emotions began to flow over me.  Badger was sick with COPD, Equine ROA.  Yet.

He could still carry me bareback without any fault, any spook, any mistep, to the ridge to photo the sunset.  Something we've done 100's of times over the past 16 years.

Badger still had a purpose in his and my mind.  Our bond is something I may never achieve again in any other equine.

When I got home, I took his bridle off and left him in the yard while I did chores.  

He followed me around.

Damn.

I will continue to fight for Badger's health and to keep him healthy enough for these special moments.

For .. 

I feel..

there will never be any other equine quite like him in my life.

Thanks Badger.

You ARE the best.

March Heat Wave Causes Stress in Farm Animals

75 degrees.
Warm.
Humid.

Unusual weather for us.  The warm weather with these temperatures usually don't arrive in two week stretches until mid May.  Then it can spring literally into summer.

The length of daylight hours normally dictate the shedding of an equine and a bovine.  Our animals seemed to suffer from lack of shade under the leafless trees and from the high heat and humidity while having full winter coats.

I walked around the place today looking at our different animals and could see that some of them were suffering from heat stress.  It doesn't look dangerous, but it does make one wonder if you could make them more comfortable.


I thought about doing a body clip, but since most of these animals are pastured I don't think this is a good choice.  
It is only the 21st of March and we could get some very cold temperatures yet.


The fluctuation of temperatures has also made me wonder how the animal's health could be affected in other ways, such as respiratory infections.


Badger is dealing fairly well with the temperatures, he had a couple of bad days when it was particularly dusty and windy.  He appeared rather miserable and seemed to come out of it a bit when we had some rain to settle the dust.
Although at this time I don't think I can exercise him safely unless it is taking him literally for a walk on a lead line.


I love the warmer weather, don't get me wrong. 
It just seems to be causing a little stress in my much beloved animals.

Something Special

I've been pretty lucky in all my life to have animals that seem to bond quickly to me.  The bonds we share last a lifetime.

The farrier stopped yesterday and did some trimming.

I brought Badger out and he asked how the ol' fella was doing.

Actually, Badger was doing very well.  His respiration rate was down and he seemed completely comfortable.

Of course the temps were in the 40's and there was a cooling breeze.  Unusual weather for the middle of February indeed.

After the farrier left, I walked outside to feed the puppies, Thelma and Louise.

Badger stood at the electric gate and gave a small whinny.

It seemed.

Well.

He was asking for attention.

I grabbed his halter and lead rope.

He pushed Opal out of the way.

Badger and I were going on a ride.

There is something very comforting in having an equine buddy who knows what you want to do before you even do it.

A mule who anticipates your direction in the forest and who can find a trail that you cannot see.

Badger is such an animal.  He will even pause when he knows I want to take a photo.

We rode the ridge road and visited the neighbors.  

The wind was harsh on the ridge so we returned and 'dove' into the forest and followed a slippery deer trail down the north side of a hill.

Badger picked his way carefully.

Our ride was slow.  [Badger never really is in a hurry.]

And he did well.

Blessed are the mules who take our hearts and hold them dear.

A Spring Journey with Badger

True as ever Badger seemed eager to get out and take a ride.
As much as I was looking forward to it.

The plan goes like this.
On good days, when his COPD or ROA are not too bad, we do go for easy rides.
This day was a good day, even though it was overcast and cold.

Badger actually nearly...almost...
sort of...
kind of...
spooked at this trailer thing that was dragged onto the edge of the woods.
Or...
Perhaps as he was thinking, there was something evil and nasty in there that I did not
know about
so
it was his divine and heroic duty
to
get me away from there.

He did a 45 degree turn on a dime and then stared back at the offensive thing.

Perhaps the ugly thing offended his 'mule sense' of beauty.

Of course, that was it.
We found red lobed hepatica, trying to open after the heavy snow fall and melt.
We also found Horsetail grass coming up in the bottom near the creek.
Badger munched while I took photos.

....and then the great treat!
Marsh Marigold, the only yellow in the forest. This flower is usually found much later in the spring, but it is in a 'warm spring' that comes out of a hillside.

Our ride was quiet.
Badger did very well.
I think he was happy, yet disappointed when I put him back in his paddock.

He stared at me with soulful eyes while I put our riding gear away.

His COPD is doing much better this spring, though it may be due to the dampness we've had.