Don't Lie to Me~Badger Update

Don't lie to your animals, they don't lie to you.

Do you think I actually had a conversation with Badger?
Well I sorta did.
I did most of the talking.
He stood there while I brushed him and listened.

I asked him how he felt today.
He showed me by his respirations. He was doing better than the past few days. His breathing was easier.

I told him that it was still awful hot out.
He sighed as I brushed him and moved his body so he was completely in the shade too. I took that as an affirmative on the heat.

I used my homemade fly spray on spritzed it on him liberally.
I asked him how he liked it.
That was an easy one. He stopped shaking his head and swishing his tail madly. He was content to stand quietly.
Good answer.

I took his fly mask off, he had been a good mule and caked it with mud. I was going to have to wash it.
I gave him his medicine and a chunk of mineral salt.
He thanked me by immediately setting down to the task of eating.

After he was finished, I asked him again.
*How are you feeling today Badger?*

He replied simply by getting down and rolling like a good mule would after he'd been cleaned up and brushed.
...and he groaned with pleasure.
I told him I felt better too today, seeing that he was doing better.

He swished his tail as if to say...
*Yup, I can read you like a book.*

...and you know, your mule can.

Heaves, Exercise, and Mules

By now if you've followed along, you'll know my mule has something called *Heaves* also called Equine COPD, and also called Reoccurring Airway Obstruction, ...also in some circles known as environmental asthma.

That is a lot to take into consideration.
Since his 'Acute' attack, Badger has been doing fairly well. Since my hubby also has COPD, I am following some things that we are done for humans and applying them towards my mule.

I believe that even an animal who has been compromised as Badger has [and hubby] by COPD can benefit from light exercise.

I have resigned myself to knowing that Badger [hubby] are going to have good days and bad days.
Today was a good day for hubby, a slightly less than stellar day for Badger.

Yet I came up with a reason to get out and about.
Drop the never ending things that have got to get done... ...and go get some exercise and enjoy the day.

I was positive that today had to be the day we went with mules and looked for antler sheds.


Badger was ever the willing patient. He was a good sport. When he seemed to get out of breath, I stopped and let him rest. [I am counting the days to get him out on grass pasture!]
What a good sport.

COPD patients do need to exercise even if they don't feel like it. Today we did just that.
Ask me if my husband enjoyed his exercise?
Well, just look at his face.
Priceless isn't it?
I don't think he realized my intention was some sort of 'get out of the house and let's get some exercise' plot.

Badger got exercised, hubby got exercised, and we got to watch an awesome thunderstorm build over the ridge on our way back home.


Yes, we also got antler sheds.
Badger's respiration were high when we got home, but after some intense brushing and currying it dropped down to a some what acceptable level.

The rains tonight should help with the levels of dust and pollens in the air.

I love my patients.

Because I can

These two shots should give you a slight idea of the kind of 'stuff' I ride in.

I rode Badger this morning early before it got too warm. The farrier said to give him mild exercise because it would help give the proper circulation to his feet. This could prevent some issues that could be caused by the hormones he was on for two weeks for his 'asthma' or 'acute heaves' attack.

In the first photo you can see one of the ditches [dry run offs] that we cross often. The log in the upper left corner nearly comes up to Badger's chest. While an inconvenience, it doesn't propose a huge problem while riding.

I dismount and jump Mr. Mule in hand over the downed tree. This morning we did that three times.
Mr. Mule has been getting grain in the AM and PM so he can take his Albuterol. I've cut the grain back because Mr. Mule started having
*Badger-tude*
....
I decided then he would enroll in a mild exercise class we call *Badger-cize*.

I rode in my Wintec English saddle ... after looking at what we went through, I'm not sure if I'm just a good rider or extremely stupid. But boy was it ever comfy. By the way, it has no OH SHIT handle...

Morris came along and enjoyed getting full of dirt and mud in the creek. He jumped logs and tried to mark every tree. He is sleeping his morning exercise off.

What a nice morning.
Now off to water and groom critters before going to work.

Tomorrow I plan on riding again.
Just because I can.

Happy Mule

Yes I admit it. I am obsessed by my animals. My life circles around them, and their health.

Sure I can have sternum cartilage that is torn~which believe me hurts like the devil...and by the way, it is getting better.

BUT one of my animals gets ill or seems to be in distress and I literally feel awful. I had such a sense of dread when Badger was having so much difficulty breathing.
I think it may have been the very first time that I had to face the fact that some day he may not be in my life.
And that, my friends is unimaginable to me.

I cannot imagine life without those big ears, calm eyes, soft bray, and the ever so steady mount that he is.
He and I have a bond where most of the time I do not even have to verbally communicate with him.
Some days when I ride him, ...
I think of where I want to go...
and he goes there.

It is as if he knows my thoughts.

In reality I know that after 14 years of being riding partners, he can read my body language like a book.
I am grateful that I also pay acute attention to how he is doing or this could have been a disaster.

Today his Heart Rate is normal. His respiration rate has decreased, and he looks absolutely wonderful.

Put a mule in your heart and he/she will keep a portion of it as their own.