For about a week and a half my barrel gelding, Pride has been coming out of the stall really short on his left hind leg and after working the soreness or so out..balances out at around a 2/5 on the lameness scale. Decided not to run at Manley's Arena Summer Classic this weekend because still couldn't figure out what was causing the lameness. No heat, no swelling, no wounds, not zip...so decided to take him to Dr. Jamie Carter in Aiken, SC, yesterday. Got there, was a little late because of road work on I-20...took us the normal, about two hours. Blocked off his foot, pastern/lower soft tissue area, upper suspensory area, stifle, yeah....4 blocks..still nothing..finally blocked off his upper hock; became 95% sound...still a little sore from the pricks from the blocks....x-rayed him...great news...nothing there...amazing considering how hard he turns. Basically was there 11:30 till 4:30...got home around 6:30 and pretty exhausted. Long, long day...but I guess a good day. I was kinda worried it was gonna be a upper suspensory injury. Anyways, hopefully he will be better in a few days after the hock injection and I will be prepping him for the Southern States NBHA Super Show in Perry, July 5-8. He dearly loves that indoor Reeves arena the way I do. He loves Manleys too..the last time I was there was 2001..when we got 5th in the Open 1D and 7th in the Teen 1D in the finals. But, I just didn't wanna risk running him with him being sore..because he's the kind of horse that would go in there with a ton of try and might hurt himself trying for me...and I couldn't let him do that. So, Saturday instead my mom and I went school shopping. See, Mississippi State's College of Vet Medicine has a "professional" dress code...professional dress for me is a pair of leather sole cowboy boots, jeans, and a button up shirt...um...no..as in dress code..it's gonna be dresses, skirts, slacks, heels...yeah...I decided that I am a pretty big fan of the wedge heel tho. I can walk in them.:) I can walk in the others too...just not as well. Anyways, the horse show would have definitely been a lot more fun, but it was fun to take a daytrip to Athens with my mom. It's funny how you leave somewhere and can't wait to leave, but then miss it when you are out. Ha, that is kinda the way I feel about Athens. Even though I only live 45 minutes from there...I felt like such a little fish in a big pond when I transferred up there in August of 2005. Now...it doesn't feel big at all..it feels like home. I guess I will always be a Georgia Girl at heart and that's fine. But I am pretty excited about Mississippi too. I am working out getting involved with their 4-H Horse Program and helping out because that is something that I truly miss! Anyways, on another note, we finally got some rain this past weekend. It was wonderful! Hope everyone is having a great week!

So.....here is another blog. This has been a long week thus far and it's only Tuesday. My grandmother (on my dad's side) passed away this weekend. She lived a long life of over 80 years. She was healthy and fairly functional for most of that and seemed content even towards the end. Anyways, so tonight was the visitation. Even though I wasn't as emotionally attached to Nannie Dot, it seemed that I did inherit her keen sense of mischief. It seemed at any family gathering if there was something to laugh about or to get into....I was her little messenger, even at a very young age. She was a wonderful woman with a huge Christian heart, but she loved to laugh. Tonight at the funeral home, I was clinging to my 17 year old cousin, Ashley..because I did not know most of the people coming up and chatting with me. I was basically (my dad's daughter, that for some reason people thing is some kind of genius because I got into vet school um....nope not even close, that prefers a horse over a husband for now)....or that was the three sparks of conversation for me all evening. I watched as cousins and more cousins came in with husbands and OMG BABIES and babies that could walk...and started to get rather dizzy thinking of such...therefore I headed for the nearest exit to find a water fountain. Well with Ashley in tow; we headed out with my Aunt Sybil following behind. Then it was like Nannie Dot was peaking between the clouds of heaven to cause a scene for some comic relief.

So here it goes...you might not find this funny or humorous at all....but I promise you just had to be there...Okay..THE STORY...well...I finally got my fill of hydrogen=oxygen=hydrogenyes THOSE are double bonds to the hydrogens. Anyways...so that is the chemistry lesson for the day..okay NOW TO THE STORY...so I got water and my aunt came up to the fountain and the place you push the water was kind of discreet:

Aunt Sybil: "Finally, I am parched, why aren't these people serving refreshments?"
Me: "It's a funeral home Sybil."
Aunt Sybil: "Well, we ain't gone to hell yet...no reason to parch on earth."
Aunt Sybil: "Where the hell does the water come out from?" At this point, myself and her daughter Ashley are just looking at each other and laughing.

It all does downhill. Sybil starts hitting the top of the fountain with her head where the water comes out and says that it is damned to hell if it doesn't give her some water. At this point I asked her if she had been drinking. She said that, "No, I have not been." But a lot of those whiskey smelling breaths of those people coming up to me smell like they have been and for that matter, who comes to one of these places with alcoholic on the breath. Don't anyone have respect for those that croak...Oh my, I mean die...DIEEEEEEE...not croak...forgive me..I should say that."

So, she hits the fountain again with her hand and the plastic and metal part a little and she pulls back and screams, "SHIT the damn thing just bit me...you SOB! I couldn't help it..I was literally laughing myself into tears and snorted lol...I couldn't help it. When I say that the place the thing left brought blood..I simply pushed the little bar and water came out of it...She looked at me and growled... "You are the same little winch your mama was when we were little...She was the little sister than was mean to big sister, her." Haha. For the next hour I would walk by her and rub my hand.. She tried to trip me onto the floor twice. Finally before she left I went up and hugged her and said, "I love you lovely." She was like I love you too, bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

Moral of the story, Nannie Dot got her laugh today!
That and my family is muy loco!

Hi Everyone. I am in the process of cleaning off my computer so it will have tons of space to store stuff for vet school in the fall...and came across the original version of my vet school mission statement that helped me get into vet school. The last couple of paragraphs are perhaps the best part of it for me...so I figured I would post it. Not sure what you will take from it, but hopefully for those you that are still searching for what you want outta life and are encountering obstacles...hopefully this will help inspire you a little. Enjoy!

 "I know everyone goes through tough times and becoming a vet is not just about being smart. So far for me, it has been a test of perseverance, determination, but more than anything ENDURANCE. Lots of people crumble to pressure and look for the easier road. I guess I am different, because when I set my mind to something I go after it despite statistics and popular opinions. While I am only twenty-three years old, in many ways I feel much older. In high school, my spring breaks were not at the beach, they were at barrel clinics or volunteering at animal hospitals. Some people call my work ethic and narrow interest consumed by horses sort of an "obsession." I prefer to call it a, "PASSION." While reading through my fifty plus page application and supplemental applications you will see I have numerous experiences working with other species including sheep, pigs, cattle, dairy, and goats; however equine medicine is where my heart is at and is where I feel I will be the most beneficial to the industry.
I am interested in so many aspects of equine medicine ranging from reproduction to surgery; but my main interest is centered on the equine exercise physiology and lameness areas. I have been giving speeches on Laminitis since ninth grade and finding creative ways to present presentations on posters, PowerPoints, and even in science fairs. In high school, I was active in literally every FFA and 4-H Horse Program activity and competition I was eligible for. Since I have been at the University of Georgia, I have had the opportunity to take a lot of animal/equine science courses, place nationally on the UGA Collegiate Horse Judging Team, and even work a semester on an equine nutrition research project participating in taking samples to lab work.
As far as the future is concerned, once I get out of veterinary school, I would like to join a reputable equine practice somewhere within the United States. When elaborating on my big plans, I would like to have an Equine Lameness Rehab Center with an aqua treadmill and surgery unit, but of course getting my D.V.M. and establishing myself has to come first. Someday, I would also like to teach some lameness courses at a veterinary school and volunteer lectures to 4-H programs when I can. As you can see, I have a lot of goals and big dreams. Aside from my veterinary aspirations, I also hope to make it to the National Finals Rodeo in Barrel Racing and win an AQHA World Congress Polebending title. While the past four years, have definitely encompassed their fair share of heartbreaks including my illness, Pride's injury, and loosing an aspiring veterinarian and very close friend, Ms. Jody Whetsell in her tragic death; I have learned that a lot of battles that life presents us with are not determined physically, but more so in the mental scheme of things. These tragedies did bring tears and heartbreak, but instead of dwelling, I have learned to let adversity serve as a motivator. I have accepted that life is about the tragic downs and amazing ups. It is about setting goals, striving for brilliance, and letting ourselves have those huge fairytale dreams. It is taking chances, giving someone your heart, and accepting it when they give it back shattered in a million pieces; only to have the patience and faith to wait for the one that you were meant to give it to all along. It is making plans, letting them be altered, and then being creative enough to make new ones. While life continues to be all these things to me, more than anything it is just plain TOUGH, but nothing worthwhile is ever going to be easy, so I just go with what I believe in and that is knowing that I have the God-given love for healing horses, which has never dwindled even when the strongest storm has brewed upon my horizon.
In conclusion, I realize that most of the equine cases presented in front of me in the future, will not give me straight-forward answers and realistically will not all have happy endings, however I predict they will give me the intuition and clues to make the right decisions. This is the same intuition that Mr. Billy Dye and Dr. Jamie Carter used in evaluating my beloved gelding, Pride, which enabled him to get better and run like the champion that I trained and is buried inside his heart. Critically speaking, I fully understand that my mission statement might seem somewhat, "Hallmarkish," nonetheless, it should give you a clear indication of my work ethic and the kind of student I am. When admitted, it is true that I will come to your school with scars and a few bumps and bruises, but these imperfections are just blemishes and I feel they should be regarded more so as a show of character. My heartaches have humbled me to become more thankful for the small things and have given me a more realistic outlook on life. With Pride, I was only able to contribute our own story. As an equine veterinarian, I will be able to make a difference in hundreds, maybe even thousands of others. I know that Pride will not always be with me, but the life lessons, courage, and stubborn spirit he has instilled in me always will."

Thanks for considering me for the Class of 2011.

 

Wow...it only seems like yesterday that I had transferred into the University of Georgia in Athens. Last night, was Cinco de Mayo...or should I say, "Cinco de Drinko," lol. I am not one that usually has more than a beer or a glass of wine, but some really tasty jello got worked into the picture...and they were shaped like cowboy boots, horse shoes, cowboy hats, and of course it would be rude not to sample one of each lol. Anyways, it's weird how you can be so ready to get away from a place, and then when you do, you start to miss it and kind of look back thru, "Rose colored glass." I really do heart Athens, and I will miss so many people. It's tough growing up. It is true that they say it only gets harder. It would be one thing if you could go back and visit and Athens would be exactly the same, but it won't be....ppl graduate, move on, and start new lives. Just looking at one small sector...the UGA Collegiate Horse Judging Team that I was on that placed 3rd in the Nation in 2005...it was me, my friends Lauren and Kelly. I am planning on heading to MS State for vet school, Lauren is heading to Auburn for vet school, and Kelly is heading to Texas A&M for graduate school. Anyways, I am already a little homesick for Athens and I haven't even left it yet. That's about it...I just realize I really do heart Athens.

So...as you all know the Kentucky Derby is tomorrow. This year, I haven't really watched much of the media pre-race hype...and that is pretty unusual for me. I guess I have just became extremely aware of the reality of the whole Thoroughbred racing business. These are amazing 2 year olds that can fly like the wind and we dress up, spend hundreds of dollars on dresses, tuxes, fancy hats, plane tickets, fine wine, boxed seats, etc...to watch these marvelous creatures race for the coveted blanket of roses; however what we are watching often turns to tragedy in seconds. You wonder, who in the hell is this girl and why is she so pessimistic? No, not pessimistic, just realistic. How many more horses are we going to have to see giving their entire hearts going down the stretch and then suddenly see them go down with limbs flailing, jockeys being tossed, and then watch them for months fighting for their lives during recoveries that often never happen? Charismatic and Barbaro are just two recently that have been injured on their quest for the Triple Crown. I am honestly tired of watching these horses for hours and hours on television, learning their life stories and how much these people love these horses, then seeing them go down. I know injuries happen, but these are not just injuries because of bad luck; these are injuries because people keep pushing these animals to do the impossible. Why hasn't their been a triple crown winner in over 20 years? NO, not just because it is hard to win the three jewels in one year; it's because we have stopped letting horses be horses. We have tinkered with genetics, exercise patterns, legal medications, pack cell volumes, the way they breathe, (i.e. because of laryngeal hemiplegia, roaring) etc...to the extent that they are formatted down the most minute detail. While a lot of human technology (such as aqua exercise and better medications) have furthered their performances; a lot of what we have done to these animals has only hurt them. But, as a incoming veterinary student and someone that has been very interested in this aspect of equine physiology for a long time; horses are going down because 2 years old is not old enough NOWADAYS to ask these horses for what we are asking out of them. Bone, Tendon, and Cartilage do NOT all mature and grow at the same rate. Cartilage never stops growing and changing and remodeling once damaged can take over a hundred years (which we know is impossible). Tendons are often overstressed and are stretched to the max. They have a elastic threshold and when they go past the max, they become inelastic and they tear. Once this occurs, they can't go back to their original shape, scarring occurs, and there is a weakness and deformity; often times never noticed till a extreme injury occurs (bowed tendon or snapping a tendon). Perhaps, the biggest problem lies in the bones of the horse. When a horse is young, (as in yearlings till 3) the bones are growing in both circumference as well as length. These young horses as well as many of our older performance horses are fed high PROTEIN diets. The high protein diets encourage excessive growth. The hormone IGF-1 is responsible for proliferating chondrocytes to ossify into bone. The problem is that more often than not, there are so many of these cells and with the increased protein diets there are too many...and with the added stress the bones are continuing to reform and correct problems that are occurring early..such as Osteochondritis (OCD). Therefore, even if the horse is not lame, there are weaknesses in these bone areas. As far as I know, the goal is to train the Tendon, Bone, and Cartilage to all work together and mature together, and NO vet knows how to make this happen...although most do agree that 2 is too young....If we could move the triple crown and racing age up to 3, at least the bones would we stronger, and thus provide a more stable foundation for the tendons and ligaments. Look at the barrel horse industry, we moved the age up for futurities and derbies and look at how much longer horses are lasting. I don't know about you, but while one shot wonders are fun to watch...they just don't last. Anyways, obviously I am not a vet yet, so this information is all in what I have learned from classes at the University of Georgia, reading thru veterinary journals, and sitting in on lectures at the veterinary school with lameness specialists speaking and discussing this with us. Anyways, this is just my opinion on this matter and thought I would share it..hopefully tomorrow the race will go off smoothly and all horses will return to their stalls all put together and not broken.