Before talking horses and kidz and learning, I am thrilled to announce that, as of yesterday, two significant tasks in my daily routine have changed, at least for two weeks and maybe indefinitely.
It was time to take Festus, our cat, to the vet for his periodic monitoring of glucose levels. I've been doing that regularly since February of 2017.
In addition, I've been giving Festus shots of insulin twice daily since 2017.
Yesterday after performing the usual routine test, which indicates changes in medication levels or not, and which usually means a check written for syringes and new insulin, the vet tech told me to quit giving Festus shots.
Seems his glucose levels have been consistently low, and yesterday's was low enough that there's a possibility his diabetes has gone into remission.
This happens, occasionally, she told me. So, unless I see problems or after two weeks and another blood test, Festus may be cured.
Such a feeling of satisfaction, and with luck, it will continue. This year Festus, who's 14, has returned to his habits of moseying over and visiting the Meserve Preserve---a daily journey he hadn't taken for a number of years.
So, it's good news for our cat and me AND it's even greater news for the pocketbook.
Now, to the horsin' around. I tend to get repetitive about my admiration for the Gold n' Grouse 4-H Club horse leaders, but I'm not gonna apologize.
They are truly amazing----great instructors, generous almost to a fault with their patience and dedicated to doing everything possible to see that each of their members succeeds not only during meetings but also with the upcoming Bonner County 4-H Show, set for the weekend after next.
The last two weeks, members have met at a beautiful setting at the Brian Wood ranch. Meetings last from 6 p.m. until dark, and virtually every moment goes into a intense and specific instruction.
Leaders take each young horse owner at his or her individual situation and patiently and calmly work them through their challenges.
For those of us on the sidelines, it's heaven, enjoying the gorgeous setting and watching progress unfold with young people in various stages of horsemanship.
I'm thinking the club could almost charge admission----it's that neat, that inspiring and that educational.
Thanks to Brian and Penny Wood for providing this wonderful venue for the kids and their horses. And, if that's not enough, last evening when the arena turned dusty, out came a Wood's Hauling and Crushing water truck.
Last night I texted my sister Laurie who had worked with Terra and Lefty the day before at their arena. Loping is new to Terra---not to Lefty.
In the case of the latter, there's a bit of "make me if you can" attitude. So, Laurie worked the pair through the attitude and at the end of the lesson, Terra had progressed in working Lefty into a lope.
Last night, leader Krissy Wood, worked with each rider individually and left Terra and Lefty until last in the loping discipline.
It was almost dark, and for a while, we thought Terra and Lefty would not be loping. Nope, Krissy had the other riders line up and then asked the pair to lope.
Twasn't totally perfect on the first round, but Terra did figure out the right button to push and Lefty broke into a lope. Next time around he went into lope gear almost instantly AND on the correct lead.
When they had finished, Krissy asked the other members to give Terra and Lefty a hand. They did.
What a great and positive way to end a day! And, what great reinforcement for this young lady!
Anywho, I am happy to be a broken record at expressing my appreciation for all the leaders, parents and volunteers like my sisters who give of their time and their knowledge in a myriad of ways for a new generation of horse lovers.
Thanks to all. Enjoy the photos.
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