CALVIN is doing well.  He is a sweet/curious boy. He didn’t seem to have any difficulty adjusting to his new home at TIER.  Shortly after his arrival we started getting wet, windy, cold weather.  It didn’t appear to phase him at all.  Fortunately, although the rain lasted for awhile, there were only a couple days that were full on gully washers.  Mostly it was steady rain.  We still have runoff ruts and mud in the corrals though.  The mud lasted longer than the horses and I would have liked due to the temperature staying low and the winds were cold. 

The Red Headed Stranger is finally here!!  Woot!  Woot!  Thanks to Marlene Dodge who transported him, Calvin made it to TIER in the dark of night.

It gets dark so early now and Marlene got stuck in California traffic.  She ended up coming in, finding her way back to his corral by flashlight (no lights out there) and then told me he was home..

I didn't get to welcome him upon arrival, but met him later.  He is the sweetest boy!  Curious and friendly.  

Picture below is from 12/19/2022.  I love the swatch of white on his face & nose.  Looks like he had his face in a picket fence when they were painting and he got a big brush stoke on his cute face.  WELCOME CALVIN!

Seriously thinking of changing CALVIN’s name to POSTPONED!  The night before the transport arrived to pick CALVIN up to bring him to TIER, they picked up a couple other horses.  When the trailer arrived at Kathy’s, the horses inside had snotty noses that hadn’t been there previously.  They were supposed to have been quarantined before pickup, but it is not known if they actually were or for how long.

Transporter called me immediately and the decision was made to not transport CALVIN at this time.  We did not want him to get sick or bring sickness to the TIER horses.  Sigh.  Now we wait until the transporter’s schedule sends them back toward Kathy’s.  If it ain’t one thing, it’s another!

The hits just keep on coming!  Our transporter arrived in OK on 8/20/2022 to pick up CALVIN & GUS.  That very morning before Marlene arrived, CALVIN was down in his stall and resisted Jennie’s efforts to get him up.  He was drooling a bit.  A call was put in to the only vet who does farm calls, but she was in another county and wouldn’t be able to make it out.  Marlene was about 15 minutes out when this occurred and said she would try to help Jennie get him up, and if needed, transport him to another vet.  By the time Marlene got there, CALVIN was up and acting like nothing was wrong.

Jennie & Marlene observed him for some time and he seemed okay.  Marlene, Jennie and I made the decision to NOT transport the boys that day.  If CALVIN went down in the trailer in the middle of nowhere, it would most likely not end well.  Transport is now put off for another month.  BIG thank you to Marlene for hanging out for awhile to be on hand if needed for CALVIN!

I looked long and hard at the costs involved in keeping the boys in OK for another month.  As you know, we are financially struggling more than we have in YEARS.  We thank those of you who have been so generous with your contributions to help TIER in these difficult times.  You have helped immensely, but the bills keep coming and prices are still at an all time high for feed, vet, fuel, medications, etc.  Thankfully, CALVIN seems to be ok.

We made the decision to send CALVIN & GUS to Texas to stay with Kathy for the next month.  In the long run, this will save us about 250. Boarding costs are less in Tx AND transport from Tx to CA is a bit cheaper than from OK to CA.  Transport from OK to TX is 685 for both of the boys.  Steve from Steve's Horse Transportation LLC gave us a good price because he was the same one who had hauled Shadow to TX for us.  Thank you Steve!!

The boys arrived safely at Kathy’s on 9/2/2022 in the middle of a much needed downpour!  They have settled in well with the exception of CALVIN having soft stools.  Kathy will be giving him some Bio Sponge over the next few days as we are thinking he might have ulcers.  It is not diarrhea, just very soft manure.  GUS still needs to gain some weight/conditioning.  Hoping that his recovery continues to improve. 

 Truthfully, I’m glad that CALVIN’s little episode caused us to reschedule transport.  The heat has been brutal and I’m not sure either of them would have done well on the trip to TIER.  Especially GUS!

CALVIN had an appointment with the vet to be examined for his Health Certificate so that he can travel to TIER early next week.

Being only 4 years old and apparently not being given the opportunity to receive consistent handling, he was on his goober behavior.  He came off the trailer at the vet's like a fire breathing dragon whose brain cells hadn't clicked on.

He wasn't being mean, just very watchy and anxious.  He is still pretty head shy, but that will improve with consistent handling and calm direction.  He's just in his juvenile delinquent stage and hasn't been to school yet.  It is our hope that once he arrives at TIER we will be able to find him a great home and teacher.

CALVIN had his feet done today in preparation for his trailer ride to TIER around 8/25/2022

CALVIN got himself a bath in preparation for his trip to TIER.  He will see the farrier on 8/15/2022 to have his pancake feet trimmed up for the journey.  He should be leaving quarantine in Oklahoma around August 25th to head to TIER.

Our sweet Goober Boy, CALVIN, is just too cute!  Having a 17.1 hand BABY is an adjustment!  It's hard not to think of him a full grown and mature due to his size.

He isn't flighy or anxious, he just doesn't know much.  The wound on his head that he got at the kill pen seems to have healed nicely.  Jennie says that she needs a power lift to check that area. HA!!

6/27/2022 CALVIN went to the vet to have his teeth checked. and have his head wound examined.  Vet removed the little bit of proud flesh forming on his forehead from the wound gave Jennie instructions for wound care.  

After examining CALVIN's teeth, Dr. Mauzerall indicated that his teeth had most likely never been done and that....wait for it.....CALVIN is only 4 years old!!  Wow!  That was quite the shocker as we had assumed he was much older.  He still has baby teeth!

Today, 6/28/2022 Jennie had the farrier out and CALVIN had his feet done.  He was the best boy for that today.  Especially on his front feet.  It's pretty obvious that although he is easy to halter, easy to lead, easy to load, he has not had much basic ground training done.  We do not know if he has ever been ridden.  

CALVIN's appointment with the vet was for 7:00 PM.  Since we didn't specify that we wanted his teeth checked, that will be done at his next appointment on 6/29/2022.  It was late in the day and they had other horses there for appointments.  Vet simply did not have time in their schedule to do a full dental exam.  CALVIN is understandably head shy and will require sedation for the vet to be able to examine his teeth.  He is a bit underweight and we want to have his teeth checked, so an appointment was made for next week.

His head wound was cleaned and medicated.  The facial wounds are healing well, but the deep cut/puncture at the base of his forelock still has a ways to go.  Vet explored the wound and did not find any foreign objects or soft spots. Jennie was given medication to apply for the next few days.  

We made arrangements with Jennie of RJF Equine Inc. for pickup and quarantine board.  We knew he was a tall horse, but we didn't realize how tall.  Jennie thinks he is at least 17.1 hands.  He loaded easily into the trailer.

Jennie cleaned his wound and applied medication.  His feet are a mess.  Farrier will not be out until 6/28/2022.  The soonest we could get an appointment with the vet is 6/22/2022 for a non-emergency vet visit.