Vet visit

A day off work today for a busy morning of routine horse care, beginning with the dentist. Q was his usual excellent self, standing patiently while the dentist rasped away at his sharp bits. T had to be sedated for his as he has a tendency towards transverse ridges, so we all decided it would be optimal to do the trot up for the vet beforehand. Don't ask me why, it just seemed like a good idea. For a stallion who has been on box rest for two weeks he was exceptionally good, but unfortunately still lame, so our next step is to take him to the clinic for further diagnostics; nerve blocks, x rays etc. Bugger it :(

Next he had his teeth done under sedation, which was fine. The vet's second purpose was to gather the biohealth swabs from both boys, which requires some cooperation of the fifth leg variety. Unfortunately even under sedation T was resolute in keeping himself to himself at all costs, irrespective of any tickling or other encouragement that went on. But there's a solution to that - enter Knickers with one very heavily pregnant Alfama to wave under his nose, among much frivolity concerning French maids' outfits, frilly knickers and the like. T dropped just enough for Peter to get the samples he needed and all under the haze of sedation, so no hooves around my ears or other Black Beauty impressions - indeed not even a whicker from the poor lad. The spirit was willing but the flesh was still under a fug. We wondered whether now might be the time to conduct a study on the effect of sedation on libido in the adult stallion, but concluded that the statistical universe of one might be deemed inconclusive when submitted to the rigours of academic analysis. I might just say that the expression on Q's face, at his door to watch the parading of HIS mare, dammit, in front of T, was pure "miffed". It was bloody funny.

We decided to rope in Alfama to assist Q with his work also, and he dropped enough in no time at all to allow Peter to gather his samples. Even with Alfama right there he stopped to be given a goodie - that boy lives for his stomach! I was very proud of him and Peter was suitably impressed at his general splendour - as well he might be.

I'm sitting writing this in the intervening period between the vet leaving and the farrier arriving, so this could be considered "half time". After some discussion we have decided to leave their vaccinations until after the babies are born, as they won't get the immune protection at this late stage anyway.

We are also considering how we juggle sending the boys to stud because if we time it right we could use chilled semem in their foal heat to set them off again and therefore not have to worry so much about the timings involved with frozen. I can just see us dashing over to the Ashdown forest and coming back bearing a precious canister of boy juice to impregnate the girls with. It's a shame their due dates aren't closer together so we'll have to finalise who is put to who and go on from there. For myself I am feeling a desperate urge for a Q/Xacra baby. We have a feeling that T/Xacra will probably create some sort of uber horse that someone like me won't be able to ride one side of. We shall see.