the Beginning Adventures of K9 Chevy

So I woke up like every other day, went and fed the horses, then went to work in surgery. I worked until noon and then went home to change for the barn. I made plans with LuAnn to go out with Rowdy on the trails again. Very excited! Chevy gave me that look like he wanted to get out and play (kept throwing his ball at me) and I decided since his e-collar was charged... Why not? Threw him in the Jeep and off we went.

Let our ponies out (left them in because there was a storm brewing), threw some lunch, walked over to the main barn and threw more lunch, Chevy plotting along right beside me. I can't believe how good he was. I only had to correct him once when we got there, it's been a long time since we've gone and worked in the field. L was at the barn when we got back and we did stalls then tacked up. She does SAR (K9 Search & Rescue) with her dog Abby who is up for the K9 Hero Award around here, and she let me borrow her "Rescue" harness which is orange and has "Service" tagged on it. I got on Brantley, strapped Chevy's leash and remote to the horn and off we went!

B was so good yesterday ducking under trees and branches that I decided to take the path where the dirt bikes go and bring L backwards through the trail we did yesterday. Up the steep side of the hill and down the other, he maneuvered very well. Chevy... Outstanding. He stayed right by the left side of Brantley just like he used to with Lucky. I can't believe he remembered how to trail with a horse from when he was 6 months old. He trotted about between the horses, sniffing off the side of the trail, loping up beside us with a jingle. B was so well behaved even when the pup weaved in around his legs. It was like the accident in the ring never happened.

I have to explain real quick that Chevy was tied to the picnic tale next to the outdoor when B and I had our really bad accident... I have never seen him act like that. Growling, snarling, barking, howling. Pulled the picnic table a few inches. Ever since then he had been distant around the horses and vicious towards B, especially when he put a foot out of line. To see them how they were today, you would've thought they had always been two peas in a pod! I can't tell you how happy I was.

A mom and her two kids came out of the woodwork and Chevy trotted over wagging his tail to greet them. The mom welcomed him with open arms so I didn't call him off but one of the boys stayed far behind. She explained that he had been attacked by a black lab earlier in the summer and you could see how nervous he was. I called Chevy back and asked him to sit and lay down for the boy and offered him to pet him. He said no but thank you which was very sweet. What I was really impressed with was that it was like my boy knew he was nervous and didn't run over to him. This made me very happy and they sent us on our way.

We walked through the trails, back over the bridges (Rowdy leading this time) and around to where the water was. Chevy plowed right in swishing around in the water like a fish. B followed right and Rowdy watched, he finally went in too. Heading home I saw another walker with their dog on a leash and whistled to get Chevy's attention. He looked at me, then looked over and saw the dog. Tired enough where he only tried to lope over, I said "leave it" and he came back to me. No correction, no second recall, nothing! I just said "leave it" and he came over, happily wagging, and we walked down another trail home.

Moral of the story, Chevy and I were welcomed into the AMPWDA - American Mantrailing Police Working Dog Association. Chevy will be beginning his training as a Search and Rescue K9 Service Dog... He will no longer be just a dog - K9 Chevy, K9 Officer. Glad to see I've done something right!

K9 Chevy 2013

Swimming with K9 Chevy!

Brantley running from the Chevy shake! 

LuAnn, Rowdy, and Chevy

One Hell of a Monday

Well that was a hell of a Monday. Woke up to the sun out (oh joy, Day Light Savings), and a text message from Ms. Kate. "I fed the horses do you want me to turn them out?" Oh I was so excited. I thought "Yes please! I'll sleep another 20 minutes and go to my other barn job" but I said to myself hey, I'll go help anyway I know she's gotta get to work. Loaded up the dog and tucked myself into my Dri-Duck jacket and off we went. Thought about stopping for a coffee but said no, I'll wait until later. Pulled into the barn and was so excited to see Kate on Lucy in the back ring! I was really jealous and had a Lucky moment and then she spooked and Kate started to slide off the side taking her saddle with her. I panicked and jumped out of the car as Kate fell to the ground and Lucy took off towards me, saddle under her belly. I put my arms out softly, keeping calm like I usually do (I'm weird, I know), but the look in her eyes made it apparent... She didn't know I existed. Stepped out of the way, and walked into the barn as she ran up the driveway. Panicking wasn't going to help anyone... I grabbed a halter, yelled out to Kate to make sure she was okay and once I saw she was standing and breathing and I ran up the driveway, Lucy already out of my sight. 

      I jumped in my buddy's truck and drove down the street that was covered in people speeding to work and school buses. Tried not to think of the worse, just the task at hand. I saw a stirrup and leather on the ground and jumped out of the moving truck and started running till I saw Lucy doing her working thoroughbred walk back towards the barn, saddle and bridle still intact and on her... No broken legs, no smashed cars. Just two old ladies screaming at me and another woman taking a hold of Lucy and reaching for her girth. Who the hell around here knows how to get a saddle off a horse let a lone an upside down saddle. It was my friend Jen who had taken in Brantley before I did. Oh god it was great to see her. I took a hold of Lucy, Kate still far down the road, and starting walking. She pushed forward to walk to the barn and I wasn't going to stop her to try and look at her injuries in traffic. Jen threw Kate's tack in her truck and my buddy followed behind us to slow down traffic (not that it helped). Kate met us half way panicked and in tears. We just kept walking together until we got back to the barn. Prudy came over, we waited for the vet.

     The injury to her left fetlock went straight to my heart. I thought she had burned it right to the bone - Lucky and his joint infection - But I didn't let it get to me because I had to stay calm for Kate and for Lucy. Luckily the injury on her left front wasn't a fracture and her back leg was only down to her muscle and she tore a piece above her stifle. All in all, she was going to be just fine. Stall rest and lots of meds. I had left over antibiotics from LB I was trying to pass off or donate, definitely glad I held on to them!

     I feel awful because Kate's been working so hard to get ready for the Equine Affaire and now she can't bring Lucy but I was happy to hear that her and her friend Lauren were still going to go now that she knows Lucy's going to be okay. Very happy about that. Maybe it's an omen and they weren't supposed to go. Then I find out about the "storm" headed our way... Oh god, not another one!

     I thought a lot about Lucky yesterday after everything calmed down and we knew Lucy and Kate (although very sore) were going to be fine. It's crazy how things like this can happen and we always come back for more. Who decides who stays and goes? Lucy and Lucky were well taken care of, loved, and adored by everyone. Yeah they had their issues here and there but that's why we loved them so much. There are so many horses out there that are beaten, abused, starved, hated, and just miserable. Why our guys?

(Please bare with my horrible riding and skinny thoroughbred... I was 15-16 when these videos were taken and that's all I had...)

Lesson with Emma, introduction to longer stirrups. Kid looked great! She's used to riding hunter/jumpers with short little stirrups on the go go go ponies. Kid is a more like F*ck You I Ain't Movin' kind of pony. He did a lot better once she could get his legs around her.

Later that night? Halo 4 Midnight Release at GameStop. No, I'm not really a gamer... But yes, I am one hell of a big sister. We got there at 1030 and left at 1215am. Mason's been playing ever since. Crazy!!!

     Brantley was introduced to a quarter sheet last night. After bucking and crow-hopping and trying to run away (so glad I get to use a round pen). I finally got him to slow down, think about it and just walk without shutting down. YAY PONY!