Warm Weather Woes

What on earth could be woeful about today's wonderful weather? Warm winds whistled over the crusty mud, some places almost beginning to dry, almost. Bright sunshine teasing winter white skin. Away from the calendars, or before five thirty in the evening, one might have mistaken today for a spring day. The time I got to spend outdoors was greatly enjoyed, and my gratitude to our Lord was acknowledged. Still...the unseasonal heat wave wreaks havoc on livestock and humans alike. Horses are delicate creatures when it comes to digestive health. The sharp ups and downs of the thermometer confuses and stresses the equine mental and physical makeup. Stress affects their digestive systems and which can lead to colic. Colic is the scariest word in a horse owners vocabulary. Well, maybe not the scariest word but one of the top five. Acute surgical colic is what brought down both my mares this summer and fall. Cool woke up ill after a bout of crazy weather changes. No vet would testify to any medical research or data that supports a definite connection between weather and colic, but mine and others have indicated anecdotal evidence supports owners claims. I guess I could add my story to the list, with Cool anyway. Ginger was another story, though I do believe stress played a major role in her disease too.

So as wonderful as today was, and I enjoyed it immensely, I have to admit my nervousness. Since we lost Cool we have begun a new preventative feed change. Whenever we know the temps will or have dropped or risen dramatically over a short time period, we mix a warm bran mash with the horse's morning or evening feed. Working like bran does, it keeps their digestive track moving and hopefully prevents any colic trouble. What I did not mention was that colic is digestive but largely and small intestine centered, and generally simply means abdominal pain. The seriousness of it can vary from a very uncomfortable horse to one that is thrashing and rolling in extreme pain. The true causes are unknown but may number into the hundreds and rarely does the vet or the owner discover to a certainty the culprit. Most cases of colic can be handled by an owner with vet phone assistance, or farm call. Rarely does the animal need to go the a hospital and even less frequently does your animal require surgery. Whoa, I did not intend for this to turn in to a colic tutorial. Anyway, colic's bad, and this wonderful weather may be a factor some times. That being said, I am going to bed. Like all grand gifts from our Lord, was must be remembered is that our eyes must be on Him. Our joys must be acknowledged as Heaven Sent, and our sorrows laid at the foot of the Cross. We need the sunshine and the rain. Both are blessings, both can produce joy or pain; Jesus is Lord over all of it.

And oh, I have not heard from Janet; I should have called her. I will get an update early tomorrow. Thanks for praying.