Recovery...thats the word of the day. My hand that I cut open 10 days ago is healing very well. It still hurts to hold a hair brush, use a squirt bottle or use a body brush using downward strokes. Up until 10 minutes ago I couldnt take the cap off of my water bottle.

Part of my healing has been just getting back out to the barn to interact with my horses. Im a little nervous around them, since I am so protective of my hand right now, but thats fading away each time I go down there.

Since I haven't been going down to the barn as mush, my young horses have become a little naughtier than I would like. Of course no two people are the same and my family members who handle my horses do great but its just different than I would do it. After a week away from them, I think they are happy to get my attention again. Lazz apparently wanted LOTS of attention b/c I brought him in Thursday night to discover a flap of skin opened up on his elbow. Once I cleaned the dirt and sand out of it it didnt look too bad and opted not to call my vet. I have cleaned it out thoroughly with water and betadine twice a day, checked his temp 3 times a day and give him all the hay and water he can eat and drink. He even has his own special grass paddock so he has plenty to eat and can get out and stretch his legs a bit. Im also blanketing him when he's inside to keep him as comfortable as possible. He seems totally fine, you wouldnt even notice there was something wrong unles you saw the cut. Even though he's healing I worry about if I did the right thing. What if something unforseen goes wrong and it ends up being worse? What if I did have the vet out? They would probably tell me to do what Im already doing, Right?

He doesnt have a temperature. No lameness. No change in diet or behavior. The swelling went down the next day. Still I worry. I always worry. After losing two horses to colic (in three years) and one mini to god knows what while I was on vacation (this summer). I feel almost like I am the angel of death or something. I dont think I am a bad horse person. I feel like I have really bad luck, but what would people think if something bad happeneed to another one of my horses? I would think its time to give them up or something.

I love Lazz very much and I hope I am doing the right thing by him. I am going to re-evaluate his situation again in the morning when I treat him. If it doesnt start looking better then I will have the vet come out.

On top of the stuff with my hand and Lazz' cut, I noticed today when I brought Fergie in to work with her that she has rain rot. Jeeze Great! Another thing. I am now treating that too. Tomorrow I hope to give her a full bath to take care of it. How fun. Im sure we'll both just LOVE a bath when its 40 something degrees out.

The joys of horses right? Right!

On the bright side...since my hand is doing better I got to work Fergie and Amigo two days in a row! At least that stuff lifts my spirits!