Rea update- the one eyed wonder mare!

For those that read the blog you probably already know that Rea lost her eye in July.  We tried everything (as seen in previous post) and it just wasn't meant to be. During our wonderful trip to Germany it was evident she was very uncomfortable and I spoke with Dr. Jornigan and we decided that the best thing for her would be to remove the eye.

During recovery hay was the best medicine! She has a catheter that goes directly under the eye to deposit medicine. This was the week before she lost her eye. 

I had a breakdown I'm not going to lie. I had just bought this horse and it seemed that our career was over. Now I realize I was not being fair to her.  I hadn't even given her a chance to show me what she can do!! When I got home I got another jolt when I saw her for the first time without the eye.  But then things started looking up!  I rode her at Gale's for the first time and she was SUPER. No spook no nothing! Since then we haven't looked back! She did her first jump at home like it was nothing new and we have gone to our first jumping show and cross country school.

First Jumper show October 2015

 Then just in early December she did her first CT.  Due to jumping the wrong course- actually doing the 2'3" division course instead of the 2" division course after a mishap with the secretary we would have won our division! Her dressage score was a 29 and our test comments made me sooo happy!

Already jumping so much better- double clear doing 2'3" December 2015

 She is an absolute doll and now that we have found a wonderful dressage trainer that has told us we can reach the stars we have set pretty big goals!

Goals for 2016:
Go to two Horse Trials - 18" or 2'
Go to at least 4 schooling CT ending at 2'6" by next winter- be ready to move up to Beg novice HT in  early 2016.
Go to our first recognized dressage show- debut at Training.
Complete a first level dressage schooling show- score above 60%
Be ready to get our first scores toward our bronze medal in 2017.


I think these are all very attainable and will allow us to move up consistently in all 3 phases without risk of panic or *gasp* injury.

These will all lead to our lifetime goals which are ones I never thought I would do....
Lifetime goals:
Get my bronze medal- 2 different scores above 60% at a recognized show at First, Second, and Third level
Do a recognized Novice HT.

Leaving Paris and onto Germany

The last day in Paris was a short half day. We had our normal leisurely breakfast and then split up to explore the city a bit more. We tried to go to a few museums but they were all closed. I guess I am destined to go back to Paris because I have now been their twice and not made it to Musee d'Orsay.  The train ride was so much fun.  I love traveling by train and Terri had never been on one (that fast). It was a bullet train we hit 308 km/hr at one point! It was great to be able to see the scenery. We got in late and expected to take the S-Bahn to Winnenden where Leonie would pick us up.  But she surprised us!!! I was so happy to see her- we had only been apart a few days but in the month she stayed with us we became inseparable.  We crammed all 4 of us and our luggage into her tiny Ford fiesta (we should have gotten a picture!) Then settled in and got a nice long sleep. That next morning we went to go have second breakfast with Opa.  The first breakfast was AMAZING so much food! And Leonie prepared it all! Then we packed up and took a walk to Oma's grave to say hi and give her new roses.

Of course I found a cute calf on the way!

Doesn't he look so great?

That night we headed down to Stuttgart for Dinner and a bit of shopping we were a bit rushed but had a great Swabian meal at a restaurant sitting outside. 

Paris Day 2

You always know your vacation is not of the "relaxing" kind if you get out of bed and stand on your feet and they almost don't support you because they ACHE!
We started day 2 with yet another amazing breakfast- I had baguette and jelly again :)

 All smiles even though we hurt and where HOT 

We took the Metro to to go Sacre Cure and Momontre. They are very romantic and my favorite part of the city. 

Momontre is an artists corner. There is a wonderful square in the city where artists have their easels set up and paint directly in the street with their finished products available to buy.  You could have set me out and left me there. Of course it is a bit toursity- there were portrait artists and caracaturists but there were many great original artitsts and their amazing work.   We also stopped to find more delicious food - mussels because it was Emily's favorite!

We then walked over to the area around the Moulin Rouge and on the walk found this beautiful terrace with these amazing flowers! 

The Moulin Rouge is just another iconic place to see and the street leading up to it has a pretty amazing array of adult stores which we just glanced at from the outside....which was enough for us! 

On the way to the last stop of the day we went to Notre Dame.  Very cool- very intimidating. What a gorgeous church- the pictures speak for themselves...

That night we got tickets to see the very top of the Eiffel Tower.  I of course had to find a bathroom because the line was super long. I waited at a public bathroom (like our portajohns but hey have automatic doors which opened and closed when people went in. It was taking forever so I just ran to the nearest cafe. By the time I was done I had made my whole family wait and wait at the entrance because they couldn't buy tickets without me. We ended up being the last few people they allowed to buy tickets for that night (whoops). 

I am very afraid of heights so the elevator ride was terrifying. First you go at an  angle across to get up the "feet" Then you start going STRAIGHT UP! The view was very worth it and I'm glad I can say I have been to the top!

Paris day 1

The fearless travelers - Justin and I not pictured of course

The trip to Europe snuck up on me. Between work, Rea (update soon), and getting the farm ready to leave I didn't pack my my bags until 10:30 pm the night before we flew. I am usually packed about a week before we go. The flight was great- I watched Still Alice one of the academy award winning movies and throughly enjoyed it. I slept a good bit (even through the ice cream treat!) and was rather well rested when we landed. Michi picked us up at the airport and drove us to our hotel.

I'm always finding a four legged creature! 

I had been to Paris once before and I did not enjoy myself very much. I was determined for this experience to be different. When we got to the hotel we were able to check in. We took showers and refreshed for the long day ahead of us.For those of you that haven't been to Europe before it is very important to stay awake the first day since we land in the morning in order to ensure that you don't suffer from jet lag badly. We had a glorious breakfast where i just had baguette and jelly- delicious and nutritious :) I thought Germany has good bread but you really can't beat French baguette!

We started out the day at the Arc de Triumph since our hotel was so close to the Arc. Then we made our way down the champs elysees . Once you start walking you might as well keep going. We passed the Obelix and went onto the Louvre. 

We didn't have much time but the Louvre is something that everyone needs to see. We went through it in under 

1.5 hours and hit the highlights. We went through the wonderful pieces of art and admired them while walking....

We went on the hunt for the big things- mainly the Mona Lisa. They even have handy signs to get you there! 












Don't get too excited this is literally how big the room is and how small the painting is. 







On the way back from the Louvre we unexpectedly ran into this bridge




We weren't even looking for it but we found the bridge of locks. Justin and I thought they had removed it because we saw on the news they were taking it down due to sheer weight- but I think these area ll new locks. The dates looked relatively new. What a cool piece of Paris.

After that we were very tired and our feet ached from walking. We decided to take the Metro to the Eiffel tower and then find dinner.







Our dinner that night was delectable I had snails and a wonderful cut of beef.  We were not opposed to a early bed time and made our way to the hotel for yet another shower (it was VERY hot) and bedtime!

Fungus Among-us

Rea and I have had a wonderful summer riding and even went and did a two day intense Weekend Warrior dressage camp. (I needed a good butt whooping when it comes to dressage!) We had a blast....thanks Britt for coming being my cheerleader and taking GREAT photos!




Well Rea tried her best not to go and poked her eye on Thursday before the clinic- she is lucky (or unlucky) her mom is a vet and on Friday her eye looked like this.... Success!

The clinic was amazing and we had a blast! But on Saturday her eye was swollen again- dang mare! I started her on a very strict regiment of Antibiotics and added in antifungals as well as antiinflammatories.  Well her eye was still swollen shut for these photos Sunday but she rode in the clinic with a bum eye.

I took her home but had a bad gut feeling so I kept her at my neighbors house to keep her close. Tuesday my vet gut wouldn't shut up so I took a cytology (scraped some cells off and put them on a slide). Low and behold there was fungus. I called the big wigs at the university and they said get her up here now! My mom came to the rescue and drove with me and Gale graciously let me use her trailer as ours is still being repaired. We left right after work and then got home at 2am- wouldn't recommend round trips to Raleigh with such quick turn around.

We got to the university at 8pm and she was immediately examined and a catheter placed into her eye for aggressive treatment.  We discussed surgery but it was a stretch that we would even have to go.  Long story short- she will have been in the hospital for 21 days and has had 2 surgeries by the time she comes home.  It was hard being a vet and still not being able to get your horse right. Fungus is very aggressive and impossible to get rid of - I have a new respect for it!

It has been a very crazy emotional roller coaster with work being absolutely crazy on top of this battle! She is finally coming home Tuesday and I am so glad! She is still going to have to endure some treatment- she will be on eye meds for 5 weeks after she gets home.  She will also have a permanent blind spot in her left eye.  I can't believe that I would have the horse that would have the fungal infection that seems to be mutant and so determined to take her eye.  I have to thank my parents who without them I would have given up after the first surgery. I was willing to go ahead and take her eye out.  Wow - so glad they were optimisitic and pushed me to try again! For all you horse people out there-- don't let eye problems go it is always a veterinary emergency!