Update on Trifecta

Update on Trifecta

Blogging has been tough.  Life has gotten very difficult, and my concentration levels have decreased.  If you may recall, my dog, Maggie, passed away in November.  At the time, my cat, Thunder, was doing pretty good.  He has never been a good eater, but he was eating more than ever for a while there--then he stopped.  I took him to the vet, and he has stage 4 kidney failure. This was quite a surprise, since his blood work from late August showed healthy kidneys.  He was bad enough that the vet said euthanasia was justified--though not necessary at that point.  

I decided to take a try at treating him to give him a chance.  I have had experience with this with my Siamese Cat, Indi.  Thunder was still engaged with the world--I thought he needed a chance.  Neither the vet nor I were very optimistic, but with a lot of care and the help of modern medicine, he pulled through.  It's been about 5 weeks, now, which is 3 weeks longer than I expected.  His kidney numbers have actually improved, but other numbers aren't so great.  His appetite is off and on, and that is the hardest part for me.  I don't mind giving him the fluids and medications to help him out, but it is all for naught if he keeps losing weight.

He is 17 years old, so I am realistic about this--but that makes my emotions that much worse.

There have been a few other really big, awful things going on that I prefer not to go into here--but they are also weighing me down.

It has been quite a roller coaster ride for me, emotionally, and the consequences are an inability to write and keep everybody up on Trifecta.  There has been a lot to write about, but I have missed it.

Here is an update.

Clicker training continues to go well.  All those things that he did that drove me crazy have nearly disappeared--and in a very short time, too.  He's barely biting at me, the lead rope and the lounge line.  When I lounge him, he hasn't been having his "temper tantrums" which included bolting, bucking and rearing.  He seldom tries to visit the horses in the stalls on the perimeter of the arena.  I can get him to go past Ellen and Kevin without him stopping to visit them--everything is just so much better!

We have started the introduction to ground driving.  He is beginning to understand it.  We only do it for 5-10 minutes at a time--just for something to do to entertain him.  Some days are better than others due to his short attention span.  After all, he still has the brain of a 2-year-old.

We turn him out to play when the weather permits, but here in northeast Ohio in February, the weather can be a problem.  I can't wait for spring!

He still seems to be growing.  Lately, he started shedding.  I have been wondering if he will be the light colored chestnut I bought or the darker one he became with his winter coat.  I like both colors, so it doesn't matter to me other than to quench curiosity.

I really need to measure him. I have a feeling he has reached 14.1 hands, and he is getting broader and more Morgan-like every day.  In fact, he is turning out to be quite the pretty horse.