Gussers.

Okay, here's my complete update on my senior pony Gus. (He's not really a pony...he's 15.2hh) This summer, we discovered a bump the size of a small golf ball near his sheath area. We are not sure if it is a tumor or not, or if it is cancerous. We are going to have the vet out to a biopsy on it as soon as we are able to afford it. While he's out, the vet is also going to float his teeth and clean his sheath, as both are long overdue. Gus has a really bad cough too, so we'll also have the vet, who from now on is referred to as Karen, look at that.

Lately, Gus hasn't been doing much at all. In fact, I hardly see him. After we sold Buck he got extremely flighty, very quickly. Now, we have cows in our pasture for his company. However, they will be butchered next Saturday (and don't hate me for this, as I am a vegetarian and will not be partaking in our home-raised meat. It completely disgusts me.) However, the cows scare the crap out of me, as they try to run you over the minute you step inside the pasture. Gus has happily bonded to these very same cows. Gus is also extremely happy that no one bothers him with grooming anymore. He is very content to see me once in the morning for his hay, eat it, promptly tell me to go the heck away, and go play with his cows. He enjoys the 'little human contact' life very much.

I, on the other hand, miss my lovable pony. So, after the cows...'leave'....Gus will predictably go into a depression, with no companion animals. So, I intend to be that companion animal for Gus! Gus will then have to turn to me for all the attention he needs. Within a few weeks, predictably, as Gus's behavior is never really surprising, he will be again bonded to me and not flighty like a wild mustang. This will mean various changes in both of our schedules though...I'll have to get up earlier every morning to feed and groom him, probably at around 5:30 on Mondays, 6:30on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and then at like 7 for Thursday and Friday, and later on the weekends.

Now, we have to get the top of our barn torn down before the wind starts picking up this winter. Last year, and some day I'll post the aftermath pictures, our hay loft blew apart and caused some major damage. We're going to build Gus a lean-to for this winter though, because the barn is falling apart and it is not adequate shelter. We'll put those nice rubber mats in it, [those super expensive but yet amazing mats that barns use in their stalls, we have a ton of excess mats] and supply lots of shavings for him to keep warm with, because I decided not to blanket him this year. It'll be a fully enclosed lean-to, so when the weather gets really harsh, we can shut him inside and know that he'll be okay. My dad loves to make things bigger than they need to be, so it'll be roomy, with enough room for a water trough and feed bins inside. I don't know when we're going to start building this though, that's the problem. My dad is being a procrastinator.

Overall, I'm not exactly looking forward to this winter. The winters here are harsh and severely cold, with wind gales forceful enough to knock you off your feet. Ew. I'm also really worried about Gus's health condition, and can't wait for the vet to come. That reminds me, it's time to schedule another farrier appointment....Gus has a huge crack in one of his front hooves. Wish me luck for winter horse keeping!