Every time I think about chronicling my journey with Diego,
inevitably I’m not around a computer. My computer usage is down these days
anyway, as is my ability to write coherently.
For the past 10 months now I’ve been overloaded with the care
taking responsibilities that Diego requires. Long story short – last August he
got laminitis, and that was only the beginning. I started a journey to try and
get this horse back to his TRUE nature, mentally and physically. It’s been a
huge puzzle but we have made significant strides toward a healthier body for
Diego. He is Cushings it turns out, and that has slowly been destroying muscle
and soft tissue in his body for years and weakening his immune system. That was
a big part of the puzzle and the driving factor behind his laminitis episode.
The rest of my long, dramatic journey that fall was not so
interesting. It included the constant struggle of me trying to get D’s symptoms
under control (by controlling his diet & environment) and dealing with
moving barns TWICE and the judgment of horse owners who disagreed with my
methods for treating Diego.
I’m happy to report that we moved to someone’s backyard on 5
acres. We’re now pretty relaxed and happy again (D has a girlfriend named
Sadie). Now I’m trying to simplify my life again, and do damage control on our
relationship. I became a very angry, very stressed, unpleasant person to be
around with Diego over the months we were going through all this. Miraculously
he stuck with me through it, but there is a defensive layer of mistrust that
has formed between us again and it really bothers me (mostly because I know the
fault is with me).
Yesterday, I took the time out to drag a lawn chair out into the yard
and sit, holding D’s leadrope under the shade trees for awhile. He sniffed me,
checked in so to speak and then went to dozing. I think he was in pain (long
story, his hooves are sore and he pulled a muscle 2 weeks ago), but he seemed
happier to stand than to be walking elsewhere with me. I can only hope some
part of him remembers sitting with me all the time in that little shed barn at
our old place.
