A Heartfelt Thanks

A Heartfelt Thank You for the blessings of great neighbors.

Nothing displays the true character of your friends and neighbors as well as a crisis.  Last Friday, I was blessed with the opportunity to learn just how incredible is this community of Sonoita.  Just about six I was showing off our property to new students that had arrived for weekend classes.  As we were passing the pastures I realized that a horse was missing.  Now “Peanut” is short and the weeds are high, but she should have been visible.  After hunting for too long a time, I found her.  Brave girl was laying in the weeds with a hole in her left rear leg larger than my hand.

Now I am used to dealing with horses in pain.  But the sight of a large expanse of bone was enough to shock me out of my common sense.  I forgot what tools I have on hand to deal with emergencies.  And I am better equipped than many people.  Thank heavens for my friends.  My students’ first words were “What can we do?”.  Within minutes friends new and old arrived with pain killers and assistance.  My dear friends and vet team were there on a Friday after sunset at the end of a long day filled with other emergencies. 

This experience refreshed my awareness of the bare necessities to have on hand when you care for horses: fast working pain killers like Banamine, gauze, vet wrap, and some sort of antiseptic.  We covered Peanut’s wound with Sangre de Drago, an amazing herb from the Amazon Rainforest, and when I changed the bandages on Sunday there was no smell of infection.  But, of all these necessities, the most important is friends.

How wonderful to live in a community of horse people!  Since moving here about a year ago we have been welcomed by the wonderful people of Sonoita.  Friday was just the latest in the manifestation of love and support.   

And through it all Peanut waited patiently.  As soon as pain relief was provided, she stood up and began to eat.  She reminds me constantly of the importance of putting my priorities in order.  Her prognosis is guarded, but I believe in my heart that next spring she will be back out on pasture, still eating.  And I will be here, with my friends, watching and counting my blessings.