CLOUD

[mykingdomforahorse]

I talked to Cloud's hauler again this evening, and he's doing great, and eating and drinking. He's settled in and is having no problems.

My husband and I spent the evening and night pulling apart the corral panels (he calls them my "grown-up Legos", lol) and we fashioned the two connecting corrals into two separate corrals about 50 or 60 feet apart, which is the most we could space it (within the clearing).

It looks pretty strange out there, and my boys definitely know now that something is up! They have the back corral, the larger one, since there are 3 of them. They aren't real happy to be contained, even though it's a big space, but have settled in. Here and there they keep coming to the fence line, checking on the front corral to see if someone or something is in there. They're in for a big surprise!

Cloud is projected to arrive here around 4 or 5 pm tomorrow. Or actually today -- it's after midnight already! I am definitely off to bed early tonight. With all the preparations and hustle going on, my husband said you'd think the Queen of England was coming. He's excited too.

He's working extra hours right now, but plans to jet home for Cloud's arrival, to meet him and to take photos. I've said it a million times already, but I'm so excited.

Em

[swissgrl]

Did he get there? Today is Tuesday, and he's supposed to be home, no?
Can't wait to see updates of Cloud!

[mykingdomforahorse]

Hi Swissgrl!

It's only a matter of hours now before Cloud arrives. I've been outside cleaning panels with bleach solution all morning, I'm finally finished, and just had to come in the house for some AC. It's 94 today, although it's much better out there than it's been all summer. All I need to do now is scrub the water bucket and then wait for him to finally show up!

3 horses get dropped around the Phoenix area first, and then it's straight South to our ranch with Cloud. The hauler said after 4, around 5 or later, so I'm watching the clock.

Em

swissgrl said:

Did he get there? Today is Tuesday, and he's supposed to be home, no?
Can't wait to see updates of Cloud!

[paintedlady]

I am sooooooooo excited for you !! We will need lots of pictures. ;D

[agilitygal]

It's getting close! How exciting!!!! Can't wait for updates and pictures. I think this one will be well worth the wait and effort.

[mykingdomforahorse]

Thank you!

Now I'm just sitting here waiting, got the AC cranked and I think the clocks are broken because the hands are moving way too slow!

Let me fiddle around with photos and see if I can post any, so I am ready to go with Cloud's photos for everyone.

Em

paintedlady said:

I am sooooooooo excited for you !! We will need lots of pictures. ;D

[mykingdomforahorse]

So close!

And definitely worth the wait and effort. Everything here is disinfected and clean and all ready for Cloud. It feels like a holiday!

Em

agilitygal said:

It's getting close! How exciting!!!! Can't wait for updates and pictures. I think this one will be well worth the wait and effort.

[agilitygal]

Yes. A Thanksgiving holiday for both you and for Cloud. Much to be thankful for. . .

[cybercat]

We're cyber-holding hands with you and your hubby, Em! Is Cloud there yet?

(We're going to keep bugging you until we get a report!)

Gee, hope you don't have Rush Hour out in the desert area...

[jenm]

Is he home yet?!

[mykingdomforahorse]

You guys are wonderful.

Nope, he isn't home yet! I just came running in the house screaming he's here, he's here, as I saw a truck with a big horse trailer come down the road! But it was a neighbor's, lol!

Still waiting!

Em

[cybercat]

Hahaha!

[swissgrl]

ohhhh, my, that must be so hard to sit there. I think a lot of us have been there, and can feel for you.

I remember when Arrow came home, I was in Europe, my phonebill was astronomical that day, I must have called home every 30 minutes....

It'll be so much worth the wait.

[mykingdomforahorse]

Doo doodoo, la la la, doo doodoo ...

Every time the dogs bark, I'm looking out the window.

I'm gonna wear a groove in the floor.

Phone's ringing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!

Em

swissgrl said:

ohhhh, my, that must be so hard to sit there. I think a lot of us have been there, and can feel for you.

I remember when Arrow came home, I was in Europe, my phonebill was astronomical that day, I must have called home every 30 minutes....

It'll be so much worth the wait.

[caryn]

LOL...I know how ya feel Em. I couldn't sleep the night before my kid's arrived. Congratulations and hugs while you wait

[mykingdomforahorse]

Thanks Caryn.

The ringing phone was the hauler, and according to his gps he was 1 hr and 42 min.s away -- he should be here by 11 pm.

Hooray!

Almost time! I couldn't sleep last night either, lol. I'm going on 4 hours sleep tops, I have a cold that picked today to really hit me, and I did think dayquil wasn't supposed to make you drowsy!

My excitement, though, is like caffeine And I'm not going to want to leave him tonight! My husband said he'll pitch a tent, lol. Like Arabs and their riders across the deserts of old. Almost tempted, but the coyotes are so close lately they freak me out. I even saw one INSIDE the round corral last night!

Cloud is the last horse on the big old empty trailer. He cried as the horses were unloaded -- this boy really wants to bond ... and he'll get his wish. He'll never lose another person or horse bond again. And I love him already.

tick tock, tick tock, tock tick ...

Em

caryn said:

LOL...I know how ya feel Em. I couldn't sleep the night before my kid's arrived. Congratulations and hugs while you wait

[djrepp]

Best wishes for you and your horse! I had my horses cultured to make sure they were ok. Once the cultures came back negative the vet told me to keep them separate for another 2-3 weeks. They were just fine!

[leosolis]

mykingdomforahorse said:

Thanks Caryn.

The ringing phone was the hauler, and according to his gps he was 1 hr and 42 min.s away -- he should be here by 11 pm.

Hooray!

Almost time! I couldn't sleep last night either, lol. I'm going on 4 hours sleep tops, I have a cold that picked today to really hit me, and I did think dayquil wasn't supposed to make you drowsy!

My excitement, though, is like caffeine And I'm not going to want to leave him tonight! My husband said he'll pitch a tent, lol. Like Arabs and their riders across the deserts of old. Almost tempted, but the coyotes are so close lately they freak me out. I even saw one INSIDE the round corral last night!

Cloud is the last horse on the big old empty trailer. He cried as the horses were unloaded -- this boy really wants to bond ... and he'll get his wish. He'll never lose another person or horse bond again. And I love him already.

tick tock, tick tock, tock tick ...

Em

caryn said:

LOL...I know how ya feel Em. I couldn't sleep the night before my kid's arrived. Congratulations and hugs while you wait

OMG....this is killing me...I can't imagine what its doing to you.
I also am so thankful that you adopted cloud..he needed YOU. HE is very very blessed.

[cybercat]

mykingdomforahorse said:

Thanks Caryn.

The ringing phone was the hauler, and according to his gps he was 1 hr and 42 min.s away -- he should be here by 11 pm.

Hooray!

Almost time! I couldn't sleep last night either, lol. I'm going on 4 hours sleep tops, I have a cold that picked today to really hit me, and I did think dayquil wasn't supposed to make you drowsy!

My excitement, though, is like caffeine And I'm not going to want to leave him tonight! My husband said he'll pitch a tent, lol. Like Arabs and their riders across the deserts of old. Almost tempted, but the coyotes are so close lately they freak me out. I even saw one INSIDE the round corral last night!

Cloud is the last horse on the big old empty trailer. He cried as the horses were unloaded -- this boy really wants to bond ... and he'll get his wish. He'll never lose another person or horse bond again. And I love him already.
tick tock, tick tock, tock tick ...

Em

And we love YOU, Em! Thanks for taking Cloud and being ready and willing to be his LAST HOME! It does my heart good.

[mykingdomforahorse]

{{{{{{{{{{{{ Leanne }}}}}}}}}}}}

Awwww! You guys are the greatest. Thank you for caring so much, and for sharing in my excitement!

CLOUD IS *AWESOME* !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and {{{{{{{{{{{{ Shawna! }}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Again, I want to thank you with all my heart for taking such good care of Cloud.

I'm pretty much posting my email to Shawna because I can't say it better:

Cloud looks so much better and especially improved weight-wise in comparison to his lot photos! Shawna did an AWESOME job.

I *love* him! He's just the biggest sweetheart. He got out of the truck crouching, and I had to scooch down to see him. He had to get his land legs back, and then he ate for almost 2 hours straight. I stayed out with him until about 3 am, sitting on the ground next to him, and we had a great chat.

I wanted to stay with him until he ate, peed, pooped and drank. Mission accomplished. : )

He is aching to be with my geldings, and my geldings are just too interested in him, too -- since he arrived, they gather at their fence line all perky eared and staring. My Mustang is smitten! : )

You can see in the one photo (I sent Shawna photos she'll post for me -- I can't get photobucket to work on dial up yet) -- the sorrel is my mustang Shooting Star (Peanut) and the big blue roan is Mr. Bean. They're looking over at Cloud in that photo.

The first thing Cloud did was call to them like long lost brothers. Awwwwww, too sweet. He slept last night by the fence line closest to them, and they did the same.

He's wonderful. Just a big WOW. And, lucky lucky me! Someone wasn't thinking straight, to have ever let him go. He's beautiful, sound as sound can be, calm, sweet, non-spooky and affectionate. Sensitive and SMART and I LOVE him. My husband Jack thinks he's so cute; it was so sweet to see him having a quiet conversation with Cloud while scratching his neck.

I cried last night, watching him and thinking of this precious horse's almost-fate; what a huge, huge waste that such a wonderful boy like him could've ended up at slaughter. It's incomprehensible! I feel blessed he's here, and so lucky that I get to be his soft place to land.

The only issue I see with him is his teeth. He'll be much better after a floating for sure. And he has one lower tooth that's only a half tooth, and that's half black. The vet will be out on Wednesday and he'll have his dental. I could easily imagine him, if he hadn't had intervention, eventually colicking from having trouble chewing his food. He's eating senior, his grass that Shawna sent with him, and our and his alfalfa. Our alfalfa is almost all leaves, we're going slow with the change, but it's easier for him to chew.

He's a real diamond in the rough. He's pretty dirty from sleeping in his manure, and because during transport they got rained on, and snowed on, too. Night and day weather here, of course. Pretty breezy today, and cloudy (how fitting, as we've been calling him Cloudy) so we all got a break from the relentless heat.

I'm hovering like crazy, watching his nose for runniness and keeping an eye on his respiration and temperature. He's settling in great, and now comes over to see me when I walk toward him. He let me brush him head to toe, this afternoon, too; after about an hour of desensitizing for fly spray, now he doesn't even bat an eye when I spray him. It only took five minutes or so to convince him to let me put on his fly mask. He's absolutely amazing.

At first he wouldn't come to me at all -- he was very attached to the two hauler men, and was sad (head hanging) when he watched them leave. But by this afternoon, he's bonded with me intensely, especially after the brushing! He was in heaven! As I bent down to brush his chest, he rested his head on my head and just sighed. I told him, "Welcome to heaven, Cloud!" (And without the scary, painful death part.)

I have lots of photos from today, too. Poor Shawna, posting them all for me! Big thanks for that! If anyone else might trust me with their email, to post photos of Cloud for me, please PM me, and I'll email today's photos.

Last night, after I finally was back inside, I went online before going to bed to tell all of you how things went, but found I was *banned* from the group (by mistake, sharing a banned person's IP)! It's the only reason I didn't post last night! I was SO disappointed, lol!

Cloud has the same body type and mannerisms as Takoda -- I *love* that. Brought a little Takoda back to the ranch. I know they're both Arabs, but depending on lines and breeding, not all Arabs look alike -- but Cloud is like a smaller version of Takoda in body type. It made me smile, and it felt like Takoda was there giving Cloud and I his blessing.

I told Jack it feels like I've come full circle -- I was out most of the night sitting with Cloud -- the last time I spent the night out with a horse, it was saying goodbye to Takoda.

Em

[swissgrl]

YEAY for Cloud and Em, Congratulations for having your boy home!!!
Can't wait to see pictures!!!

[mykingdomforahorse]

Thanks Diane! That's a good idea.

So far, so good. No signs of illness, he's eating, drinking, and doing his business.

Em

djrepp said:

Best wishes for you and your horse! I had my horses cultured to make sure they were ok. Once the cultures came back negative the vet told me to keep them separate for another 2-3 weeks. They were just fine!

[cybercat]

SNIFF.....

A homecoming as wonderful as I'd hoped it would be for both of you....

Cloud must have been so bewildered and frightened by his circumstances...I can't even imagine what these animals must go through during this horrifying process.

I'll never forget reading the comments of someone who attended an auction....a poor terrified older mare sent through the ring trying desperately to show the tricks she had been taught...
it just hurts my heart every time I remember reading it.

If you would like, Em, I can give you my email too...Just PM me if you want it.

Once again, CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!

Leanne

[mykingdomforahorse]

On Wednesday night, we noticed Cloud seemed more sedate than he'd been. He'd been depressed after losing Shawna and his friends at the Lazy Spur, and then losing the hauler men, but it was more than that ...

I was worried he was either coming down with a cold from the stress, or not feeling well for some other reason. My husband and I took turns Wednesday night setting the alarm for each other and checking Cloud every 2 hours throughout the night (which is why we slept in, but still even then taking turns checking on Cloud. Better safe than sorry.)

By afternoon, something was definitely wrong -- his respiration started to rise, you could see his sides heaving, he looked bloated, and began to feel moist to the touch, but without a fever. I knew it was colic. I put a call in to my vet, only to find that he was gone until Sunday, so I called the vet on call. Ten minutes later she was on the phone, and she was wonderful, answering all my questions and listening to my run down of symptoms. By then, Cloud was pawing in place, with his head hanging again and his ears pinned whenever I came near him. My poor baby boy.

I'd been so careful introducing him to new food, adding small amounts to the hay and alfalfa Shawna sent with him for transport. I just think the stress and losses sent him into a digestive upset.

Sara (cutiepiepmu) you are a godsend, and I mean it -- THANK YOU!!!! Because of you, I had the probiotic gel to give Cloud if needed, as I planned to ask my vet about it, too. I borrowed some from a neighbor, as our feed store carries it. But, because of you and your post reply to me, I had it to give him when the on-call vet said, "You probably don't have it, but you wouldn't have probiotics? The gel?"

Yes! We gave Cloud a dosing, and then picked up all his food for 6 hours. By the end of that time frame, the scare was over. Thank God! He's getting the probios gel every day now, and I'll talk to my vet on Monday and go from there.

So, for now he gets his evening bran mashes, his Probios Equine One gel and just his own grass and alfalfa. This Wednesday the vet will be out for a check up and etc., plus a floating if he thinks Cloud is up for it. The farrier will be out to trim this weekend.

I'm just so glad for a happy ending. Cloud is now prancing when he walks, his head and tail are held high and I saw in his eyes today that he gets it -- it clicked -- this is a good place -- it's all going to be okay.

He's been talking to me all day, too, as I pop in and out. I love that about him. His real personality is shining through now that he's feeling better and knows us better. He likes to smell me, lol! He likes my Miss Dior Cherie perfume. (Gotta keep it a little girly around here, when constantly covered in dirt and horse nose juice!)

Em

[hystyle]

So glad Cloud is OK! My CBER boy Max choked yesterday. I don't know why they like to worry us like they do!

Cloud sounds so wonderful. I am looking forward to seeing some new pic's of him now that he is home!

[mykingdomforahorse]

Thank you, Hystyle! I hope Max is okay!

My husband Jack thinks it's a horse conspiracy, that they wait until the middle of the night and holidays to have issues!

I'll have photos posted soon, with Leanne and Shawna's help. Cloud is dirty in them, but we didn't want to stress him out further by washing him right out of transport, and the temps dropped suddenly the last few days. Tomorrow, which should be hot again, he'll get a morning bath. In the meantime I'm brushing him to get some of the miscellaneous stuff off him.

Em

mta -- I've never seen a horse with such a thick coat! He's a wooley booley for sure! He feels like an angora cat!

hystyle said:

So glad Cloud is OK! My CBER boy Max choked yesterday. I don't know why they like to worry us like they do!

Cloud sounds so wonderful. I am looking forward to seeing some new pic's of him now that he is home!

[cybercat]

Hi Em...

How's the boy today? Is he still talking to the other horses?

Oh, and if you sent me an email with pics, I do not appear to have received it....

[mykingdomforahorse]

Hey Leanne!

I haven't sent the pics yet, been off the computer the last day and a half with this horrible flu. I'm feeling awful still, and still am doing the daily care for the horses and dogs. Usually my husband would send me to bed and take over where he can, but he's working extra and strange hours, so I'm dragging myself through it, then collapsing into bed inbetween when I can peel myself away from our Cloudy boy.

Cloud is doing GREAT! His weight is up, I'd say back where it was when he left Shawna's place. He was definitely dehydrated off the transport. Which is pretty normal, but it's amazing how it makes them (dehydration) look so much thinner than they actually are. He nickers and nickers for food, (breaks my heart terribly to think of him doing this in the past and no one responding -- this boy is *overjoyed* when he sees the flakes coming) and he was a bit angry with me the last few days (ear pinning, but not threatening or anything -- typical grumpy Arab not getting his way, lol) when I pulled back his food to avoid more colic.

His alfalfa from WA is gone, so now he's getting a 1/2 flake in the am and pm, and now another 1/2 inbetween of AZ alfalfa, after weaning him on to it. He has free feed hay, both ours and his from WA. Our alfalfa is very rich, almost all flowers and his system had to adjust. He's also still getting his probios gel. The guy at the feedstore is from Northern Oregon and said he had the same problem with his horses getting colicky when switching to AZ alfalfa. He too used the probios gel successfully.

I noticed today that Cloud's manure is wetter than normal, although not quite diarrhea, so I'm cutting back on the amount of his evening bran mash. My regular vet has stayed in touch since Monday, checking on him. He'll be out here tomorrow at 9:30 am for Cloud's work up and a dental if Cloud is up to it. Can't wait!

Overall, he's settled in well! He's an alert, sensitive boy -- a real "dream horse" -- and the complete opposite of what people are led to believe about slaughter-bound horses. He's been let down and disappointed, of course, and it shows -- he'll be very, very affectionate, and then pull back and walk away to observe me from a slight distance, as if unsure. He flinches when being touched on certain parts of his body, again unsure. But not once has he offered any behavior that scares or concerns me.

Last night, he was startled by an owl swooping over, with me standing real close -- and instead of knocking into me, he startled in place, without a doubt protecting my space. He's as sweet as they come, acting protectively crusty on the outside, but inside a big softie. He really wants the bond, and we'll let him forge it on his own timetable. He's less clingy, now that's he's no longer afraid of his surroundings. He loves watching the rescue dogs wrestle and play, and is very interested in the butterflies! It's "butterfly season" here, and yesterday a huge pale yellow butterfly was perched on his back.

He desperately wants to be with the other geldings, and yes, still calls to them and plasters himself to the fence line closest to their corral on and off throughout the day. We let our boys free roam the space they have, but we have one stall for medical or emergency, attached to the corral Cloud is in, which I've tied open for Cloud to use for extra shade. Too cute, that every night when darkness falls, he stalls HIMSELF, lol, for the night. He can still go in and out, but he goes in and lies down throughout the night.

It's wonderful to see him feeling well and happy. Twice so far, he's trotted around his corral -- once out of joy, another time to meet me when I was bringing his flakes. He's a beauty. I can't wait to see him all filled out and clean -- we've had a cold spell due to winter weather around the country, so hopefully the winds will recede so we can wash him this weekend. I've been brushing the mud and shavings off him in the meantime, and brushing him to aid the developing bond.

I'll send you the photos hopefully tonight, and if not tonight then tomorrow. Depends upon how much steam I still have left by later.

Em

cybercat said:

Hi Em...

How's the boy today? Is he still talking to the other horses?

Oh, and if you sent me an email with pics, I do not appear to have received it....

[leosolis]

Here are the long awaited pictures that Em sent me.
Arriving


Meeting Em


happy horse

[agilitygal]

Wow. He already looks much better than his feedlot pictures! Many hugs and kisses.