Macho Update, and sad news..

I've been holding off providing any Mach updates as I've wanted to
take some time and *****s <g>...and well, because sometimes life
throws curveballs at you and you don't have time to think good
things....

first, the good news-Macho is likeing his new digs.  We came home to a
new barn in April after his month of boot camp with debbie.  Now at a
farm 30 minutes south, rather than north of us...nice size stalls,
good pasture fencing, good grass.  Macho has two new pasture mates,
that he respects and does not try to kill..Bob adn Buster, two nubian
goats.  (it's a riot...the three of them LUFFeach other!).  but the
real attraction is the BO, Courtney...shes a trainer and is the 4-h
education leader....so we had met her in the fall.  Katie really
really likes Courtney, and one benefit of this boarding situation, we
don't have to trailer out for lessons.

katie's confidence is growing....each week i see improvement.
Courtney is also riding Mach for us two days a week, to get his
freight train canter turned into a lope.  We aren't at lope yet,
however we do have a nice fairly well balanced slow canter going right
now...I'm very pleased.  I think having Courtney ride is helping to
keep Macho on the straight and narrow, and keep the buttons debbied
installed, well INSTALLED!.

This week at katie's lesson, katie asked for a canter, and got the
wrong lead...instead of breaking down the gait and reasking, she just
said "ok" and turned the horse so they were now circling on the
correct lead.  i know this may seem like small potatoes, but for
Katie, it's huge.  Everyone had a smile for that one.  I'll take my
first lesson with Courtney this week...as long as macho gets a shoe
tacked on (he lost one between saturday night and sunday morning...)

All in all, I'm very pleased with horsie life...

on a sad note, in may, my 7 year old bernese mountain dog, robbie, was
diagnosed with stage four lymphoma--in the liver and spleen.  it's
been a rough 5 weeks...she had gone off her feed and i thought it was
another round of colitis...but the vet thought not...after a few weeks
of various tests...this is what it is (the initial needle biopsy of
lymph node came back inconclusive).  We are treating with steroids, as
the situation is not a good scenario for chemo.  so, we are enjoying
what time we have left with her.  I'm amazed at how well the pred
makes her feel...she's back loving food, and in general, is back being
happy.  so, for anyone who can spare some good thoughts, prayers, or
karma for our robbie girl, we'd appreciate them...

betsey