Saying Good-by to Mika

I was outside before 6:00 am to check on Sheena. She is still not waxing but her udder is getting fuller. Dancer and her colt were let out to graze. 

I was over at the barn cleaning by 6:00 am and finished just before our walk time of 7:30 am. Only Diane and I walked this morning. Ruth is now in Romania and Joan had co-op. We had to skip the cabin lane as there was a machine blocking one part and a tree down on Diane's side. 

After the walk and after breakfast I left for Sam's club to pick up the food for the Mother's Day party on Sunday. Once home I went out to empty the manure wagon but quit about half way to rest my arms from shoveling. 

That wagon holds a lot of manure.

Sarah brought the girls out to ride Cookie but first River needed to groom her.

Sarah had a friend come out with a couple kids that also got to ride.

I needed to leave then to mow Evan's pasture for the wedding tomorrow so Sarah took the pictures below.

I finished mowing about the same time they finished riding. They wanted to pet Dancer's 4 day old colt.

Sarah took the kids over to the playground to play for a while.

I needed to be at Joan's to meet a man renting one of the campers by 3:45 pm. He arrived a little late and wanted detailed instructions on set up and tear down but soon he was on his way.

About the time I got back to the barn Aunt Jinnie came walking over. She wanted to see the new colt and just then Brook sent a text asking if I would move the lift. Since I don't know how very well Philip came to do that. Aunt Jinnie and I went over to check out the decorations. They made that gym look like a beautiful banquet room.

It wasn't quite finished, they still needed the flowers which will arrive tomorrow and they hadn't finished decorating the basketball hoop.

Even the lift got decorated.

Aunt Jinnie hiked up all of those 20 steps to check out the showers.

They are putting the same size one in the Lake Gerard cottage. We had been waiting all afternoon for Dr. Hoerr to arrive to check out Mika. At 6:27 pm he called to say he was leaving Chillicothe and was coming to our place. That gave me plenty of time to drive across the pond to get Rosalie. She was covered just once 20 days ago so I wanted to make sure she settled by ultrasound.

She and her filly were put in a stall then Whiskey put in the stall next to her. Whiskey was given a short cycle shot on Monday and was supposed to start showing yesterday but she didn't. Today she was starting to show but we wanted to see if she was anywhere near ovulation. Mike led Mika over from the cabin and just let him graze in the yard while waiting for the vet.

He looks so good for 25 years old but was having trouble urinating. Well when Dr. Hoerr arrived we found out why. That poor horse had carcinoma sarcomas all over the outside of his penis. Dr. Hoerr said it would be possible to do an amputation IF they were only on the outside but unfortunately they were also on the inside. The only choice then was to leave him to die while suffering terribly or humanely have Dr. Hoerr put him down. Of course Mike made the right decision. He led him over to the cabin field then went to work digging the grave with the large excavator. 

While Mike was digging the grave, Dr. Hoerr sonagrammed Whiskey first. Her largest follicle was a 35 mm so we have a few days but will cover her tomorrow and on Sunday. Next was Rosalie and I am thrilled to announce she is pregnant. She was only covered once on April 19th making her due March 30th, 2026. The mares were left inside while we went to the cabin. Below Mika is waiting for Dr. Hoerr.

It went very quickly and Mika is now out of pain but oh how we are going to miss this gelding. He was born here and really was a favorite. He had a wonderful 25 years of life and we were blessed to have him each and everyone of those years. 

Below Dr. Hoerr is checking for a heart beat. 

He was Lily's companion for ALL of her 23 years. It is not just people that will miss him it is the other horses too. Run Free Mika!