Struggle Bus

I swear to god I thought I was going to really ride my horse a lot this summer.  But it seems like every week something manages to get in the way.

This week?

Mollie's pre-heaves/coughing returns.

You know what else returned? Her pink fly sheet.

This has been a yearly struggle for us, and it seems that every spring Mollie gets a cough that kinda looks a little like maybe she could have heaves.  She's never actually been diagnosed, and this is strictly my armchair vet diagnosis, but she has all the classic symptoms.  But they're mild, and seasonal, and usually a call in to the vet ensures I have a tub of Tri-Hist on the way and all is well with the world.

But obviously not this year, because this is the year of shit getting in the way of my riding.  The BO noticed Molls was coughing and had labored breathing now that it's gotten hotter and disgustingly humid.  She let me know, I called the vet, we played phone tag, and I finally heard from her when she told me Tri-Hist had been on back order for over a year.  Kewl.  More phone tag ensued to describe the cough/labored breathing and it was decided that she wouldn't be able to prescribe anything else without coming out to see her, and whatever she did prescribe would likely be a steroid.

I don't know about all of you, but I'm really not a fan of using steroids in my 17 year old horse who is minimally worked and is basically a glorified pasture puff.  I'm also not a fan of having the vet come out and being charged a farm call fee to tell me what I already know (my horse probs has heaves).  So I did what any logical, frugal, horse mom would do and asked fellow boarders for other options.  One of my good friends and fellow boarders is Queen of all things herbal and natural (yet effective) and has tried just about everything under the sun on her mare suggested Hilton Herbs and after some google-ing, review reading, and chatting with a Smartpak rep I decided that was the way to go.  A liter of Freeway Gold was ordered and Molls should hopefully be starting it tomorrow.  Fingers crossed it helps because we have a clinic this weekend and I'd like to be able to do something other than walk :)

Molls post ride.  Molls is unimpressed with shower time.