College Life

My courses have kept me very busy here. I performed my first surgery about two weeks ago (castrating pigs). The whole process was surprisingly easy and bloodless. I also received my first veterinary injury last week. We were trimming some ewes' feet and the ram in the pen was acting aggressively (my partner's job was to watch what the other sheep were doing while myself and another girl were trimming a ewe) which was observed but not relayed to those trimming. I looked up because I heard some movement in front of me and the ram kicked me before I could move, resulting in my hoof trimming blade stabbing my other hand. It was decided that I didn't need stitches but would need a tetanus shot. Another student also contracted a zoonotic disease from not following safety/sanitation procedures. 

Overall I love it here but I'm not sure how badly I want to be in school still at 30. My backup plan if I opt not to pursue vet school is to become a vet tech specializing in surgery.

I am missing my Cruizer horse incredibly and fortunately am going home in 10 days to see him (and family and friends). I cannot wait for him to move down here in January. I have already started looking at barns and found a few that are very promising.

I don't remember if I wrote about it or not, but before I left Cruizer served as "therapy horse for a day" for the special education program at one of the high schools I attended. This was Cruizer's first experience of this kind, but even as a five year old I figured it was something he would be good at. I was right. Given Cruizer's size and extremely outgoing personality, he was a favorite among the kids. He stood for 45 minutes straight completely still (besides nuzzling the hair of the girl brushing him) to be brushed by one of the girls. He also took treats like a gentleman from all of them.. which was probably his favorite part of the day. We also gave a riding demonstration and allowed the kids to handwalk and graze the horses.

Here are some pictures from that day:

The last one is my personal favorite. This girl did not leave Cruizer's side the entire time. She was also the one that brushed him and handwalked him. She laughed hysterically every time his lips touched her hand. Cruizer did not even flinch.