the scratches battle rages on

You might recall that I wrote about Isabel's scratches outbreak at the end of last August. And then wrote a couple weeks later that things were starting to look much better.

mare doesn't want to be seen in this compromised condition!

Well, the sad truth is that as soon as one patch starts looking good, the leg blows back up again and a fresh set of scabs breaks out in a new location.

trying to get pictures while on crutches is shockingly (or maybe not) difficult

My frustration has only intensified now that I can't doctor her myself. And actually - I'm pretty much a constant tangle of frayed nerves at present anyway, lacking any real ability to work off my tension and stress... So I'm finding myself torn between wanting to micromanage every little thing that happens to her (regardless of the good intentions or reliability of whoever is caring for her), and just wanting to throw my hands up and say, 'Fuck it, call her owner. Not my problem.'

Brita and one of Isabel's fave barn rats hard at work on that leg, under Tillie's careful supervision

Luckily, despite my volatility and heightened level of cray cray, Isabel is actually in very good hands. Kaitlyn has checked in on her a few times, and Brita and our barn manager have concocted a fresh tincture (officially the FOURTH remedy we're using to combat this pesky persistent pestilence ugh) and a schedule of care such that Isabel's getting some very much needed attention twice daily.

isabel is officially introduced to the (very padded up) crutches

So it's entirely possible at this rate that she might be totally cured by the time I'm actually able to resume managing her care. We can hope right??

and obviously is unimpressed. ugh, me too girl, me too.

But for now I'm mostly limited to just getting updates. I've been to the barn a handful of times since the injury - but honestly am so incapacitated that I never stick around very long. Isabel is easy enough to handle, but even so I still can barely groom or fuss over her. Who woulda thunk that we actually use an incredible amount of balance and motion just to curry the damn horses?

pretty mare would rather be left alone tho, thankyouverymuch

It's been incredibly frustrating. But I'm beyond grateful to know that my friends have their eye on Izzy and are making sure she gets what she needs. And I'm also happy to report that my doctor says I'm healing ahead of schedule and will be able to start bearing weight on the leg in two weeks, building up to about 50% capacity by Thanksgiving. Hallelujah!

In the meantime tho, just gotta keep on keepin' on. Have you had to deal with being an involuntary absentee owner/leaser/whatever before? How did you stay sane?