More on Bucky and new on Pro-Bone-O

Bucky has started nickering when it's his turn to run into his stall. Because the weather's so nice we've started turning all the horses back out into their pastures after they eat dinner. This morning Bucky did a little crow-hop when he left his pasture. Good to see him feeling good.

On March 18, Lane County and the United Way held the fourth annual Homeless Connect. It's a day when the big buildings at the fair grounds open their doors to all the homeless. Many agencies and organizations gather there to offer free access to a large number of services. There's clothing available, breakfast and lunch are served, the homeless can get their teeth, ears, eyes, blood pressure, etc. checked. They can talk to counselers, get a massuage, get legal help, look for housing, and pick up dog and cat food and supplies, which is where I spent the day. I work with Pro-Bone-O, a loca nonprofit that holds twice monthy free veterinary clinics for the pets of people who are homeless. We give out meds when needed, do flea treatments, vaccines, and hand out dog, cat, rabbit and ferret food. We see 50 to 60 pets per clinic and hand out hundreds of pounds of food---all donated.

Horse poop

Bucky is growing more comfortable on the ranch. Last night I opened his gate and he went into his stall all by himself.

When I arrive at the barn in the morning, all nine of the horses are anxiously waiting for breakfast. I'm greeted with nine heads over stall walls, watching the feed room for me and a green bucket. I go down the row, dumping a scoop of grain into each feeder. My friend Y goes ahead of me and makes sure the feeders are up front. Jessie, a tall mare, is famous for filling her feeder with poop. I keep an extra for such a need. Do you know the average amount of poop produced daily from one horse is fifty pounds?

Bucky the horse

Bucky went into his stall all by himself last night. Bucky is a faded, skinny quarter horse who needs to gain about 250 pounds. I plan to post his progress from skinny and scared to healthy and happy.

Bucky belongs to a group of women, all who share his expenses. He was boarded at a big barn where he was pastured with some 25 other horses. Because Bucky's front feet twist outward, for unknown reasons, he was probably kept on the outside of the herd and not allowed to eat until the other horses had their fill. My farrier told Bucky's women about my barn and he arrived on Feb. 21.