Feeling Buggy and a Knee Update

 

Jenna getting a bugs-eye view during a recent visit to the Natural History Museum in Albuquerque.

 

I’m trying to keep a positive attitude about my knee, but the worst thing is not being able to hang out with Apache. The ground is just too wet, greasy, and muddy and I’m too afraid of falling again. Sheesh! I work hard to move past my fears of riding, only to have to deal with fears of falling on muddy, icy ground. Bummer.

I’ve been able to do my chicken chores because the coop is beside the house, but it’s still quite treacherous with all the slippery mud and poo inside the coop. But I just hold onto the fence, hen house and the center pole while I’m in there.

(Photo taken this morning from Jenna’s window. Look to the right in that photo. We’ve got a little bit of green grass poking up. whoohoo!)

Ranchman John is doing a great job feeding Apache and all the barn animals. He likes to give Apache carrots and love on her, but I think she still looks lonely. I think her mouth has also been a little sore adjusting to her floating. She just has a sad look to her. It breaks my heart.

(photo taken this morning)

Last week, before the vet visit and before our recent snow storm, I was able to gimp out to the fence line and Apache walked down to me. I like how she’ll hang out with me for petting and cheek scratches, even if I don’t have any treats. Baby Doll rarely ever graced me with her royal presence once I was out of treats. She was fond of giving me The Butt when there were'nt any treats.

Apache is more of a pocket pony. I’m surprised at how much I like that, when all along I thought I liked more independent, and less clingy horse personality.

(Scout, my neighbor friend Val’s gelding, and Apache visiting)

Anyway, last week Shirley of Ride a Good Horse recommended a knee support for me. And instead of me wearing that bulky ‘Frankenstein’, full-length metal leg contraption the Doctor prescribed for me after my ACL surgery, I really need to wear some support while riding and when walking and hiking, too.

Shirley told me it’s made by Professional Choice, the same company that made my nice neoprene girth. The knee support is called Miracle Knee.

(Apache tells Scout, “Back off! Don’t be too fresh, Mister!”

I eagerly looked it up online, but couldn’t find it for less than $50.00. yikes! So I called my local feed/tack store and left a message on their answering machine. Mike and Lorraine are like family and run a small feed/tack store about 2 miles from our house. Ranchman John often just stop by to chat and catch up on all the goings-on. They have followed along on my horse journey and my injuries, as well as with Ranchman John’s employment woes and crazy job with the truck driving company. A couple times they even offered us a line of credit until paychecks started coming in. They are truly kind and generous folks. I just love them.

Well, they didn’t get back to me for a few days and I sort of forgot about it, but on Friday, Lorraine called and told me they had ONE left in their store, AND it was on sale for only $29.95! I was so thrilled!

 

We were in the middle of a snow storm, so I promised to pick it up the next day. I also wondered if Mike and Lorraine priced it so low just for me, because they obviously didn’t make any money off it’s sale. Did I mention what great folks they are?

Of course, they also know, that even though we live within 10 miles of 5 different tack/feed stores, we’ll always buy most of our feed, supplies and tack from them. The only item we don’t buy consistently from them is hay, because I’ve found a supplier that sells heavy, tightly-strung 3-string bales of the softest greenest grass hay, from California. And that guy delivers for free with at least 10 bales.

I digress. So, I tried on the Miracle Knee Support and was amazed at the amount of support it provided without any metal or stiff pieces inside. It is comfortable, too. I can wear it and forget that I’ve got it on! I’ve been walking for the past couple days without a crutch, even though my knee still feels unstable and gimpy. But with the Miracle Knee Support, I almost forget that my knee has anything wrong with it. I love it!

This is what the product details say:

“Now you can ride again without knee pain with the Miracle-Knee Support. In fact, the Miracle-Knee Support is great for any athletic event because it allows complete mobility at all levels of activity and reduces the effects of arthritis, damaged cartilage, sprains, or strains. Flexible medial and lateral stays provide side-to-side support for ligament instability. Moist heat therapy helps increase blood circulation and relaxes tight or sore muscles. Made of neoprene, the unique wrap design makes application easy and gives a perfect fit at the thigh and calf. The irritating pinching, binding and rubbing common to slip-on knee supports is eliminated due to the open back design. Worn over or under clothing, the Miracle-Knee Support enables you to comfortably return to work or play.”

Thanks to Shirley for letting me know about this Miracle Product!!!

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Well, it’s 60F degrees today and most of our snow has melted. I’ve even got the windows open and I’m enjoying the warmth and the sounds of the birds singing. This is a photo I took this morning before the warmer temps melted most of that snow.

Unfortunately, the weather folks are predicting another big snowstorm, with ‘moderate to heavy accumulation’ to blow in on Wednesday.

(Apache and Yalla!, Val’s cute Arabian filly, born last summer)

   

I’m savoring this little taste of warm spring weather as long as I can.