5am and I’m enjoying dawn in our field sitting with my sleepy horses.  I love the feeling of being able to sit with my horses while they are laying down resting with the young deer grazing and the reflection of the sun rising over the mountains.  What a wonderful start to the day.

Twelve days ago my beloved horse Gabriel was diagnosed with EPM. (EPM is a neurological disease that occurs when protozoal parasites infect and invade the central nervous system.) You can read details about it at http://www.completerider.com/emppuzzle.htm I noticed about 8 weeks ago that Gabriel was not right.  You know how you know your horse and when something is just not right?  He wouldn’t trot in a straight line, tired, very spooky (even for an Arab) so I stopped riding and gave him a rest.  Thought he was out of adjustment and needed a trip to my friend and vet/osteopathy doctor,  Jeannie Waldron DVM. You can read about why she was inducted into the AERC Hall of Fame in 2004 at  http://www.aerc.org/upload/HOFJeannie2004.pdf.

I was told he had EPM. Why didn’t I see the signs?  I’ve been through this before 7 yrs ago with another horse.  I’ve beat myself up over this.  My beloved boy was sick, and I didn’t see the signs.

The treatment has changed in the past few years.  Thank goodness for that.  Better treatment and a lot less money.  He is on Karbo Combo for 30 days, then will visit Dr Waldron DMV again in 30 days.  I am also working with April Battles of http://www.holistichorseworks.com/ with a wonderful supplement program.   This is day 12 of his treatment and I’m seeing signs of life in his eyes.  He is showing signs of strength returning to his hind legs.  Overall I feel like he is returning to us.  This will be a long road to recovery, but recovery will happen!  I’m so relieved to see him slowly returning to health and know one day he will enjoy the mountain rides we share.  Maybe even return to riding endurance.