My poor Griggs had another episode of choke this morning (the last one - and actually, his first one - was in December). This time I was there - I ride on Friday mornings, and he choked on his breakfast, so it was starting as I got there. It was just terrible to watch. He was so utterly, completely miserable, making awful sounds, with greenish slime periodically pouring out of his nose, and hunched in the corner of his stall... He looked small, and that's pretty tough, as he's an enormous guy.

The vet came and tubed him - put a tube down his nose and into his esophagus and pumped warm water in until the mass of food stuck there began to soften and break up. And after that he felt much better - perked right up (after the drugs wore off) and was his normal self. But...this is really worrying. I'd really hoped that the episode in December was a fluke, as it had never happened before. But each episode makes it more likely that it will happen again - scarring narrows the esophagus - and so now it's clear we have a potentially perennial problem on our hands and have to be really careful. His feed definitely needs to be soaked from now on until it's almost soupy.

It really is so hard to watch an animal suffer. I was just so glad this was something so easily treatable.

Bodie and I have a horse show tomorrow, which means I have to get up at an ungodly hour and attempt to beautify him...he really is quite lovely, in keeping with his name, but he truly hates being beautified - he fidgets and wiggles and has no patience for it at all. And the second he's all finished and I let him out in his field, he throws himself in the nearest patch of dirt. I'm convinced it's because he doesn't want to blind us all with his beauty - or outshine his pasture buddies. *g* Anyway, I'm hoping we improve - last few shows we've had a real problem with him spooking when we get anywhere near the judge...hopefully with more showing experience he'll grow more used to the whole thing.

In other news, preparations for Close Quarters is heating up. I can't believe how close it is, and how much there is to do! I just keep telling myself, it will all get done, one way or another... But have you ever had one of those frustrating periods where it feels like no one returns your emails, right when you most need answers? I keep wondering - is it me? Is it my email? Is it the phase of the moon? :sigh:

You know, I really, really love Pros. And I'm really kind of truly madly deeply obsessed with B/D.

(I just had to say that. :-D)