Trouble X Two

Chapter:4

The doctor came the next day to check out the horses I purchased the day before. "The one that I absolutely noticed had something wrong was the bay with the stripe." I told him. "Did you find out what was wrong?" He asked. "He has an abscess in his left hind hoof. I drained it yesterday when I got him to the trailer. I cleaned it out last night before going to bed. I had to have Eli and Kent hold him still while I did it." I said.

He nodded. "Did you clean it out this morning?" He asked. "Not yet. I was waiting for you to get here before I did anything." I said. "Let's take a look at it then." He said. I tied him off to the ring inside his stall. Kent handed me the disinfectant and a rag. I got the gelding that I'm calling Jinx to pick up his hoof for me.

He tried to kick when I tried to touch it. I rubbed his leg. He nickered when I did. I then took the guard off and took the gauze out. It was covered in pus. "That does not look good at all." The vet said. "No. It looks worse than when I looked at it first yesterday." I said. I held the hoof still while the vet looked at it. "Antibiotics might help him fight it. Keep cleaning it like you have been and let me know if it gets worse." He said. "Donald is the same way with his right hind hoof." I told him.

He checked it out saying the same treatment will get it to go away. I nodded. He cleaned it this time and rebandaged it with the guard on it. We then went on to the mares. He checked them both over before doing a double check. "I'd say these two are pregnant." He said. "I didn't pay much for them." I said. "Who was selling them?" He asked. "Some man from Kansas." I said. "That first stallion was also sold by the same man." Eli said.

"Think it's possible that he got into their pen and got them pregnant?" I asked. "Extremely. Meaning these two are going to need feed to get their weight and health back up." James said as he walked up. "Then these two will get the best care and once they drop their foals we will see if that was the stallion that impregnated them and go from there." I said rubbing one on the forehead.

After checking over the other three there appeared to be no other problems. The pity horse I got had breeding papers. He had a show name and a barn name. 'Ace in the Hole,' otherwise known as Ace. He was skin and bones. I found out that one of his original owners was no other than the King of country music.

I definitely want to see what this one is made of when he is healthy and back to normal. I patted the gelding's neck. "This one only needs to put some healthy weight on and he should be good." The vet said. "Thank you for coming out and taking a look at them." I said. "No problem. How many calves have you had this year?" He asked. "Bout ten a week since last Sunday." I said.

"And the foals?" He asked. "Two mares left to drop their foals." I said. "Sounds good." He said. "Yeah. Expecting them any day now." I said. "Well you know who to call when they have trouble." The vet said before saying goodbye and leaving. I pet the other mare before wanting to start with the better looking geldings. I got into the old saddles trying them on the geldings.

Once I found the right saddle for both geldings I had to lead them around with the saddles on. I then went through the bridles and bits as Eli and Kent were pulling them out. When they had their tack put together, I found an empty sawhorse and peg for it. Then looked for excess halters. "Dang it! Where are they?" I searched all over the tack room for them. All I found were draft halters.

I checked the bank account before going to the office to tell Annie, I was going for feed and halters. "Don't forget bath wash for the horses!" She said. "And make sure it has flea and tick treatment in it." I said. She gave me a small smile. I grabbed the keys to the flatbed and went to get in. I turned it over and over again multiple times. "Cursed blasted truck." I said getting out. I tossed the keys down the isle before grabbing the regular truck keys and going to get in it.

It barely started. Battery issues. The truck quit on me as I got to the feed store. I went inside, made my order, putting seven full grown horse halters on it as well. Then asked for a jump to move my truck around. "Well, I don't know. The flatbed refused to start so I took that one. It died on me as I pulled in." I said.

"I've got some brand new farm truck batteries that are supposed to last for ten years. They are specially made for diesel trucks. Would you be interested in trying them out? Several have already said they are the best batteries they've had." The owner said. I nodded. "I'll try them. If I don't like them, I definitely will want my money back." I told him. "Free feed for however much you spent on those batteries." He dealt. "Deal." I said shaking his hand.

I put the new battery in my truck and backed it into the bay for my feed to be loaded up. Once it was loaded I went back to the ranch and backed my truck up into the barn. I grabbed the new battery and tried it in the flatbed. It started up right away. "This battery better be worth my money."