The End

Jill was beside herself, all the woman did from the moment she arrived was criticise things. After arriving late. Was she glad to see her horses in? Did she appreciate that Jill had been on hand to greet the vet? It had taken Jill most of her precious riding time to get them brought in.

Jill was very sorry that her pony footsies were sore. His poor bare feet. In a way she was relieved though because that explained what was going on, and she wouldn’t worry about larger back or hip or hind end issues. Did the vet use the hoof testers on the back feet? She’d expected him to be the most sore there, but they didn’t comment. Obviously the owner was mad that the shoes had been taken off in the first place. Jill was sorry for that too, if she’d gone against the owner’s better judgement.

She was only doing her best. Was it even her fault? WHO finally convinced the farrier/friend to stop by and see them, and pull the shoes, after their feet had been left neglected and overgrown? Jill thought she was responsible, but the owner had said it was her who worked it out at the gym. Whatever.

Jill had NOT dealt with the owner of the place about the feed, so why was she being GRILLED on where the ruffage chunks were? It was upsetting that there didn’t seem to be any on the property. How was she supposed to know why there was so much left? Meanwhile, she also accused the barn owner of feeding her feed to everybody. There was no winning.

She said not to call the farrier to come earlier, because she couldn’t afford it. Then she said call. Jill knew she was being set up for another disaster, so she gave her "boss" the number and told her to let her know what she decided to arrange.

Jill had thought the farm owner said she used Quest to worm them, which worried her, because of the discussion they’d had about how that stuff can actually cause blockages if the horse has worms, because it is so effective at killing so many.

Part of what these horses needed was consistency. Could they draw lines about who was responsible for what? The owner wanted to be the boss, but she wasn’t the one who executed things. And she wasn’t the person who saw things on a day to day basis. And, she did not know as much as she thought she knew, in comparison to those in continual equestrian/equine education!

Jill suggested a board contract that would specify all these things.

Apparently the body brush was worth $200. Whatever. She was obviously taking inventory. She was asking where’s this, where’s that. Jill said her favourite grooming stuff was still over on the other side where she tacked up, and when questioned further on particular items, she went over there to get it, so the woman could see for herself. The owner started rearranging items. Why? Jill had the things she used in the carrier she preferred to carry. There’s no thrush buster in your kit, the woman said, adding one. Jill pointed out the one in there already.

Jill had taken the saddle pad off because it needed cleaning. The owner saw it sitting there and made a fuss about her having used it because it was so dirty it could cause saddle sores.

Jill felt like she was in a bad relationship. But she couldn't break up with the boss because she loved the horsies so much. And she knew no one would ever take better care of them than she would.

Shortly thereafter when the boss ended their relationship, Jill was actually releived for her own sake, if sad for the horsies. The old guy's teeth would haunt her just for starters...