This is part 19 of Jenny’s adventure as a working student and EN guest blogger. In this post we hear about how Jenny is taking a new job. As one of Dr. Chris Newton’s biggest fans on earth, I am profoundly jealous Jenny! Thanks very much as always for writing this Jenny and thank you for reading.
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Sent in by an anonymous unnamed source close to Jenny, Megan, and Andrea
From Jenny:
I’m not sure what to write, as I feel like my life has been quite the whirlwind since my last post. If it’s possible to have a midlife crisis at 22, I’m pretty sure I am having something like it currently. Life has ups and downs, everyone knows that– things work out or don’t, sometimes you are lucky and sometimes not so much, some days the bug, some days the windshield. Horses bring so much happiness and joy to our lives, but there are accidents, set backs, and bills, bills, bills. A few weeks ago, the night before Champagne Run HT to be exact, my life was turned upside down when Molson decided to pull yet another one-in-a-million chances-it-will-happen-to-you stunt (referring to his previous rare hoof condition from the fall/winter). I had brought him out of his stall to braid for Dressage the next day, and the whole time he was acting very antsy and strange. After a little more observation, it was clear he was not himself and was showing signs of colic. And so, the routine of vet calls began (mostly by Megan because I am a big cry baby when Molson has as much as a scratch on him!). I had a gut feeling something more was wrong than just an upset stomach because although he was pawing, biting at his stomach and trying to lay down, his temperature was only 96. My heart dropped when Dr. Newton said Molson was not in fact colicing but was bleeding out internally. After ultrasounding and finding he had torn his spleen and was in fact losing blood, we decided to bring him to Rood and Riddle. Because we caught it early and because of the excellent support and monitoring by the R&R staff, I got to take him home a few days later. He is no longer bleeding but still has a low blood cell count and is fragile (all 1500 delicate draft pounds of him), and therefore is on stall rest for a few more weeks. Dr. Newton has been great checking up on him, and hopefully I can start riding him lightly in a couple of weeks. While we haven’t heard exactly what happened to poor Wodburn, it sounds like it might have been something similar. I feel so blessed to still have Molson with me. Things are really put into perspective when life hits you with something like this. One minute I was hoping for a great weekend at our second training HT, the next I was hoping my horse would live. But I ended up lucky, and Molson is now enjoying his stall rest with an endless supply of hay and kisses from everyone around the barn! Of course my hopes of making it to the AECs and doing the T3D at Team Challenge this year are no longer, but I am just so grateful to still have my pony! I had him at the fittest point in his entire life thanks to consistent work and even a few swims at one of the race track pools, so hopefully, once Dr. Newton gives us the ok to go back to work, it won’t take too long to get him fit and out in the competition ring.
As the old saying goes, when it rains, it pours. So of course, I am coming up on my one year anniversary of the best year of my life, and unfortunately my salary from John for some reason just isn’t supporting me, so the time has come, very reluctantly, to get a paying job so I can start supporting myself (words my parents are celebrating over I’m sure!). I am so sad I will no longer be a full time working student for Team CEO, however I am incredibly grateful that Megan and everyone else have been so supportive and helpful. The cards were lined up perfectly last week as Dr. Newton was looking for a new assistant, and lucky for me he offered me the job! I don’t know what I have done to end up so lucky, but I will now be working half of my time on the ambulatory service with Dr. N, and the other half still as a working student for Megan. Ah what a life! While I haven’t had the best of weeks recently, everything is certainly starting to look up now, since I still have an amazing horse, the best coach and riding team, and an exciting new job with one of if not the best equine vet in the country!
Until next time!
xo, Jenny
