Mani-Pedis from Hell

Our morning started off with a nice trip up [on bumpy, unpaved roads] into the Maya Mountains to visit a farm that offers horseback riding tours.  The lot was gorgeous and the animals were in really good condition, which is something we haven't really seen.  While we were giving rabies and tetanus vaccinations to the horses in the paddock, the other horses [and mules] who were loose on the property came stampeding down the hill to where we were gathered [cue childhood flashbacks to Lion King].  The owner told us to stand over to the right side [which ended up being the EXACT spot the herd was running to], so we decided to make an executive decision to take our lives into our own hands and run in the opposite direction [we made the better choice].  After avoiding the stampede, one of the owners kids asked to take pictures with my camera.  Here are a few of my favorites.

The farm also had some cool mules [donkey/horse cross] and a donkey!

After neutering their pet kitten and spaying the puppy [I got to help suture up] we went into San Ignacio for lunch to grab a quick, delicious meal at the Taco Shack [It's like Toco Bell but without the diarrhea]. 

We thought we were done for the day after visiting a beef cattle farm and giving some vaccinations, but Dr. T asked if we wanted to follow him to a farm call to take care of "some sheep".  It ended up being a group of over 30 sheep who needed to be dewormed, vaccinated, and have their feet trimmed. Needless to say, my blue scrubs were brown after wrestling with sheep in the middle of a thunderstorm [lightening struck somewhere around the barn creating the LOUDEST thunderclap I have ever heard]. 

Trimming a sheep's hooves is a battle of wills that includes flailing legs, scissor-like clippers, two human restrainers, and one unlucky SOB.  The torture starts when you try to catch the suckers who stay in a tight herd and run if you make any move towards them.  If you are lucky [or unlucky] enough to catch one, you get the backbreaking job of getting it into a position so you can hold its flailing limbs.  If a sheep REALLY likes you, they might throw their head up and practically break your skull [not that I'm speaking from personal experience or anything].  Once subdued, someone gets to clip the parts of the hoof that are overgrown to allow the animal to walk properly [like so]

On the brightside, after returning to Maya Mountain Lodge caked in mud, gravel, and feces they served us Macaroni and Cheese [The Dinner of Champions]. 





UPDATE:  Here is Dr. Emma's beautiful bruise 24 hours after getting kicked by the foal

Cheers!