Day 35 ~ The Dairy Farm!

Today I spent my first day at the dairy barns! I worked from 7 AM until 6:30 PM in my coveralls and wellie's that didn't stand a chance against the manure. WOW, what a long day! I met my manager, Les, and another young volunteer named Anastasia today who unfortunately I will not have another opportunity to work with. Les and Ana are really cool, and Les is a great teacher when it comes to the cows! I got to see, do, and learn soooo many things today! I arrived as they were finishing the morning milking of 240 cows. Then I took the rectal temperatures of 10 fresh cows, gave IM injections to those running fevers and needing antibiotics for retained placentas, and I got to palpate 2 cows and feel their cervix's! Next, we took care of the heifer and bull calves giving them milk, cleaning their straw bedding, changing water, and feeding the bigger calves concentrates. After this, a cow dropped her calf and we took it away from it's mom and began feeding it. Les names her Kacie! A bull calf was also born yesterday and hadn't received a name yet so he asked me what my boyfriend's name was and so he is called Brad - unfortunately Brad probably won't live for more than a few weeks (his future is grim --> veal). But Baby Kacie is a large, strong heifer calf and I spent a long time petting her, helping her stand, dipping her umbilical cord in iodine, feeding her colostrum, and I even got to tag her and Baby Brad's ears! They're so cute! I took a few pictures today but I will definitely take more tomorrow! After the calf excitement, we took a break for breakfast and tea around 10. Then, a cow had died unexpectedly during the night, so the vet came out and did a post-mortem dissection to see what her cause of death was. This was so much cooler then dissecting a cat! The cow was all bloated and when the vet (Phillipa) cut into each quadrant of the stomach so much gas and chewed cud came spewing out like fireworks on the 4th of July! It was great! I got to feel the different linings in each stomach (Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum, and Abomasum). Phillipa declared that the fatty omentum has twisted around the Abomasum causing it to twist and fill up with gas and kill the cow within 5-6 hours of twisting, also known as a Right Displaced Abomasum (RDA). She let me fish around the cow's abdominal organs a bit more before Les and I sewed her back up for the guy to come take her body away - I even cut open a teat to see all the lacrimal glands! I could definitely be a specialist in dissection, it's fascinating! After this came lunch and then hoof-trimming a lame cow that we discovered had ulcers (I learned the main causes of cattle lameness are caused by abscesses - foreign body intruding from the outside causing inward infection- and ulcers - infection from the inside coming out [two types of ulcers 1) sole ulcers 2) toe ulcers]). Hopefully after all the corrective trimming and the removal of a hoof block that was causing bruising and and ulcer, the cow will be back on her feet feeling better! The last act of the day was the milk all the cows again and then turn them out to pasture. This was my first experience helping out in a huge milking parlor. The equipment here is really fancy and high-tech! I will definitely take pictures tomorrow. Hartpury can milk 32 cows at once and all I have to do is 1) spray the teats with iodine 2) wipe them off 3) apply the milking cups/"spider-like machine" 4) dip teats in special antiseptic 5) apply mastitis tx. to infected teats that need it 6) push buttons to get finished cows out and new cows in. Multiply this by 240 cows and you get very sore arms! Hahaha, but hard work feels good, and I'll sleep better tonight. Still, I have to be at work even earlier tomorrow 6AM-6PM tomorrow. 4 more long days ahead of me! I did make it back to main campus in time to catch dinner, so that was good. And when I got back to my room, I found an amazing surprise!

My surprise! from my amazing boyfriend~ Delivered to my dorm room from a florist in the UK

Baby Kacie 2 hours old

I tagged her ears myself! After drawing USA flags on the back!

Baby Kacie! 4 hours old

Shhhh she's sleeping!!!

Feeding Baby Kacie!

Days 32-34 ~ Three Countie's Show and London Weekend!!!

What a crazy weekend! I have seen so much in so little time that it is almost difficult to comprehend. On Friday, I spent several hours wandering around the Three Countie's Show which was very similar to a huge, outdoor county fair/farm show. There were tons of vendors, agriculture exhibits, sheep, cattle, falconry, dog, fishing, motorcycle stunts, equine, and bag pipe demonstrations! Carnival rides and FOOD were everywhere! I tried so many local cheeses, sausages, ciders, and ice creams that were delicious! I even came away with some decent souvenirs to bring home (hopefully everything will fit in my bags!) Then, I returned to Hartpury in time to meet up with my two traveling buddies and we caught our coach from Gloucester to London which ended up taking 4 hours instead of 3 due to the heavy weekend traffic. Kristin and I found our hostel (15 pounds a night in London cannot be beaten!) after wandering around a little, and we settled in warily at first but then met some really cool people from all around the world (Australia, Mexico, France). After crashing in our bunks, which surprisingly were not that uncomfortable.

Falconry!

Are there sheep under there?!

Getting ready for the show~

Scottish Highland Cows!!! He's so cute!

Giant Bull. Look how muscular he is!

Cheese!

A pack of hunting hounds ready for the hunt!

I asked the officer if this was a real police vehicle. I think PA needs some of these!

Kilts! Bagpipes! OH MY!

crazy kids!

Some crashes occurred~

Our first night in a hostel! We survived!

On Saturday, we got up bright and early, ate a quick breakfast, and bought all-day tube passes, a tour-bus pass, and a London Pass (which would get us into the attractions for free) to begin our day of touring. We took a Thames River Ride up to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. We then walked through the HMS Belfast British Naval Ship, and took a bus ride around the city to see St. Paul's cathedral and then rode the London Eye!!! After a delightful supper at the Slug and Lettuce, we hopped back on the tour bus and made it back to our hostel in time to stop at the pub for a local cider before bed. We covered a lot of London territory this day!

I am now a Tube master!

Tower Bridge

The Tower of London!

HMS Belfast

Kristin and I met several former crewmen who happened to be here the same day for a reunion! COOL! It made me miss my Pappy~

St. Paul's Cathedral

The Eye!

Parliament from the eye!

Today, we slept in a little longer, grabbed breakfast, bought another tube/underground day pass (Mind the Gap!), and continued with our touring. We saw the Royal Cavalry Museum and the changing of the guard, then slipped over to the Royal Mews where all the fancy carriages are kept! We spent the last few hours of our trip wandering through the overwhelming Harrod's (in which I did buy socks!) and then ate lunch at a small, local pub called The Gloucester. Finally, we caught our coach back to Gloucester and then the bus to Hartpury. A crazy weekend to say the least but we got to see so much! Kristin and I are both exhausted. Tina did not return with us because she is staying a few extra days with her boyfriend.
I spent the rest of tonight relaxing in my dorm, watching the movie Water for Elephants, and talking to home~ 8 days left!!! And dad says there's a surprise waiting for me at home, so that is going to make this next week even more suspenseful!

The Royal Cavalry!

The Royal stables at the Mews

Check out this harness!

The Coronation Carriage

The Royal Mews training arena

Overall, I took over 430 pictures this weekend, so this was just a taste! haha Thanks for reading!

Days 30-31 ~ Three Counties

The past two days were my last days at the Three Counties Equine Hospital. I continued my routine of helping out in every way I could from scrubbing buckets, sweeping/cleaning the yard and exam rooms, keeping stalls skipped out, and various other tasks. Yesterday, I helped out in radiology taking radiographs of a horse's elbow and another horse's Dorsal Spinous Processes. I even got to see the shock-wave machine in use on a horse's right for suspensory ligament - that was cool (and the doctor who did it is THE doctor for the Australian Olympic Equestrian team! Even though he's British, he's one of the best and they fly him all around the world to every Olympics - most recently Hong Kong, WEG, and he'll be at next summer's 2012 London Olympics. COOL! I've been able to meet some really spectacular people). Today, I watched some lameness examination and a ligament scan on "Archie" a four year old stallion who cut his right fore digital flexor tendon on a gate. He has massive inflammation of the fetlock joint and bulbs due to bone spurs. The ultra-sound looked really awesome, especially when we compared the injured right leg with he OK left leg. It was sad saying goodbye to the people at Three Counties, but I might meet up with some of them next week to go see a movie! That would be cool.
This morning, for breakfast, I braved up and tried my first baked beans on toast breakfast! They eat baked beans of everything over here!!! It wasn't actually that bad, I think I'll try it again next week. Then tonight, after helping to clean the yard at Hartpury, I ate super and chilled with Tina and Kristin as we discussed a little about our upcoming London adventure this weekend. I'm so excited! I'll be accomplishing many new things such as staying in a hostel, doing more sight seeing (Tower of London, crown jewels, Westminster Cathedral, maybe St. Paul's, Harrods, Royal Cavalry Museum, etc.), and shopping! We will leave to go into Gloucester to catch our coach after I get back from the fair tomorrow! So, all in all this will be a grand 3-day weekend and then, I'll only have one week left (which will be spent with the pigs, sheep, and cows ~ woo hoo!!!) Wow, what a great trip! Thanks for reading, and I hope that the weather holds up over here. I can't wait to return to the warmth and humidity (I know I'm crazy), and the love of my family and friends. See you soon!!!

Days 28-29 ~ 3 Counties Equine Hospital

The past two days I have spent helping out at 3 Counties. I've been doing lots of jobs such as grooming, keeping the yard clean, the store room stocked, grazing horses, and helping to restrain for injection and radiographs. We had several exciting things come in such as a horse that was badly colicing, but due to the severity of his colic and his age (19) the owner opted to humanely euthanize him. We also had an interesting case in named Randy. He was a very cute gypsy vanor horse who had inflammation of the bowel and pitting edema. I helped to hold him, while they took several scans and biopsys to figure out what was causing the inflammation. I was also able to practice leg and tail bandages yesterday. Then today, I watched several lameness exams (helping to develop my eye) and I got to be the handler to walk and trot the horses up to trot-ups for the Dr. to observe. I watched several tendon scans and helped out with many radiographs! I also saw a terrible jaw laceration that came in this morning. The horse had decided to try for the greener grass on the other side of the fence and caught herself on the gate bolt. The laceration was so deep I could fit my thumb through it! After taking xrays to make sure there was no bone damage, they sutured up the whole and inserted a drain to drain out the huge hematoma that had formed.
I found out about the horse that I had helped out with the colic surgery last week. He unfortunately had coliced again over the weekend and did not make it. In this aspect, Veterinary work as any field of medicine can be really tough.
I got to skype with Brad and my parents a bit last night and have a relaxing evening reading. Tonight I plan on getting some laundry done, hanging out with friends and hopefully finishing my book! Only 13 days left! I am excited to get through this week because I have a lot of events occurring such as going to the fair on Friday and then leaving for London for the weekend! Unfortunately, my ticket request for the War Horse show did not go through because the show is sold out for the next 4 weeks!!! Incredible, but disappointing. Maybe it will come to New York some time and I can catch it? Oh well, we'll still have a good time :)
I'm also excited to return home to the hot weather and all the exciting things that are going on! I enjoy travelling, but 1) not for longer periods then 1-2 weeks and 2) I prefer to travel with friends/family. Those are some lessons I've learned. But I'm still really proud of myself for coming over here and trying it out all by myself. I definitely don't regret the trip, but I'm glad to be going home. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! Stay tuned~

Day 27~

Today was a busy day despite the windy, rainy, and cold English weather. I woke up early and helped out all morning at the affiliated dressage show. This was a very cool show because they were qualifying 4 and 5 year old dressage horses for the British International Dressage teams. The top two in each age group will then be watched as they compete and progress and will have a chance at the big shot when they're older! I saw some really nice horse flesh today that could do some amazing thing. What potential! I did a lot of running around for the judge and I kept score, so that was a learning experience. Once I got organized and into a routine everything went smoothly. After leaving the show around 1:00, I grabbed lunch and then went to my first rugby game! The England Saxons vs. Tongo (a tiny island near Figi and Australia). This was a great experience! I really like rugby and can appreciate the intensity of the players as it requires extreme strength and stamina. A mixture of futbol/soccer and American Football, it was way cooler because the players can wrestle, be very aggressive, tackle eachother without restraint, pass, kick, and throw the ball in order to gain ground and score all without wearing a single piece of protective gear (except a mouth guard!) It makes American Football look like a sissy sport! Here are some pictures!

England Saxons vs. Tongo

My friend Tudu came to the game with me. He is from India!

the players are beastly men!

Injury!!! One guy got knocked out and they never even stopped the game for him! The paramedics just jumped in and carried him off the field quick before they could get hurt! INTENSE!!!

After the rugby game, I traveled to the little town of Tewkesbury, my favorite town so far because of its quiet quaintness! Here I attended a small methodist church that was very welcoming. They want me to come back in two weeks! I am very tired after this busy day. I hope you all had great days too!