New Experiences

This Memorial Day weekend was definitely packed full of activities and new experiences. It makes going back to work a bit hard although this morning was definitely worth getting up for. I went out to let the horses out to the pasture. There’s nothing better for my sole than watching the horses enjoy themselves out in the pasture galloping around, grazing, and just enjoying being out in the lush grass. Since I haven’t blogged all weekend I’ll start from the beginning and see where we go.

On Friday I let the big herd (Dude, Rain, and Chaos) out into the “lawn pasture” to graze for a few hours. I pulled Bob out so he could wander around the yard. I let King, Brego, and Sam out into the tree pasture to graze too. There’s not much there so I figured it wouldn’t take much for it to be gone soon. They weren’t out for very long but I figured they need to be out on grass and adjust to it pretty quick. Nothing earth shattering there.

On Saturday I slept in. I’m sure the horses weren’t pleased with me but I enjoyed it so much. The horses decided to show their disgust with me by tearing down the electric fence in the dry lot and also took down a second fence to keep them out of one section of the dry lot that needs to be fixed up. I decided it was time to let them out on the big pasture. I went and got Farley so he could enjoy a quick romp through the pasture while I checked fence. I hadn’t been out to the big pasture to check fence since last fall. Everything was still up, but the electric was wrapped in a number of spots. The electric isn’t on yet but I’m betting later this year we’ll have to use it. The grass in the pasture didn’t come back like I’d hoped. I’m a bit nervous that the pasture won’t hold out long enough.

When I got back from walking the pasture I found a tick. Not earth shattering, but then I found another, and another, and another. I must have walked through a “metropolitan” instead of a nest! From the time I walked through the pasture Saturday early afternoon to Monday morning I’ve found nine or ten ticks on me or on my clothes. Uugh. I hate tick season.

After walking the fence line, I decided I would let Bob, Rain, Dude, and Chaos out. King was still in with Brego and Sam. I didn’t want King out there yet since he hadn’t had as many hours on grass as the big herd (since he was a stinker and wouldn’t let me catch him). There is nothing better for me to lift my spirits than to watch the horses go loping down the lane into the pasture and once they hit the pasture to buck and kick up their heels. Even Bob was feeling good. He loped out to the pasture (mind you he doesn’t ever do anything more than a slow trot), AND he kicked up his heels and bucked (just once but it’s more than I’ve seen in a long time). I’m really hoping that the grass will put some weight on him. Otherwise I have to look at the alternative.

I also let Sam, Brego, and King out into the tree pasture for a few hours so that they could graze and get used to the grass. I was a bit nervous about leaving for a few hours but I had the electric on the tree pasture and the big herd was too busy eating to care.

When we got back from running errands on Saturday afternoon Bob was standing by the barn waiting for his daily grain. He comes up to the barn about 4pm and stands around waiting. I’m guessing he really likes his new grain ration. I increased his soaked senior to three scoops and then added two cups of soaked beet pulp. I added the same two cups of beet pulp to Sam too. I’m hoping the beet pulp will help bulk up both drafts. I’m still figuring out the correct ration of beet pulp. I’m just surprised that they didn’t turn up their nose at it when they hit the mixture. Some of the horses are so darn picky. I guess Bob and Sam aren’t picky eaters. Yea for me!

I decided that for now I would lock the horses out of the pasture so they can’t do any night grazing yet. Maybe in a few more days I’ll let them stay out to pasture 24x7 but I haven’t decided yet. I’m hoping if I pull them off the pasture for the next week that they’ll adjust to all the grass and I can still catch them when I want to.

Sunday was the big anniversary party so I didn’t get a lot of time to play with the horses. I again let the big herd out to the big pasture and let the smaller herd out to the tree pasture. The poor ponies have definitely gotten shafted. I need to come up with a new game plan for the ponies. We left about 9am and didn’t get home until 10pm. So the horses in the tree pasture had the grass mowed down to almost nothing in a few spots. I planned on letting Brego and Sam out into the big herd on Monday to let them graze although I was a bit nervous with the idea since neither of them had been in yet with Dude. I figured Dude would be a holy terror and just beat the snot out of Brego or Sam.

I figured the horses would be out to pasture when we got home at 10pm. But Bob was up at the barn patiently (or not so patiently since Bob likes to bang on the barn door with his massive hooves) waiting for his grain. I’m sure he was out to pasture and back to the barn a half dozen times waiting for me to get home. I short changed him on his grain Sunday night since he takes an hour to eat all his grain. Sam snarfed his grain down within a very short time. I’m trying to increase his grain ration too to try and put more weight on him as quickly as possible. Bob’s dark coat makes his weight loss a bit deceiving. Sam on the other hand looks thin even when he’s standing out in the pasture. I figure at some point someone will turn me in. Although I don’t think I would mind, that way I could explain where and who I got the skinny horse from and show how I’ve helped some of the others out. I’d rather people were a bit bolder about turning in people when it comes to abuse/neglect. But I’m still rather cautious to put a thin horse out on pasture with the big herd. Ok, I’m digressing again.

Monday was a new experience for many of the horses. But I’m thinking I’ll leave that story for a later date. I wish I would have had my camera when I let the horses out to pasture every morning so that everyone could enjoy the scene that unfolds for me every day. It’s just a great experience I’d like to share it with everyone. Maybe tomorrow!