Upset Boys

The boys were mad last night. We’d ordered probiotics for Queen awhile ago and they finally called Mike Monday to say that it was in. So much for it being in, in about three days (more like three weeks). So instead of rushing around trying to get some chores done and rushing Bob, I decided to hold off until we got back from our quick trip into Sioux Falls. I should know better than to think a trip into Sioux Falls would be quick.

We headed over to TSC right away to make sure we got everything we needed. I’ve been wanting to try Bob out on beet pulp for awhile now but figured we would have to order it. Low and behold in our wanderings through TSC, Mike found beet pulp. So we brought some home. Bob is looking really tough. I’m hoping the grass and beet pulp will help but I’m preparing myself for having to let him go this fall unless he can really pack on the pounds.

We did a bit more running around and didn’t get home until 10pm. Those boys were mad! I was half expecting Bob to have broken the barn door. He takes so long to eat his grain. Of course, it’s hard to eat soup with just your lips. Haha

The minute I threw hay out to everyone the banging and whinnies all stopped. It was oddly quiet last night as everyone devoured their supper. It was rather relaxing standing there in the half dark watching the horses eat. I could see the glow of the lights from Sioux Falls. Even though we had every yard light and barn light on I could still see millions of stars. It was rather relaxing (even being past 10pm).

I’m hoping to put up a strand of electric so that I can let the big herd out to munch on grass this week. The lawn is growing so quick and the horses really need to adjust to grass before I let them out into the pasture (where I’m sure I’ll have difficulty catching them). The grass in the yard is up to my knees in some spots. If I keep Bob loose to wander around like I have been and pull Dude, King, Rain, and Chaos out to eat near the ponies my lawn should be cut down pretty short soon. I want to pull Sam out and keep him in between the hay shed and red shed so he can adjust to grass too without having to compete with the others. Hopefully by the end of the week they will have everything mowed down.

I’m afraid that I’m going to run out of hay. This last bale has huge slivers and I didn’t catch it until half way through the bale (in about two days) that the slivers are too big for this type of weather. I’ll be down to one bale by this weekend. I still have 10 more up in Madison but technically I’m already into my emergency reserve. Had I not had 20 bales from the year before I would have had to put the horses out on pasture no matter what since I’d be completely out of hay. I may see if I can’t find a few small idiot bales for fairly cheap to help counter the quickly dwindling hay supply. I’m still not sure what to do with the ponies.

Keep your fingers crossed that I can figure something out with our hay supply and slow growing pasture. I’m afraid the pasture will be gone before the summer is over and then I’ll be back to feeding hay much sooner than I want (and can afford). I suppose, there’s always something. But I’d much rather have a fairly decent hay supply through the summer/fall in case I bring home any starvation cases like I did last fall. I need extra hay for starvation cases. I guess I’ll start pinching pennies.