General Routine

I'm not sure about the horses but I know *I* am not ready yet for winter. Since it wasn't raining chores were a bit easier. I'd thrown a blanket on Bob the night before and Queen in the morning. I really do hate blanketing. I never know what's the right thing to do. I've read that once you start to blanket, you're stuck blanketing all winter.

Since I don't get home until evening and there is a chill in the air, I figured I'd leave the blankets on. The weatherman was calling for a low of 35 degrees this morning. I figured there's no way I can pull a blanket off in the evening and make them suffer through the night. So I opted to leave all blankets on. Bob's doesn't really fit but Queen's does. She looks pretty cute and she looked happy last night (and this morning).

While Bob, Sam, and King ate their grain I pulled Rain in to groom him down. He was filthy. His mane and tail were full of cockleburs and wind knots. I was able to at least get most of the mud off of him, pull out the burs and unsnarl his mane. I braided up his mane and tail in hopes that I can keep most of the cockleburs at bay.

I'd like to braid up everyone so I don't have to spend my evenings pulling burs and knots. But I need to be careful that I don't leave the braids in too long. The last time I did that, I ended up messing up Chaos's mane. The rubberbands ripped out and shortened his "oh so gorgeous" long mane. I hope it grows back.

Since it wasn't raining and the mares could get out of the wind, I left them in their pasture. I hate to stall Queen until I get her on a joint supplement. I'm not sure the mares cared one way or another where they were at as long as they had their warm mash.

I did decide to pull Maverick and Zeke out of their swamp. The mud isn't going to dry up in that lot for a while. I'm afraid it's going to have to freeze first. I decided I'd put them in the barn to give them a break from the slop. Once Bob, Sam, and King were out I put Zeke and Maverick in. They were a bit confused because I didn't put them in their normal stalls. The mares had leftover hay so I put them in the mares' stalls instead.

Everyone was pretty quiet last night although Maverick is getting to be a handful again while leading him around. I need to work with him ASAP.

This morning was chilly doing chores. When I went to let Maverick and Zeke out, Zeke was curled up in his stall. If he's in the drylot he'll stretch for me. I love to watch horses stretch. When he's in the stall he likes to lay down and rest. I figure I'll have to keep stalling them until the ground freezes or the lot dries out (which won't happen until June).

The mornings are normally dark. The last few days have been pitch black at night. This morning I had the moon to help guide me through my morning routine. Having a clear sky with a full moon really does make morning chores much easier. Today is the first day we've had sun in almost a week. I think the sun peaked out this weekend but it scurried away pretty quick.

I'm hoping the sun will stick around but the weatherman is calling for more rain tomorrow and a chance for snow Friday night, lingerng into Saturday morning. And you KNOW it's going to snow on Saturday because it was 90 days ago we had fog AND there is a horse sale I want to go to.

I emailed Babe's previous owner yesterday and am hoping that she'll be able to make it out to see Babe tonight. We'll see. I'm sure I'll be out doing chores. I'd love to sneak a ride on Zeke if I can. If it's nice I may have to ride Maverick to get some of the vinegar out of him. :-) I expect I'll put Zeke and Maverick back in the barn tonight to give them a break from the slop.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that today will be a nice day (although not too nice since I have blankets on Bob and Queen and don't know when I'll get to pull them off unless today turns into an absolutely gorgeous day).