Escape Artists

I have yet to figure out how a blind horse can escape a pasture. Unless she had help! Last night when I went out to do chores, I couldn't find the mares. I know the fence is decent but was surprised to see as I was walking down the hill, Babe standing in the CRP. I continued down the hill and noticed that Queen was also out in the CRP. Luckily they were both just on the other side and not wandering around deep in the CRP or up on the road.

I'm sure that it was Babe that escaped and Queen just followed. They managed to push the fence up and squeeze underneath. I'd thought about moving them two weekends ago and had planned on moving them this past weekend. But their water tank was still half full and I was exhausted after two days of trail riding in bad weather.

I guess that will teach me not to listen to myself. So now the girls are devouring the grass in their winter pen. Last year we moved them the first of October. I can only hope that there is enough grass to keep them going for the next few months. I had hoped to put Rabbit in with Babe and Queen the first of November but I need to do some reading up on weaning before I make any rash decisions.

Last night my trailer arrived. I didn't get much chance to play with the trailer. It was getting dark and the mosquitoes were out like crazy. The gal handed me two key rings full of keys! I never imagined that a six horse trailer would have that many keys. I'm guessing there's keys for the dressing area, tack room, back door, emergency door, and for each of the six stall doors! I'll have to go through and mark each one at some point. But for now I'm just enjoying it sitting in the yard. I'm anxious to take it out for a spin with a few horses. But I still need to get the truck in and get a hitch on it. I suppose there is always something.

I'm also a little stressed. I know that I am maxed out, full, no room at the inn. But the person that I bought Joe and Thor from offered me a gelding thats going blind (free). I'm sure she's just going to dump him with the first person that shows up. She can't take him to auction because he's going blind (unless she runs him through loose and they don't notice that the second eye is clouded over). She also has a Percheron/QH mare that I really like ($350). Besides her, there is a lady in Sioux Center selling a 15 yr old registered QH mare. Her only problem is that she pulls back when tied ($150). The last one is a blind horse somewhere in the Sioux City area (free). It makes me furious. If you bring them in, keep them. I don't understand how people can think that anything and everything is disposable these days. Lives are not disposable. You can't use them and then toss them away like yesterday's garbage. It just infuriates me. It really breaks my heart. I just dont know what to do. And I should be saving my pennies so that I can save a horse from an auction. I am getting the impression that people are dumping horses fast right now so they dont' have to feed them. And people are being blunt in the ads too. They outright say they dont' need/want such and such a horse or they dont' want to feed them through the winter. GRRR. People need to be responsible for their actions.

How can I afford to bring in four more mouths? I can't, that's the problem. I'm just so frustrated.