Pastures and Auctions

Our pasture isn’t going to make it unless we do some drastic measures. We are currently in “rescue mode” to try and bring some life back into the pasture. We haven’t really done anything with the pasture even when it started showing major signs of needing help last year. Last year was simply a mess, trying to please everyone and being stretched too thin to get everything done.

So now we are frantically working to get the pasture back to the right standards. Last night Mike bought a sprayer (his newest toy) to attack the ever increasing thistles and cockleburs. I’m excited to see that it’ll be really easy to go after those noxious weeds. Next is the fertilizer spreader. It’s a hefty chunk of money but it’ll save us in the long run. Oh sure, we could hire someone from the local elevator to come in and spray but that’ll be a one-time only deal and I’m afraid we’ll need to constantly work on the pasture this summer to bring it back to its fullest potential. Once we have all the equipment, we’ll be able to tackle any outbreaks. We both prefer to be self-sufficient when it comes to getting things done around Borderlands.

I’m excited to see progress already. I’ve been worrying for a while about what to do with the pasture. To be honest, we haven’t really done anything with the pasture since moving here. Last year was all about trying to please everyone else with very little focus on the land/buildings/fencing. The year before was our wedding. The few years before that, the pasture was ok but we didn’t start with a lush pasture. It had been over grazed from cattle when we moved in.

I’m excited to see how everything works. I won’t put the horses out on the pasture until Memorial Weekend. That’s the standard routine around here. I know some people have horses out on pasture already (lucky!) but the pasture can’t handle being grazed at the moment. I’ll start the big herd on the lawn this weekend. I know it makes me sound like a hick but it makes getting the horses used to grass so much easier. I can pull a few horses out at a time to get them used to grass and then be able to catch them without having to chase them all around the pasture. It’s easier to catch them in a half acre than ten acres. It’s not the greatest method but it’s the one that works for us.

I am still debating on whether or not to go to the Sioux Falls Regional Horse Sale this Saturday. We can’t take any in and I’ve avoided some of the more recent horse sales because of that knowledge. Having turned down two old warriors and then having to sit on my hands at an auction is heartbreaking. I’m not sure I’m emotionally ready. This upcoming auction is about the same time that we pulled Sahara, Savanna, and Jett last year. So I’m torn. Even if I go, it would be to simply remember those lost souls but I’m not sure I can handle it. I probably won’t decide until the day of the auction, unless someone wants to go with me for moral support. I’ve avoided this auction ever since bringing Sahara and Savanna home. Hearing reports from the October sale broke my heart so I’m not sure I can handle attending knowing I can’t do a damn thing. I guess we’ll see where my heart leads me on Saturday.