Hay and Fencing

So I was talking with my hay guy this past Saturday. He pulled through for me yet again. I'm not exactly sure how many bales we will get but we will have enough (fingers crossed). My hay situation is a bit odd. My uncle and another farmer have a deal, although I'm not totally privy to it. But I work through my uncle to get the hay. This year he decided that instead of baling and then storing the hay, that he might as well bale and then deliver the hay (not much else to do other than watch from an air conditioned vehicle all the corn shrivel and dry up). So, wouldn't you know, I think we are getting our hay this weekend. Luckily the weather is supposed to only be in the mid 80s but I have to do some serious cleaning in the hay shed and hay barn before they can put the hay anywhere.

I let the mares wander around on the concrete next to the hay shed to try and eat down the weeds and they made a mess (and its' been too hot to do any bit of cleaning). So now I need to figure out how to get everything clean before they get here. It's always something.

I am also hoping to get some fencing done this weekend and move the mares to the other pasture. If there's anyone willing to help, I'd appreciate it. I can't pay in money, but I can feed you!

I did have to move Mayhem in with the blind horses much to their dismay. I was afraid Mayhem was going to start pushing on the fence. She decided to do laps around the drylot last night much to Babe's disgust. Mike suggested that because Mayhem is so young, that we consider finding her a new home (since she really doesn't fit into our program). I haven't ruled out the possiblity but I'm still unsure that I will. She's got a registration application but she still has the hernia I need to take care of and although she has decent breeding, I'm afraid someone will think it's good enough and turn her into a broodmare. We dont' need any more broodmares popping out babies. She may also at some point develop heaves and I can't stand the thought of people breeding mares that have heaves. That's what happened to Rabbit. I know what its' like to not be able to breath, compile it with a distressed body due to carrying a foal, giving birth, and then caring for a foal by your side. It just seems cruel and makes my lungs hurt just thinking about it.

So hopefully the weather will break and we'll be able to enjoy "cooler" weather. We moved the big herd on Saturday and they've been drinking water like crazy. I'm so used to the automatic waterer that I dont' keep track of how much they actually drink. Being in a pasture where we have to haul water, it makes me take not a little closer.

We have a 100 gallon tank completely full along with a 275 water tote. When the heat index slips over 100 degrees, the horses drink a lot more. We it's not as stinky hot and we have some relief from the sun, they don't drink as much. As it is, we are hauling water every day to make sure that they will never run out. Without the water tote, I'm afraid we would have to haul water twice a day.

I have to keep a close eye on Chaos and Rain. Being black, they have a harder time staying cool. So far Rain doesn't seem to be affected by the heat. Chaos on the other hand seems to be taking it a little bit harder, but then again, he doesn't really fade like Rain does.

I know they are enjoying their time at the neighbor's and I really am relieved by having them at the neighbor's knowing I won't have to toss hay. I prefer having happy horses and the herd is definitely happy.

Tomorrow we are going to haul Dude and King to mom and dad's. There's no more grass for the ponies so I'm not sure what to do with them other than hay them. I may move them into the big drylot so they have more room. I have one other place to put up some electric but I don't have enough chargers to keep all the fences going. I may have to see if I can find a cheap one at Campbell Supply or Tractor Supply. I somehow don't think there is such a a thing as "cheap" when it comes to electric fencers.

Once the mares eat down the grass in the new pasture, I'm planning on moving corral panels to make it a more permanent pasture. I'm not sure when we'll get it back to being a permanent pasture with decent fencing. I'm guessing either this fall after the weeds dye off or sometime next spring. It does mean we'll be doing some serious clean up. But for now, electric fence will suffice. I'm tired of throwing hay and I hate seeing all that expensive hay being used up now when I know we'll need it later.