Recap

Where to start. Last Friday and Saturday was the Irene Rodeo. Even thought I couldn't ride, I hauled Zeke and some of the other horses down (gotta represent the drill team!) I had a blast, even thought I couldn't be on the back of Zeke (at least Zeke was out there to represent Borerlands). I know it has nothing to do with the rescue but it was nice to get away even for an overnighter and enjoy everyone's company. Luckily the weather was still half way decent out. I'd already gotten caught by the hot weather earlier in the week and had recovered from being sick. Unfortunately, Mike had the same experience Friday night that I had. It's no fun being sick when you're not at home.

When we finally got home Saturday night, who should be out wandering around but Mayhem. I was so exhausted but had to round her up and put her in the Timeout Pen. She's been there ever since because I haven't had the time or energy to check the fence and figure out where she escaped. She definitely fits her name.

Starting last Sunday, we had super high temps. I don't even remember what the heat index was. All I know is that the heat took its toll on everyone. Even this Friday we had temps over 100 and even higher heat index. I couldn't be out in the hot weather so I couldn't even pamper the horses like I normally do. I hate not being out with the horses to give them baths and treats while they suffer through the heat. Instead, I had to hide in the house until the heat went down just enough. Unfortunately, I still couldn't do too much even after it cooled down a little. I'm now reverting back to doing chores back in the dark.

The heat is taking its toll on the horses too. I realized earlier this week that we are going to lose Thor and Queen. The heat has been too hard on them and they've dropped a ton of weight. I'm not sure what I can do, if there's anything at all. For now, I'll try to make them feel comfortable and see if grain and beet pulp will help perk the up. But I'm coming to the realization that we will lose them this fall. I'm already dreading the day I have to make that phone call. But for now, I'll simply enjoy their presences and take one day at a time.

This morning when I went to let Queen out to wander the yard, I thought she was dead. She was stretched out at the bottom of the hill. From my vantage point, I couldn't tell if she was alive or not (I couldn't see if she was breathing). And then she twitched her withers. That girl is going to be the death of me yet.

I can't remember the last time we had rain. The pastures are drying up fast. The hot temps aren't helping any. I'm not sure what we are going to do. The big pasture is about done for and the mare pasture is completely done. I've been throwing hay to some just to make sure that they have something to eat. I've had one month of not having to touch hay. I'm very worried that we will have to start feeding hay soon. I have no idea what the prices of hay will be like but I'm afraid it's going to skyrocket. 

I would move the mares to the other pasture but we lost the other pasture due to the accident back in February. I've been too sick to work on getting the other pasture ready so now we can't use it. We did buy a few extra corral panels so I might be able to put up some panels and temporary electric fence but I can't be outside even when it's in the 80s. My health and this heat are making it absolutey impossible to do much expect the bare minimum.

I need to take Rabbit up to Madison for the rest of the summer. Mom and Dad's pasture can hold one horse for the rest of the summer (or at least that's our hope). I hate only taking one horse up but Rabbit has been beating up Queen. I'm also tired of Mayhem picking up Rabbit's bad habits. She was getting herd bound so it's been nice to keep Mayhem separate. But I'd prefer that Mayhem pick up Queen's habits instead of Rabbits. It's going to be an adventure getting Rabbit in a trailer. She's not an easy one to load so who knows how long it'll take to get her loaded. But if she's on a lush pasture, there's at least one less horse I have to worry about.

We are also almost out of round bales. Last October we bought 39 round bales and hauled them home (three at a time...yes it was painfuly slow). We are going to have to go in search of more round bales for Thor and Babe. Unfortunately, we need to find a few bales fast. We have one remaining bale and I will be out of town for a few days the first part of August and that's when the bales will run out.

A good friend of Borderlands is hosting a trail ride July 21st during the Colton Jubilee Days. It's a free ride but taking donations. Those donations are going to Borderlands. We are truley blessed and honored that our friend would even consider us. Again, I won't be able to ride but I'll be there to happily talk about the sanctuary. I was thinking of hauling Tommy and Skippy since they are easy to approach and have better manners than Bo. I want to keep the oldsters at home to keep their stress level down but I'd like to have someone four-legged there to represent Borderlands.  I'll be sitting in the shade and if anyone wants to join me, I'd be honored. I'm sure I'll put another plug in for this fun event.

I also want to thank S and E for coming out in the heat today to check fence. It's been too hot for me to do anything but minimal chores so I haven't had a chance to check and find out where Mayhem wiggled her way out of the pasture. S and E found the spot and fixed it for me. Those two are my guardian angels! They also set up some corral panels so that I can run Queen, Rabbit, and Mayhem in the lawn between the hay shed and the red shed. There's not alot of grass but there's more than what's in their pasture right now. I have a bit of fencing to do tonight after it cools down and then I'll open up the gate for them to wander tomorrow morning while I'm at the paying job. I'm sure they'll have it eaten down in less than a week but I'd rather have dirt for lawn with happy horses then a lawn that looks manicured (hahahha...sorry, the thought of an acreage with a manicured lawn doesn't seem feasible to me).

I am considering begging the neighbor to let me rent his pasture. It would beat having to throw hay. I really want to keep what hay we have left for later this summer/fall. It would help cut down on the cost of this winters hay (considering I'm still saving up to pay for last year's hay). I'm always a year behind it seems. But the boys were at the neighbor's last year and they seemed to enjoy being over there. Hopefully we can run the horses over there for a month but we'll see. I may have to do some serious begging but at this point, I'll be happy to see the horses in a decent pasture instead of one that's almost done.

I'm sure there's more that I'm forgetting but thought I'd give you a quick rundown of what we've been up to for more than the past week. I may not post much this week either. The paying job has me hopping so there' not much time for anything other than work, chores, work, and a little bit of sleep.  We are still here so if you need to get ahold of us, just leave a comment on our Facebook page, or swing by. I'm always up for a good chat (as long as we go inside where there's air conditioning). :-)