I'm always worried about Junior and Bo but now Mayhem is on my list to worry about. Sigh.
I swear that mare is cursed.
* Born the wrong color (sorrel)
* Has an umbilical hernia
* Had/has colitis (it may be on a one time only episode so lets keep our fingers crossed)
* Has a heart murmur
And now, she managed to poke her eye on something and instead of it recovering like I'd hoped, she went blind. I know some will think that I'm being irresponsible for not taking her in immediately but having a horse that lost sight in his eye (Thor), I wasn't too quick to take her in because it looked like she'd already lost the sight in that eye. And after the last dealing with a vet who doesn't understand horses losing their sight and not talking//moving quickly, I wasn't too quick to haul them in. Of course, I wouldn't go back to that vet anyway so I guess I'm in the wrong. I have no idea what she did. If it had been a tree branch poke, I don't think it would have been that fast. But it's hard to say. Within a few days, her eye went from slightly fogged over to completely white. There is absolutely no vision out of that eye. Luckily she's adapted to it already and isn't too spooky. She's hanging close to Rabbit to get her bearings until she adjusts. She's a smart one.
Just very frustrating. I had high hopes for her but it seems like life keeps handing her lemons. And I feel terrible because the blindness happened under my care and it's my fault. The colitis may very well be my fault as well. She was born with the umbilical hernia but all hell broke loose not long after getting her and I haven't had the time or funds to get it repaired. It's not going to be a cheap fix after talking with my vet. We are looking at $1,000 not the $500 I had figured. It's not like I have an extra $1,000 lying around. Hell, I don't even have an extra $100 lying around.
Tis the season for vet bills. I swear the horses wait until fall when I'm trying to save up for the winter hay. I think they like stressing me out over trying to come up with money to cover vet bills AND the winter hay supply. We don't have our winter hay yet but the spare round bales we picked up this fall are holding out. I wish I could say the same for my bank account to gather funds to cover hay.
So now I'm stressed over Mayhem, funds for hay, AND the upcoming winter (and I'm not even AT work yet where there's the normal stresses of day-to-day activities).
Monday, October 19, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
TB Mare Needs Help
She's located in Washington but not sure exactly where.
Contact: Sam 360-584-5299
Deadline: 9/18/15
Description
I need your love is a Thoroughbred mare. She has a cut on her withers as pictured. More info to come when it becomes available.Purchasing Information
Location: Rochester, WAContact: Sam 360-584-5299
Deadline: 9/18/15
Additional Photos
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Dude Ranch Mare at Washington Feedlot
Basic Info
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Description
This sweetheart has been on a dude ranch her entire life but has not been used to work for 2 years. She gets along well with the other horses and didn't have any visible issues that I could see. I would guess her to be in her mid to late teens based on her appearance. There was no age or other info provided.Purchasing Information
Location: Sunnyside, WADeadline: 9/22/15
Contact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Additional Photos
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Paint Mare at Washington Feedlot
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Description
Greer is a swwet mare who is easy to handle and gets along well with everyone. She has an old cut that is pictured that looks like it is healing but has developed proudflesh. She did not seem to have any lameness issues that I could see. I do not know if she is broke to ride but she has nice ground manners and most likely has a good foundation. She stands approx 14'3hh and looks to be in decent body condition.Purchasing Information
Location: Sunnyside, WAContact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: 9/30/15
Additional Photos
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Another Dude Ranch Horse
Another dude ranch horse
Contact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: 9/22/15 ASAP
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Description
Ginny has been on a dude ranch her whole life and should be a nice broke horse, however she has not been ridden in 2 1/2 years. She is a nice stocky built mare who looks to be sound and in good body condition. I do not have an age on her and would guess her to be approx 15hh.Purchasing Information
Location: Sunnyside, WAContact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: 9/22/15 ASAP
Additional Photos
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Dude Ranch Horse in Washington Feedlot
I'd give anything to have a ranch horse/dude ranch horse. Those guys/gals know their stuff
Contact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: ASAP
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Description
Gabriell is said to have been a dude ranch horse who was said to be on the ranch her whole life. She was said to be not used for the past 2 1/2 years. She looks to be in good condition and sound from what I could see. I would guess her to be approx 14'2-3hh and in her teens.Purchasing Information
Location: Sunnyside, WAContact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: ASAP
Additional Photos
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Older Mare in Washington Feedlot
Ugh. Why are these beauties at a feedlot and not standing in someone's barn enjoying retirement?
Deadline: ASAP
Contact: 206-250-5115
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Description
This mare is bred very well and looks to be in good condition for her age. She does have a small cut on her left front which is currently wrapped. She is current on all shots and worming as of spring, and was just brought off of pasture. She is a well mannered mare who is easy to handle and has a pleasant disposition. She has been at the lot for a couple weeks now and has gained weight being on free choice alfalfa since these pictures were taken.Purchasing Information
Location: Sunnyside, WADeadline: ASAP
Contact: 206-250-5115
Additional Photos
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Sweet Older Gelding at Washington Feedlot
Love these oldsters. Wish we could do more than spread the word
Contact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: Can ship anytime
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Description
This nice older gelding stands approx 14'3hh and looks to have been a been there done that type horse, but unfortunately I don't have any history at this point. He has what look to be saddle marks and is very easy to handle. He picks up his feet, tolerates weight, and was just fine with me doing anything to him. He has a mellow personality and gets along great with the other horses. I didn't see any lameness and his hooves looked to be well taken care of. I would expect him to have some age related arthritis.Purchasing Information
Location: Sunnyside, WAContact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: Can ship anytime
Older Mare at Washington Feedlot
Looking at horses at the Washington feedlot again. These should not be there!
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Description
This sweet senior Appy mare looks to be in decent condition for her age and sound from what I could see. Her eyes looked okay but being an Appaloosa she is predisposed to having uveitis and may have had it in the past. She is easy to handle and has nice manners. She picks up her feet, loves attention, and gets along well with the other horses. I don't have any previous history information on her at this time. It looks like she has been beat up a bit and may need some TLC, but looks to be in good body condition for her age.Purchasing Information
Location: Sunnyside, WADeadline: Can ship anytime
Contact: 206-250-5115
Paint
It shouldn't take a year to paint a small garage but in this household, sigh, it does. The tornado last year took a lot of the paint off the buildings (ok, so it was the winds that accompanied the EF2 tornado since the tornado was a half a mile away). I started last year and it took until this year to get the darn garage painted and it's not even a big garage. But at least it's done (well, all the sides that people can see!)
We need to start painting all the other outbuildings. It's been ten years here and we've never painted any of the buildings. I think most of the buildings were painted with a paint gun instead of the old fashioned paint brush. We need the barn and the hay barn painted next year and need to get the roof redone on the hay barn since it's leaking like crazy. We won't be putting any big squares in the hay barn this year. The hay guy would bring his tractor down and put the hay in the hay barn. There was just enough space to get the tractor and hay in the barn. If the tires had too much air in them, then the tractor would scrape the rafters for the floor above. We've used the door enough that the door frame has started to sag. So I'm happy that we won't have that stress of trying to get the hay into the hay barn but I'll miss getting to use the hay in the hay barn instead of the hay shed.
We need to get measurements on the hay barn and get the roof redone next year. It's picked up yet another leak. I shouldn't complain. We haven't spent any money on any of the buildings to fix anything up in a while. Hopefully next year we can work on some projects around the Sanctuary to make it look nice once again. It's been awhile since we focused our attention on improvements so the place isn't looking as nice as I'd like. So if you stop on out some time, just be warned the place is looking a little shabby at the moment.
Anyone want to come out and scrape/paint? We could sure use the help. I'd love to get a bit more painting done before winter sets in. I'd much prefer to look out this winter and see freshly painted buildings instead of the paint peeling.
We need to start painting all the other outbuildings. It's been ten years here and we've never painted any of the buildings. I think most of the buildings were painted with a paint gun instead of the old fashioned paint brush. We need the barn and the hay barn painted next year and need to get the roof redone on the hay barn since it's leaking like crazy. We won't be putting any big squares in the hay barn this year. The hay guy would bring his tractor down and put the hay in the hay barn. There was just enough space to get the tractor and hay in the barn. If the tires had too much air in them, then the tractor would scrape the rafters for the floor above. We've used the door enough that the door frame has started to sag. So I'm happy that we won't have that stress of trying to get the hay into the hay barn but I'll miss getting to use the hay in the hay barn instead of the hay shed.
We need to get measurements on the hay barn and get the roof redone next year. It's picked up yet another leak
Anyone want to come out and scrape/paint? We could sure use the help. I'd love to get a bit more painting done before winter sets in. I'd much prefer to look out this winter and see freshly painted buildings instead of the paint peeling.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Progress
We had a productive day yesterday. I was starting to panic. Luckily Mom and Dad came down to help. We put up some temporary fencing where the chicken coop used to be. It's all temporary until next year when I can come up with a different fencing that I like better. But for now, it was enough so that we could get the mares and Junior off the road pasture and on to better pasture. Pheasant hunting is this month and I want the horses out of that pasture and there's no grass left anyway. Hopefully with an extra month of grass, Junior will keep the weight on that he gained while at Mom and Dad's. He's a hard keeper so we'll see.
Dad and Mike also started putting in holes for the new fence in the small drylot. We need to put in a wood panel to hang the gate. If we dont' get the gate in, we wont' be able to put in big round bales this winter. But with the temporary fence for the mares' pasture, we might not be as pushed as Mike thought. But we'll see. It all depends on if the barn can handle running the tank heater. If it can't, then we have to rethink where horses will be for the winter. There's pros and cons of both places.
Today was a gorgeous day as well but without the additional help to watch the kids, we decided to forgo any work around the place and played hooky from all responsibility. Instead we decided to have some quality family time. As we were coming back, we were about a half an hour away and all of a sudden it got darker than I thought it normally should be. The clouds I saw on the horizon were rain/storm clouds. They were dust clouds. I can only imagine what it was like in the dirty thirties. The wind was picking up the dirt and with the harvest in full swing, the clouds we saw were all dust. I'm sure I've seen dust clouds like that before in my life but not recently. I'm glad that the wind was out of the north west and everyone was protected from the wind, dust, and pelting bean husks. At least it's now and not in the middle of winter because that would have been close to a blizzard (at least in my opinion).
I'm not sure if we'll get much more done this week with the horses. I had to pull up the electric fence yesterday. Someone decided to blow through it in a number of places. I still have a small section to pull up tomorrow. So aggravating that if the fencer is not on, those horses push on it, even when there's nothing to eat on the other side. They are just too lazy to walk to the opening. ARG. Darn geldings. But it's time to take down the electric fence and get the poly posts out of the ground before winter sets in. There's just so much that needs to be done before winter but when it all takes two people, its very difficult for us to get anything done. Anyone want to help? I can't pay you money, but I can feed you!! Any takers?
Dad and Mike also started putting in holes for the new fence in the small drylot. We need to put in a wood panel to hang the gate. If we dont' get the gate in, we wont' be able to put in big round bales this winter. But with the temporary fence for the mares' pasture, we might not be as pushed as Mike thought. But we'll see. It all depends on if the barn can handle running the tank heater. If it can't, then we have to rethink where horses will be for the winter. There's pros and cons of both places.
Today was a gorgeous day as well but without the additional help to watch the kids, we decided to forgo any work around the place and played hooky from all responsibility. Instead we decided to have some quality family time. As we were coming back, we were about a half an hour away and all of a sudden it got darker than I thought it normally should be. The clouds I saw on the horizon were rain/storm clouds. They were dust clouds. I can only imagine what it was like in the dirty thirties. The wind was picking up the dirt and with the harvest in full swing, the clouds we saw were all dust. I'm sure I've seen dust clouds like that before in my life but not recently. I'm glad that the wind was out of the north west and everyone was protected from the wind, dust, and pelting bean husks. At least it's now and not in the middle of winter because that would have been close to a blizzard (at least in my opinion).
I'm not sure if we'll get much more done this week with the horses. I had to pull up the electric fence yesterday. Someone decided to blow through it in a number of places. I still have a small section to pull up tomorrow. So aggravating that if the fencer is not on, those horses push on it, even when there's nothing to eat on the other side. They are just too lazy to walk to the opening. ARG. Darn geldings. But it's time to take down the electric fence and get the poly posts out of the ground before winter sets in. There's just so much that needs to be done before winter but when it all takes two people, its very difficult for us to get anything done. Anyone want to help? I can't pay you money, but I can feed you!! Any takers?
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Playing Catchup
I do have pictures! Just not on this computer Yesterday was a productive day. I'm still slow in getting moving but I'm making sure I don't overdue. I guess I'm a pansy that way. I was able to get four more winter blankets washed and they are now hanging out on the line drying. Hopefully this weekend's warmer weather will dry them out completely and I can waterproof them and repair them. Rabbit tried to destroy hers. Not everyone has winter blankets but I'm hoping that we won't need them. Of course those that don't have winter blankets are the easy keepers and pretty sturdy geldings of the bunch.
Dad also put in a few extra fence posts to fix the big pasture. Living on an old farm stead with old wood fence posts, the fence posts are starting to rot off and break so now we are slowly repairing them. Or more like we are replacing them with steal fence posts until we can do a total redo of all the fences, not sure when that will be.
But it felt nice to finally get a few things done.
We also put in two round bales into the big pen. The big pasture is done and the horses are getting hungry. We'd picked up a couple of spare big rounds so decided to put two in the drylot. I also let King back in to the big herd and will take down the temporary fence that's divided the big pasture all summer. The electric fencer is broken anyway. It some how shorted out...again.
This weekend we'll be putting in some temporary fencing around where the chicken coop used to be. That way we can move the mares and Junior into that pasture where there's still decent grass. And I want to get the horses away from the road because hunting season is right around the corner and I don't want the horses near the road where someone could accidently shoot them.
I'm hoping to also move around some corral panels so that we can move the ponies into a different pen for the winter. If they are out of the small drylot we can work on fencing that up. The fenceposts all rotted off and with the tornado last year, it took down the rest of the fenceline. We put in a temporary fence using corral panels but it would be nice to have something permanent once again. Living in temporary mode gets old but that's what we had to do to make everything work.
Now that we have even less time, which is limited in itself, we may be asking for more help. We were taught to not ask for help until we really needed it. But I guess now is the time that we really do need the help. Winter is fast approaching and we need to get a few things done before the snow flies.
Dad also put in a few extra fence posts to fix the big pasture. Living on an old farm stead with old wood fence posts, the fence posts are starting to rot off and break so now we are slowly repairing them. Or more like we are replacing them with steal fence posts until we can do a total redo of all the fences, not sure when that will be.
But it felt nice to finally get a few things done.
We also put in two round bales into the big pen. The big pasture is done and the horses are getting hungry. We'd picked up a couple of spare big rounds so decided to put two in the drylot. I also let King back in to the big herd and will take down the temporary fence that's divided the big pasture all summer. The electric fencer is broken anyway. It some how shorted out...again.
This weekend we'll be putting in some temporary fencing around where the chicken coop used to be. That way we can move the mares and Junior into that pasture where there's still decent grass. And I want to get the horses away from the road because hunting season is right around the corner and I don't want the horses near the road where someone could accidently shoot them.
I'm hoping to also move around some corral panels so that we can move the ponies into a different pen for the winter. If they are out of the small drylot we can work on fencing that up. The fenceposts all rotted off and with the tornado last year, it took down the rest of the fenceline. We put in a temporary fence using corral panels but it would be nice to have something permanent once again. Living in temporary mode gets old but that's what we had to do to make everything work.
Now that we have even less time, which is limited in itself, we may be asking for more help. We were taught to not ask for help until we really needed it. But I guess now is the time that we really do need the help. Winter is fast approaching and we need to get a few things done before the snow flies.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
10 Years
Time really does fly. Today marks our 10 year anniversary of living on our acreage. We've had many ups and downs living in the country on an old farm but it's been worth it. I remember when we first moved in, some of the projects we were going to tackle immediately. Well, those projects haven't been touched yet but we tackled a few other projects instead. Some needed to be done, others were just to make the place nicer for us.
I struggle with the realization that it's been 10 years. So much has happened in our personal lives in the past 10 years. We've had some near death experiences, gone through thee wash machines, two driers, a furnace, a roof (both shingles and literally the roof), had a tornado, fire, blizzards, gotten married, had two kids, and seen so many horses come into our family and so many leave. It breaks my heart to know that we've had to say goodbye to so many (both two legged and four) but I guess that's part of life and it would happen no matter where we live.
I am glad that I can call this place home and that we can open our doors to just a few so that they too can call this place home. I only wish that we could open our doors to more so that they too could call this place home.
Here's to another 10 years (hopefully they'll be less adventurous).
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