Happy Herd

It's very relaxing to watch the herd wander out to the big pasture every morning. In the beginning they would rush out full gallop, hit the pasture and keep on running. This morning, they've decided to take a slower approach to the morning by wandering slowly to the pasture. I don't think everyone wanted to go at that pace but if the boss says walk, then the herd walks. I think without having Rain instigate (even though he's not the boss), then the rest of the herd just wanders out.


After a week on pasture, they are looking fantastic. Almost everyone's shaggy winter coats are gone and we are now with sleek beautiful horses. I've been keeping a close eye on Jim. Every March he starts to lose weight and it's not until pasture time that he starts to pick up weight. After one week, he's already putting on some weight (unless I'm looking through rose colored glasses again).


I can sigh a bit of relief when I see the herd and realize they are happy and healthy. Sleek coats, clear eyes, happy minds. It's all wrapped up into happy horses, which makes me feel like I'm doing something right. But then I look at Jessie and I question everything again.


I still have the mares, Diavlo, and ponies on the lawn pasture. I'm going to move corral panels around today or tomorrow and get them eating down the lawn in a different part. I realize the lawn may not have as good a pasture as a pasture. We will see how she progresses through June. If at the end of June, she's not picked up weight, we will have to make arrangements. I have more to say about it but will weight. It's more me questioning my abilities as a caretaker than anything.


We are out of the 90s for the rest of the week but still dealing with upper 80s for temps. It's a bit much for this time of year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this doesnt' turn into a drought. We were supposed to get storms the last two days and got only a sprinkle, not even enough to wet the ground.


I guess we'll get rain about the time I need to work on a project that cant' have rain. We have about eight ongoing projects at the Sanctuary right now. It's all improvements to make the place better and easier to use as we get older. Some are improvements we should have done years ago and others are improvements that need to be done that cropped up (because there's always something when you live on an acreage). Here's to us getting all of our projects done this summer!