Pasture Pictures

I didn't get a chance to take pictures last night because everyone came up from pasture while I was out. After one day, they are already trained to come into the drylot for the night. I'm guessing it had more to do with the flies and mosquitoes than anything else but I'll take it.


There is so much relief right now for me with almost everyone out on pasture. No more hay (except the ponies and Mayhem and that will change soon). Everyone is pretty well content to enjoy the grass, water, and shade that summer brings. No more heavy winter coats, coveralls, boots, hats, gloves, mittens, etc. to don before trudging out. I can just walk out the door and not have a care in the world other than making sure everyone is comfortable in the heat.


Hard to think that 2 months ago, we were dealing with winter and snow. But I'm happy for summer even if it seems like we are dealing with July weather rather than June weather.


I will leave you with a few pictures from that first morning and their complete enjoyment of being out on pasture. Love seeing the look of pure bliss on the horses

Brego

King, with Zeke and Brego in the background

Jim and Rain

The herd (much smaller this summer but still very diverse)

Maverick trying to photobomb King's picture

Boredom Antics

Sunday after I let the big herd out of the barn, Maverick wanted to play. His playmate is Lightening. No one else really wanted to play after a blizzard. Maverick is one of those that dont' go in the barn (for multiple reasons including he'd tear up the barn with boredom).


So instead he wanted to play with Lightening. Lightening had been in the barn but he was ready to play too! I'm glad Maverick now has someone willing to play with him; otherwise, he'd be tearing up more blankets than I cannot afford.


I'll leave you with a few pictures of Maverick and Lightening's antics Sunday morning.

April Blizzard

Well, we survived the blizzard, not without a couple of scares but we survived. Everyone is fine and healthy but we are going to have to look at a few of our buildings a little closer.


It started raining Friday. Luckily I'd put blankets on everyone I could so they wouldn't be miserable. I'd rather have soggy blankets than wet and cold horses. I had thought the blizzard was going to hit around 7pm but it never did. I went ahead and put horses in knowing that the blizzard was coming and wanted to make sure everyone was protected.


The mares and Junior's pen get the worst of the east wind and it was coming directly out of the east. It was so strong that it raised the roof of the hay barn slightly. Just enough to scare the bajezees out of me. I wasn't sure if the building would last through the storm or not but it did. I ended up leaving the mares and Junior in their stalls from Friday night until Sunday morning because the winds and snow were so fierce.


I'd let the big herd out of the barn Saturday morning so they could stretch their legs. They were not impressed. Within a half an hour they were coated in snow and looking at me to put them back in. Luckily they have two runin sheds they can get into so I wasn't worried. But I did put them back in Saturday night.


I'm glad the storm is over but now they are talking about another storm Tuesday night into Wednesday. So much for spring. Mike was actually supposed to leave Friday to head to the Black Hills but his plans were cancelled when they talked about how bad this storm was going to be. I'm glad because we might not have gotten that much snow, but there were drifts up to my hips in front of the barn.


I know there's more to tell but I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things.


The following pics were taken Sunday after the storm had passed. I think everyone was ready for some nicer weather.

Brego and Zeke

Dude and Brego

Jim and Maverick

Playing in the Snow

We had yet another snowstorm roll through over the weekend. It's becoming a constant occurrence these days. Everyone seems to be complaining but I'm not. The  moisture is definitely needed even if we are currently not on the drought monitor any more. I don't want to be in the same predicament that I was in last summer where I couldn't get any hay because our hay ground never received any rain.

Unfortunately, with it being a spring storm instead of an early winter storm, we are met with different weather conditions. It's nice to know that the snow won't last more than a day but in the mean time the weather is terrible. We had freezing rain first, and then the snow. That means wet horses and potential colds and other illnesses. Not something I want to deal with. Luckily I still had blankets on from the previous storm so all was good (except for Zeke who didn't have one on but I think this storm, he was wishing he did).

This morning when I went out to do chores, there was a fine layer of ice on top of the snow. When I had gone out to do chores last night, the snow had stopped but the wind was still fierce and it was trying to sleet.

And wouldn't you know, tomorrow is supposed to be in the upper 40s and lower 50s. So we are going from low 20s to upper 40s in a matter of 24 hours. It's amazing how resilient these animals are during spring.

Had I been up to it, I probably would have stalled a few but I was once again under the weather. I swear I'm sick about as often as the snow storms roll through. It's getting rather old (both being sick and the snow). A memory showed up on my personal Facebook page yesterday with a picture of my kids. Wouldn't you know, there was green grass and the kids were playing without a coat. Definitely different this year.

But the horses were fractious yesterday while I was out doing chores early yesterday. I was able to get a few really good action shots with my phone. I'll leave the rest of the blog for your visual approval.

Maverick and Chaos

Maverick and Chaos

Maverick and Dude

Chaos (rolling), Dude, and Maverick

Maverick and Chaos


Did you notice the reoccurring theme? Maverick was the instigator on almost all the play. He even got Jim going in the play. So nice to see that Jim, even at 31 still has it in him to give Maverick a good walloping.

What is It?

Is it a train? Is it a conga line? Is it a parade?

Nope, it's Maverick pretending that Dude is a large enough wind break during our latest snow storm.

Random Ramblings

I still can't put my finger on what's wrong with Maverick. I checked him last night, and he was fine. This morning, he was again hiding in his official spot in the lean to. Of course that spot is becoming a coveted spot so maybe that's it. I don't know. My brain and emotions are a bit tapped out as of late. There's all this stuff I'd really like to do and right about the time I find the time to get to it, something comes up and I'm taking two steps back. I guess that's the nature of the beast.


Yesterday was gorgeous, in the upper 40s. I was so ready for spring to get here although it's much to early for that just yet. And today, as the day progresses, the temperatures are continuing to drop and we'll be dealing with single digits again overnight. It's a hard shift on animals and people alike. I worry every time we have a temp change that's drastic. I worry about colic and who it'll be. I guess I'm a bit nervous after losing Ivan and now watching Maverick, trying to decide what's going on with my spunky red gelding that doesnt' seem to be himself lately. I could have sworn I heard and saw a robin this morning during chores. It's much to early for them to arrive but it was a bright moment nonetheless.


I've been fairly quiet on the blog as of late and I may unfortunately continue that trend. I've been under the weather for awhile and I need to get back into the swing of things before I can tackle any big projects. And that's a bummer because I had hoped to move forward with a couple of ideas but that seems to be stalled right in its tracks. I guess we'll see how things go but I don't expect anything to come of it for awhile.


On the bright side, Junior is looking good. I don't believe he's lost any weight. I can't tell if he's packing it on or just leaving it on but in any case, he's looking good for being 30 years old. I honestly didn't think he'd make 30 when we took him in. He was 26 at the time and I figured one or two good years would be all he'd have left in him. Boy was I wrong. I do love it when the horses prove me wrong.


And Brego, oh my sweet, sweet Brego. I went out to do chores the other night and I wasn't feeling well. Brego knew there was something wrong and wouldnt' leave my side. He walked with me all the way from the bottom of the drylot to the barn, never once leaving my side, walking as slowly as I was and stopping every time I needed a break. That boy really knows when I need a bit of comfort. I always thought I'd only get that kind of attention from the older mares. I was wrong. Brego just seems to know. Yet another reason why I do adore him so. He's simply the sweetest horse we have at the Sanctuary.

Health Issues

I'm stressing over sick horses. I wasn't expecting Maverick to not feel well. He's my tried and true, my ever present, always happy, always healthy horse and he's not. I have a sneaky suspicion that it's the hay giving him problems.


Last night he was very pensive and downright grumpy, which is something he is NEVER. He had good gut sounds so it's definitely not colic and I thought maybe in the  morning he'd improve. This  morning I checked on him and he's still "off". He's farting but he's still not right.


We put in hay Sunday morning and Sunday evening I saw him, Lightening, and King all curled up snoozing. I am always a little paranoid when someone lies down but they all seemed ok. I didn't get a chance to really look at the herd Monday, too much chaos and commotion going on to really notice. And then all of a sudden it's Tuesday night and Maverick has this look on his face. No one else would notice it but I did.


Mike is going to pick up a 10ml syringe tonight at TSC so I don't have to try and give two doses of banamine. I know he's good about taking meds but that won't last for long if I have to give him two or three doses every time. I'm planning on pulling him out of the big herd and putting him in a smaller pen. He'll hate it but then I can keep track of him a little closer. I'll throw good small squares of hay and if he perks up, I'll know it's the hay.


This isn't the first time we've had problems with hay. I don't know the field where this hay came from. I don't know the true quality of it like the stuff we normally get. I'm wondering if there isnt' some switch grass in there causing problems. I only say that because a few years back when we had to use CRP hay, Queen would colic every time we put  a new bale of hay in. And it almost matches the same symptoms and time frame. No one else is having problems but that's not to say there isn't buildup. This hay has been ok but there's chaff and I don't like dealing with chaff. I want to go with our old hay guy.


If it truly is the hay, I'll be making a run up to Madison to buy Maverick a big bale of good, dairy quality hay and he'll simply be stuck in that pen until the big herd is done with those two bales. I expect it'll take more than a week to eat it down. That means hauling water twice a day, all the way back to the red shed. It's a pain, especially when I'm running late in the  mornings but it needs to be done.


On top of Maverick not feeling well, Bo's back end is bothering him. I hope it's just today that is bothering him. It comes and goes but today was bad enough for me to notice. He hides his pain but you can tell simply by the way he stands and shifts his weight. That sign tells me he's ready to let go but when he looks at me, his eyes don't tell me he's ready to go. His eyes are bright, happy and energetic. His mind and spirit are still there but his body is failing him. So when is it the right time? What am I waiting for? His body is failing him right before my eyes and I seem to be waiting for what? A miracle? Something to change the inevitable? I keep waiting and hoping that everyone is wrong as his body continues to fail. But his mind and spirit are still strong. They are still very present in the moment. So what do I do? Instead I wait. I don't want him to leave this worth with snow under his body and clouds in the sky I want him to  leave with grass in his belly and sun on his back. So I wait. I watch. I worry. Bo and I could use some good thoughts right about now.

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday

This Wishlist Wednesday we wish for feeders (over the fence or rubber dish pans). The horses love their grain and are a bit hard on their dishes. But it's all worth it to see their faces as they devour their grain (it's a loo of pure bliss).

You can find feeders at TSC, Campbell Supply, or even online. The feeders run about $10.

Brego & Zeke

Maverick & Chaos

Maverick & Chaos

New Years Resolution

I have come to the realization that the first half of the year I am pretty organized and relaxed but about the time August rolls around, I start to stress. It's been that way for years. But what I realized last year was that it wasn't just August that I freaked out. I freaked out in September, October, and November. So technically the second half of the year I was totally not with it and absolutely unorganized and beyond stressed.

So I guess this could be my new years resolution. To be prepared for the entire year instead of only the first six months. The second half of the year is really when we get down and dirty and get stuff done around the place (or when we need to but are stuck doing other things that have to get done before winter). We spend the winter months simply surviving,  spring enjoying nice weather, summer doing all the family activities, but then fall rolls around and we need to prep for winter again and I'm usually not ready because I've been off gallivanting around the countryside.

So, I'm going to spend the first six months not only planning (for things that I'll hopefully actually do rather than wish to do) but actually DOING some of those things that I need to do that always freak me out. It'll be tough but I need to do it.

So can I count on you to hold me accountable? I still need to create the list of all that needs to be done the second half of the year, but once I have that list, can I count on you to push me?

Lightening and Jim

I would be much less stressed if I could be more prepared. So here's to new years resolutions that will hopefully stick and to getting things done when they are supposed to get done.

Maverick and Lightening

Thankful Day 14

Day 14. I am thankful for this guy (Maverick). He's always curious and keeping me on my toes. Even when I'm blue, he know show to pick me up (or harass me enough to get annoyed and forget about my worries).

Meet Maverick

I forgot to post last week so I suppose it's better late than never.

Meet Maverick

The following image is one I've used often and it's of Maverick.

Maverick came to use in October 2009 on a rainy night. I'd just come home from a birthday party and it was raining and getting late. I noticed that two horses were in our pasture that didn't belong there. They were Brego and Maverick. They'd been in with Queen, who'd they'd been with in their previous home.


I had agreed to take Maverick and Brego but needed a bit of time to get things ready. The owner must have thought he'd waited long enough and dropped them off. Brego was thin and Maverick was a little underweight. As a two year old, he'd been sent to a trainer but I knew the methods in which he'd been trained and wanted a different trainer.

I was originally scared of him. I'm prone to swing my legs over corral panels and expecting horses to get out of the way. Maverick didn't and threw a hoof at me when I got on the ground. He had the better of me so in the spring, I sent him to a trainer (on my dime, not the Sanctuary's). He came back a bombproof horse. To the point where he was taught not to lope while under saddle. I wish I could get him to lope, but that's not in the cards right now and he'll make a fantastic riding horse for the little kids.

Maverick is a total ham. He's always inquisitive and trying to figure things out. He's downright bored at times and finds things to entertain himself. That includes untying notes, pulling off fly masks, ripping blankets, pulling the siding off the barn, and destroying automatic waterers. I have a jolly ball for him but that doesn't seem to entertain him enough.

He's best friends with Jim. It's an odd combination. A 12 year old is best friends with a 30 year old and Jim is the stoic one while Maverick is the clown, always trying to see what's going on. He's a total extrovert.

Maverick has really proven himself. I though the was a diamond in the rough, but in truth, he's simply a sorrel diamond. If I rode more, he'd be less inquisitive (I hope) and he'd probably feel more fulfilled but there's not enough time in the day. This is not an invite to offer to ride him. I'm simply saying that he needs more of a job than he has, which is nothing. But we'll get there. I've had people want to buy him or ask for a good riding horse and he'd fit the bill But I made a promise, and I stick by my promise. And that's to keep him at the Sanctuary until his last breath.

So for now,  I'll continue to deal with Maverick's antics and hope that this Christmas he doesn't destroy the automatic waterer. He's an easy keeper and only needs hay Of course he could go for some additional toys to keep him occupied. I and his herd mates would greatly appreciate the reprieve from his antics.

2017 Sanctuary Residents

Jim - 30 year old Tennessee Walker gelding

Maverick - 12 year old grade Quarter Horse gelding

Ivan - 16 year old Thoroughbred gelding

Dude (My Blazing Skip) - 20 year old registered Quarter Horse gelding

Chaos - 12 year old grade breeding stock paint gelding

Rabbit (Rabbit Choker Nikki) - 25 year old registered Quarter Horse mare

Brego - 12 year old grade Quarter Horse gelding

Zeke - 25 year old grade Arabian gelding

Bo - 16 year old National Show Horse (Saddlebred x Arabian) gelding

Mayhem - 7 year old registerable Quarter Horse mare

Junior - 29 year old Quarter Horse gelding

Skippy - 14 year old registered Miniature Horse gelding

Tommy - 15 year old Shetland Pony gelding

Lace (whitelacenpromises) - 22 year old (Need to double check) registered Paint mare

Chaos brings Chaos

The week of Christmas was definitely trying. For 2017 I'm trying to look on the bright side of everything so I'm going to try and not be as negative as I have been.


So here's the facts of what happened starting just before Christmas. I see a growing trend.


This fall I noticed the automatic waterer was overflowing and sent Mike out to fix it. Apparently the insulation had fallen on the float and the float got stuck. Hence the overflowing water trough. It's an old Ritchie waterer. We've been here 11 years and have used it constantly and the previous owners had cattle and were here for another 10 years so its' at least 20 years old but I'm guessing much older.


But because it was old and rusty, the top lock to keep the lid on was rusted shut so Mike couldn't get the lid off. He was able to pry the insulation out and make the float unstuck but that was as far as he'd gotten and needed to regroup to figure out how to make the latch unstuck.


Fast forward to the week before Christmas when it's supposed to be 30 below, not to mention the wind chill of 40 below. Red Flag!! We need insulation in the automatic waterer. If that waterer freezes and it's broken for the rest of the winter, how do I keep a 100 gallon tank full without the horses drinking it all and then mauling the water heater. Because, face it, Maverick will do anything to entertain himself, including pull out the tank heater and break it. I've gone through I don't know how many tank heaters over the past three years. So I tried to wrap up the waterer best I could and the next day, when it was stinky cold, Mike went out to work on it. He was able to pry the lid off and add insulation but the latch was broken. He placed the lid on and thought that was good enough.


I can't remember what day that was. But we had our family Christmas Thursday into Friday. We came home Friday, super late and I headed out to do chores. Of course it was 9pm when I started. I noticed we had no water pressure and KNEW we had a leak. I figured it would be about time that the pipes from the house to the barn would break. It happened from the barn to the automatic waterer. Unfortunately, it was a HUGE leak and I couldn't ignore it even after coming in for the night. You could hear the water running out. So I went out to fill a 100 gallon tank and reassess the situation in the morning, only to discover that it was the automatic waterer. Maverick had popped the top off, messed with the float, and had broken the float and arm off. Water was everywhere. I have no idea how long it had been broken and flowing. We'll find out with the water bill next month. .


So we had to shut the water off to the automatic waterer, tarp it up so the horses wouldn't drink it up and burn up the heating element, and fill the 100 gallon tank. Because I knew it had to be either Maverick or Chaos, I stalled both of them. BUT, Maverick had taken to pulling the siding off the barn and put a hole in the barn as well. I'd put a corral panel over where he'd been pulling the siding (including the door I sometimes use). But I knew if I put him in that stall, that he'd just tear up the rest of the barn. And the barn would either have a gapping hole, or cave in. So I opted to put Chaos in the broken stall and Maverick in the other.


I let them out the next day, which was Christmas Eve and got to doing other Christmas prep work. Actually, we went to look at a horse in the afternoon to see if he would work as a drill team horse. Chaos was out because he's just not cut out for it.


When I got home Saturday, Christmas Eve, we got the kids to bed and I  headed out to do chores...in the dark. I was just wrapping up the last of my chores when I went out to check on the herd and discovered Chaos standing weird. He was standing like Dude does when his hips are bothering him. I knew something was wrong so I took a peek. Sure enough. The one thing every horse owner dreads...a nail.


I know my vet had said, Don't Pull a Nail! But it was 7pm on Christmas Eve. I figured he'd either be gone already and it would be that Chaos would have to wait for an additional 1 to 2 hours for the vet, or the vet would recommend a different vet...and that would be Montrose and I refuse to use Montrose or Dakota Large Vet Clinic. As good as they are, I haven't had much luck with them and are overly expensive.


So I did the opposite of what my vet told me to do and I pulled the nail. Then I put him into the barn with a stall full of straw, soaked his foot in warm water, dumped iodine on it, repeated with cold water because he put his foot down, dumped iodine on it again, then wrapped it with gauze and vet wrap and for safe measures added a knock off version of the easy boot.


On Christmas day, we had friends come out to help repair the automatic waterer and bring uniprim because I couldn't find my jar of it. I waited until later in the day and then called the vet. I wasn't expecting to get anyone but sure enough, I did. But I was told that because I'd pulled the nail without doing x-rays, it was mostly a wait and see game now. I could bring him in on Tuesday if I wanted to do x-rays.


I'd stalled Chaos right away and kept that boot on. I think with the placement of the nail, it didn't hit anything. By Monday, I pulled him out of his stall and watched him walk. I figured he'd be three legged lame but he wasn't. He was putting weight on it although stumbling with the clunky boot. I took him to the vet on Tuesday and he handled the ride just fine.


The vet said that if the nail had hit a joint, bone, or nerve, that he would be three legged lame. Because he's putting weight on it, it's a good sign that there isn't too much damage. We did x-rays and they came back clean. You couldn't see anything.


He rewrapped the hoof and said soaking is old school and to keep up with the uniprim for 14 days. I could take the wrap off and redo it in a couple of days. I'm behind in redoing the vet wrap and have to improvise because I doubt he'll let me handle it much. But I think we are on the upswing.


He still seems off on it but that could be because he needs a new bandage and I haven't been around to take care of him. Feeling like a bad horse owner at this point.


But everything should be good to go now. I am hoping that with a few more days, Chaos will be felling better. He's on uniprim until Friday but I need to get more before then. I think I have enough to get me through until tomorrow.


There's a cold front coming through and dropping the temps. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be the worst. I'm hoping that the cold is short lived so I can do some rearranging. Having horses in extra pens makes for extra work and longer time outside when I need to be in getting other stuff done. I'm sort of stretched passed my max right now and trying to keep it together.


So that's the chaos that I've been dealing with...along with my work system crashing...again and having a mouse in the house. Now I have everything out of the drawers waiting for the mouse to die so I can put everything back. So much for the goal of getting organized for 2017. I kissed that idea out the window long before 2017 rolled in.

Caption This

More goodies from the ol' archive. 

Can you caption this sequence of events from Chaos and Maverick?