Wishlist Wednesday - Grass Seed

Our Wishlist Wednesday item is grass seed. Our pastures are tired and worn out and we'd love to have a lush pasture to let the horses into this spring. We threw out two bags of grass seed but it only hit the high spots that are worn down from over grazing.


Any type of grass is welcome and any amount is welcome. The entire bottom of our pasture is flooded so we are expecting a bunch of weeds and very little grass to reappear when the water soaks in to the ground.


Won't you consider a donation to help keep the horses fat and happy this summer?

So ready for lush pastures

Wishlist Wednesday - Hose Reel

Wishlist Wednesday. Every Wednesday we try to provide one little item that we need at the Sanctuary that would make life easier it would help cut down on cost. We get asked “what do you need” and I always come up blank. So Wednesday’s are a way for me to keep tabs of everything.

Today’s wishlist item is a hose reel. Now that it’s nice out, we are using hoses instead of carrying bucket after bucket after bucket to keep the mares’ 100 gallon tank full. We’d love to have a hose reel so the hoses aren’t either lying all around getting lost or me spending time trying to coil them up every day and carrying them to one spot or another only to need them the following day. It’s just one way of speeding up some mundane chores so we can focus our attention on the horses.


We drag about 350 feet of hose around every couple of days to keep the mares' water full. A hose reel (or two) would help in keeping the place looking neat and tidy (the goal for this year)!


#WishlistWednesday

Wishlist Wednesday - Salt Blocks

With the foot of snow in early March, followed by the three inches of downpour rain, and then the massive flooding, our salt blocks dissolved. We had almost full salt blocks at the beginning of March and by the end of March, they were completely gone.


I know we've asked for them before on #WishlistWednesday, but we are asking for them again because we need to go pick up salt blocks to replace the ones our weather destroyed.


Salt blocks cost about $5 and are found at Tractor Supply, Campbell Supply, and even Menards! Want to consider a donation of $5 to help us replace our salt blocks? It's a bit tough to ask for such a small thing knowing that there are others way worse off than the horses at the Sanctuary. Those that have lost everything so even if you don't consider a donation to the Sanctuary, consider a reputable rescue in the flood stricken areas to help those affected. Every dollar counts.


#WishlistWednesday

Picture from last fall.

Wishlist Wednesday - Rain Sheets

Today's #WishlistWednesday item is for rain sheets. Why rain sheets in the middle of summer? Fall is around the corner and we want to make sure our seniors are protected against the chill of a cold rain. You can find them anywhere and in any size or shape (or condition). We aren't picky.

We went onto horse.com and found a bunch to choose from. Trust me, we aren't picky. Just happy to have nice, dry horses during the wet spell that comes before winter.

Wishlist Wednesday - Small Squares of Hay

Today's Wishlist Wednesday is for small squares of hay.


We typically use big rounds of hay but small squares of hay are a necessity. We use small squares when there's a blizzard and all the horses are stalled. We use small squares when we can't get the big rounds in right away. We also use small squares for the ponies when their "pasture" runs out and we need to move them but don't have time.


We are always in need of small squares and would love a trailer load full to make sure that we have happy horses this winter.

Wishlist Wednesday - Hay Nets

Today's Wishlist Wednesday is for large round bale hay nets. We aren't feeding hay yet so why ask for one (or two)? Because it's haying seeing and everyone is thinking about putting in their winter supply of hay.


We put in our order of hay and its' ready and waiting for us to haul it but with all those glorious bales of hay, we want to make sure not one sliver of hay is wasted and to do that, we use hay nets. We've been using hay nets for the past four years and after so many years of use and abuse from the horses, they are starting to show their wear.


We would love to have another hay net and replace one that is starting to show it's age. We'd use the one showing its age for emergencies or when we have to be gone for a while and put out an extra round bale for the herd.


I love the hay nets. It's saved us so much in hay and with hay always being such a high cost (and a hot commodity), I want to make sure we use every bit and not waste one leaf.


We can typically get hay nets for around $175 (or at least that's how much it was the last time we bought one). It would be great to have another one so that I don't have to continue to repair the old ones with twine.


Anyone want to help us buy a new hay net? Any amount is greatly appreciated. Every dollar counts, especially for such an important purchase that is used daily for eight months out of the year.

Wishlist Wednesday - Buckets

This Wishlist Wednesday, we wish for buckets. It doesn't really matter what kind of buckets they are, as long as they are clean.


We use a number of 5 gallon buckets to haul water for the ponies or to fill water tanks in the winter. Water buckets are always a necessity when having horses. We use them not only for water, but also for grain.


We'd be tickled with any type of bucket, be it a 5 gallon bucket, a water bucket specifically for horses, or any other kind of bucket. Size doesn't matter either. We use a number of the bigger buckets to haul water but we also use smaller buckets to haul grain to different pens.


Buckets range from $5 to $20.

Wishlist Wednesday - Halters, Lead Ropes, and Hooks

It's Wishlist Wednesday and today we are wishing for a handful of items. We wish for halters, lead ropes, and hooks to hang halters and lead ropes on. Our lead ropes seem to keep disappearing (they must disappear with my socks) and although we have halters, not everyone has a designated halter. We'd love to have enough hooks to hang a specific halter and lead rope for each horse instead of grabbing willy nilly. The art of organizing is lacking at the Sanctuary right.

 

Wishlist Wednesday - Hose Reel

It's Wishlist Wednesday and we wish for a hose reel. It might sound silly but we would use the heck out of a hose reel! We drag out 300+ feet of hose every few days to water the ponies and Mayhem (and Junior and Lace when they are not at their summer retreat). That means dragging out, man handling, emptying, and then coiling a LOT of hose.


A hose reel would solve a lot of that problem and make the place look nicer (by not having hoses lying around all the time and all over the place.


You can find new hose reals just about anywhere but we'd be happy with used too!

Wishlist Wednesdsay - Shoo Fly Leggings/Boots

This Wishlist Wednesday, we wish for Shoo Fly Leggings/Boots. We bought a two sets during the Tri State Horse Expo and put them on the fronts of Junior, Lace, Dude, and King. I can already see how much relief Junior and Lace are getting from them.

Even though it's only June 6th, we are dealing with July like temperatures (which also means July like flies. those types of flies are MEAN).

We want to make sure that everyone is comfortable this fly season and would love to put everyone in Shoo Fly Leggings. A set of 4 cost just under $50. It's well worth the price after seeing Junior and Lace relaxing. Even if we could only get front legs done (or back legs done depending on who's getting eaten up and where), we would be very grateful.

Even one pair of Shoo Fly Leggings would help. Anyone want to donate towards the purchase of a pair if Shoo Fly Leggings or want to buy a set for a specific horse(s).

I've only been able to find them either at the Expo or online.

(ps, the picture is not one of our Sanctuary residents. We are borrowing it from the Shoo Fly website)

Wishlist Wednesday - Fly Masks

It's Wishlist Wednesday and today's wishlist item is Farnam Fly Masks (or any fly masks for that matter).

The horses were hard on fly masks last summer so we don't have many (if any) in reserve for this summer. We want to make sure that everyone is comfortable when fly season rears its ugly head. Trying to be proactive in getting everything rounded up now so that there's no mad rush to find fly masks. Fly season will start soon but it'll really get bad around August.

Farnam fly masks seem to work the best for the Sanctuary horses. They typically cost around $15 (but correct me if I'm wrong). We need 2 yearling fly masks (for Tommy and Skippy), 2 Arab fly masks (for Zeke and Rain), and then 9 regular size for the rest of the herd.

Anyone want to donate to buy a fly mask or want to purchase one?

You can donate thru PayPal at www.paypal.me/Borderlands or sent it via check at

Borderlands Horse Sanctuary

26160 457th Ave

PO Box 164

Humboldt, SD 57035

Wishlist Wednesday - Hay Rings

This Wishlish Wednesday, we wish for hay rings. The two hay rings in the big herd have seen better days. In fact, the one will not last another season. We bought them used (and used hard) so we are happy that they have lasted as long as they have. We have two other hay rings but they are cattle hay rings and the horses rub their manes off on the tops of the rings. Its' disappointing to see their luxurious manes disappear.

I've seen a number of different types of hay rings, some made out of metal while others are made out of plastic. In truth, I am not concerned at all on the type, brand, or even if it's used! We use hay nets along with the hay rings and without the hay rings, the  nets get trampled on by the horses so it's a necessity to have hay rings.

I know it's a lot to ask for a hay ring but it's definitely one that is used every day for six months out of the year.

Wishlist Wednesday - Toys

This Wishlish Wednesday, we wish for toys or other form of entertainment for the horses. We have a jolly ball that they sometimes mess with. We also have half of a plastic apple that holds the flavored licky thingies (sorry, can't think of the official name of them).

Maverick and a few of the others are starting to get bored. Until they can be out on pasture, which won't happen until sometime in May, they need something to keep them entertained. Any type of toy would be greatly appreciated.

Wishlist Wednesday - Mineral Blocks

This Wishlist Wednesday, we wish for mineral blocks. I am not confident with the hay we have been feeding all winter if the horses are getting all the exact nutrients they need. They seem to be doing just fine but I want to make sure they have every advantage they can as winter continue to drag on in this year.

Wishlist Wednesday - Dewormer

It's Wishlist Wednesday and we are in need of dewormer paste. We have 13 horses that need to be dewormed in the next couple of weeks and it would easy our minds and pocket books if even a few of the horses had dewormers given to them as gifts (they might not think them as gifts but I know I will!)

We unfortunately are off on our rotation so we aren't picky about what kind or brad is donated, only in that we have some type of dewormer.

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday

This Wishlist Wednesday, we wish for beet pulp. Even though it takes bit of convincing for the horses to eat, we wish for beet pulp to help pack on the pounds of the hard keepers. Even though the horses are on grain and 24x7 hay, some of the hard keepers start to drop weight this time of year. We add a little beet pulp (and have to convince them they like it) to add a little bit extra weight. 

The picture is of Jim from this summer before we was on beet pulp. Once he steals someone else's grain that has beet pulp, he'll devour it. It's all about convincing them they like it (it's like convincing kids the like vegetables). 

Jim eating his grain mash

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday

This Wishlist Wednesday, we wish for salt blocks. Even in winter, we need to make sure that the horses receive enough salt in their diets.

A white salt block costs about $5 and will last the big herd a month (and the other two pens longer). You can find white salt blocks at TSC and Campbell Supply. I'm sure there are other locations as well.

Zeke at the salt block

Wishlist Wednsday

Wishlist Wednesday

Our Wishlist Wednesday is a wish we are always asking for...hay. We are always in need of hay (and alfalfa) in any shape or quantity. We are not picky on what type of hay we get (round bales, big squares, small squares, etc.). We are always in need.

It's amazing how quickly the horses go through hay and how even $5 can buy a bale of hay and keep a senior horse fat and sassy.

Lightening

Bo

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday.

This Wishlist Wednesday, we wish for hoof picks. I somehow seem to misplace every hoof pick around so having extra is always appreciated and needed.

And an additional use of hoof picks is turning them into paint can openers. Just another added bonus for hoof picks.

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday

This Wishlist Wednesday we wish for Dumor Weight Booster to keep give our hard keepers a little boost to ensure their weight stays at the right levels. We want our horses coming out of winter as fat as when they went in to winter.

You can find the Dumor Weight Booster at TSC for $20. Other weight boosters are also welcome.

Jim - our oldest resident (age 31)