Worried about Babe

I'm worried about Babe. Rabbit keeps pushing her away from the food. I'm afraid she's already started to lose weight. I'm going to have to come up with a plan and fast. Any suggestions are welcome.

To try and ease my worries, here are some pictures of Thor back in October. One of these days I'll go take some recent photos of the herd.

Slippery Sam

Nothing takes five years off my life like seeing a horse go down. I few weeks back, Jim was being nasty to others and slipped on the ice/snow. Luckily he recovered himself with no harm.

This morning I went to let Sam in the barn but he was fighting with Jim. Jim is a kicker and has a big attitude. What he lacks in size, he makes up in pure attitude.

Sam is always so excited to get into the barn for morning alfalfa that he practically takes the door off. He rushed the door this morning because of Jim, lost the footing on his left hind, and DOWN he went! It was all in slow motion.

Sam lost the footing on one hind foot and then the other. Which meant he went toppling down. He landed on his side and then rolled with all four feet waving in the air. I figured he'd go down hard but wouldn't roll like that. I think he was a bit shocked but luckily he didn't hurt himself.

It was all in slow motion and I can still see the scene clear as day. I swear these draft horses take five years off my life every time they get sick or do something silly. Sam is too old to be falling like that. Luckily he had his winter blanket on to take a small portion of the blunt fall.

I need to figure out something in front of the door so that Sam doesn't fall again. I can still see Sam rolling almost onto his back with his legs straight in the air.

Leading Mayhem

When I put Rabbit and Mayhem in the smaller drylot, I did mess with Mayhem a little. I put a halter on but nothing really fit. I left a halter on one day just to see how she would react. She wasn't thrilled but didn't care enough to try and get it off.

When I pulled Rabbit out to begin the weaning process, I did halter Mayhem and lead her a round to distract her (just in the small dry lot). She was responsive but still scared. I messed with her only one or two times since then.

Until Saturday.

Knowing that she's not even six months old and that we were in the middle of a blizzard I was determined to get her into the box stall in the hay shed. But how do you lead a horse that's not even halter broke?

Well, there's no time like during the middle of a blizzard to start teaching a youngster to halter and lead. Mayhem watched as I haltered Tommy and Skippy. She was a little naughty but nothing out of the ordinary. I proceeded to take Tommy and Skippy into the other box stall. She let out one or two whinnies but the other horses were still out.

I think went back for Mayhem. He had just a small discussion about walking around the water bucket but otherwise she lead like a dream horse. She didn't crowd, she didn't spook, she didn't rush or lag behind. She was the epitome of a perfect horse. She walked right into her stall, stood in the middle, and took in her surroundings. I figured there would be some issues but she was a total Diva!

In the morning, I haltered her up and she walked right out without giving me any issues. She totally blew me away. This second time she didn't even balk at anything. She went in just like the little lady she is. She really is something.

For not really wanting a baby, she sure has turned into a keeper. The people who breed her and the person who didn't want her because of her color will just have to eat crow. She's turning into a majestic diva.

I can't believe that she will be six months old in only two weeks. I need to get the camera out so we can watch her progress. I was going to keep a log of her growth and I ran out of time. Maybe I'll shoot for 3-6 month progress shots so everyone can see how much she's grown. She is a true sweetheart.

Pesky Queen

We had our work cut out for us this past weekend. Blizzard conditions followed by freezing temps. I was worried that the oldsters and the fair weather horses would take the brunt of this storm. I ended up blanketing some Friday night but left them out. I should have held off on blanketing. But come Saturday morning, I was glad the oldsters had them on.

Even though Rain was in the barn, some Sunday morning he couldn't get warm and was shivering like crazy. I ran and got his blanket and it seemed to help him out. I need to get his blanket repaired before too long. When I had it on Jim, he ripped out the back leg strap. But I do think Rain was much happier having a protective layer.

Rain has a compromised system. He has to stay out of the hot weather as we believe he experienced heat stroke in the past. He now hides in the shade during the hot summer months. But because of his compromised system, he also gets colder faster, probably the quickest out of the entire herd. With the rapid temp change, Rain could adjust but all is well now that he's sporting his blanket.

This morning as I was adjusting Queen's blanket before I haltered her to take her to the pasture, she reached around and nipped me. She really does hate wearing a blanket but she can't seem to stay warm and dry once the wind blows and the skies open up. Luckily I was so padded that I could feel her pull my coat but couldn't feel her teeth.

That old Queen is a handlful. She's a grumpy old girl that deserves the utmost respect. And because she and I are of the same age, I try to respect her as best I can. She on the other hand thinks I'm torturing her by throwing on blankets.

Hopefully the weather will turn better and we won't have to deal with these freezing temps again. I tried posting a picture this morning but the internet is painfully slow right now. I'll try to post pictures soon.

Busy Busy Busy

Looks like we are in for some nasty weather this weekend. The temps are going to drop rapidly tonight into tomorrow. 40s today and only in the low teens tomorrow with below zero temps Saturday and Sunday night. uuugh is all I can say to that!

We will again not be home tonight to do more than minimal chores. Unfortunately the nasty weather is supposed to blow in first thing Saturday morning. I'm hoping I can get up early, get chores done, and get everything set in the barn and stalls so that I can run some of the herd in. It'll be interesting as I don't have stalls for everyone (but there is the one open front).

We haven't had a chance yet to do anything with the openfront we started building (that subsequently blew down). I'm planning on putting the ponies and Mayhem in but it'll be interesting since Mayhem is not even close to being halter broke yet. Yet another project I haven't had time to do. Maybe I can convince Mike to help in the mornings to get them out of the stalls and back into the pen.

It'll be interesting this time around since I'll be putting Rabbit in the barn. Hopefully there wont' be any fighting and I can figure out who goes where in the different stalls.

Sam, Rain, Babe, Queen, Rabbit, Zeke, and Ivan will go into the barn.
Tommy, Skippy, Mayhem will go into the hay shed stalls.

I'm planning on building out two temporary stalls tomorrow morning so I'll have two more I can put in. I havent' decided who will go in but I'm leaning towards Jim and Maverick (Maverick only because he's friends with Jim) or possibly Brego since all of his buddies will be in the barn and he's a bit more sensitive to the cold weather than Maverick. We'll see how it all goes. It's always a learning curve for me.

So the next 24 hours will be very busy for me getting temporary stalls set up, getting the other stalls set up and making sure everyone is comfortable. I did talk with someone who mentioned wanting to sell some of their used blankets. I'm planning on contacting that person to see what sizes and what prices. I have a few blankets but I'd feel much better if the entire herd had a blanket (although not all of them need one). But I'd feel better having one and never having to use it than not having one at all. I know some people dont' believe in blankets and others believe in them hold heartedly. I still have mixed feelings on it. So tell me, what is your opinion on blanketing horses?

Reaching Exhaustion

One full week of weaning. Rabbit seems to have forgotten about Mayhem and is hanging out with the mares, much to Babe's dismay. Rabbit and Babe don't get along. Hopefully Rabbit will adjust to Babe's blindness. I remember Queen having the same issue. But my concern is the ten year age difference. An 18 year old is more spry than a 28 year old. I'm keeping a close eye on the mares to make sure everyone is ok.

The trainer returned Tommy and Skippy Saturday afternoon. I didn't have any of the small pens set up for them. The ponies were kept with yearlings and weanlings these past four to five months so I thought it might be ok to have the ponies in with Mayhem. There was a bit of running, snorting, and whinnying but all have settled down. Tommy seems to cut Mayhem but it's good for Mayhem to be in with other horses. I'm keeping a cautious eye on them to make sure everyone is eating and the ponies don't push Mayhem out. It's funny to watch the three of them. Mayhem is only five months old but is already taller than Tommy, although Tommy is much wider. I can only see the top of Skippy's ears when I first walk up to the pen. He too has packed on the pounds. But that's what happens when they are drylotted with free access to a round bale. They aren't thrilled with their new diet. I'm hoping to trim them down and get rid of the rolly polly that they've become.

Internet has died on us for the most part so there may not be many blogs. Also with the fast approaching holidays, family issues, and being swamped with work I may not blog much. As it currently stands I'm doing my chores and that's about it. Morning chores take a half hour (from 5-5:30am in the stinking dark), and evening chores take two hours (5-7pm) and I end up finishing chores in the dark. Hopefully I can start getting home from work early enough so that I can at least do a once over on all the horses before the darkness sets in.

So if you don't see me for a while, it's not because we aren't busy; it's because I'm so swamped that I'm too exhausted to do anything more than crawl into bed each night, too tired to even dream of horses.

Weaning Process

Without a doubt, winter is here. I had high hopes of getting a few more things accomplished but it didn't happen. The only high priority left is building the open front, more because the lumber is sitting out and getting covered with snow. Once the open front is built, I can do some make shift fencing and all will be well until the April thaw.

I've been a naughty pony mom and haven't called the trainer. It's on my todo list for today. I am not sure where the ponies will go but I've sure missed them and will be glad to get them home.

Weaning is going much better. I opened the pasture gate last night so the big herd can go out into the pasture again. Rabbit hasn't been hanging out on that fence line since the wind comes blowing down in that exact spot. She's discovered a much more protected area where she can keep an eye on Mayhem.

Mayhem is adjusting although still very unhappy. When she can't see momma, she whinnies. I've learned a few things during this process.

1. Rabbit is an excellent mother and very devoted even if there are two fences and a herd of boys between her and her baby.
2. Rabbit is finally progressing to a better feeding spot but still wont' come up to the fence to eat since she can't keep an eye on Mayhem.
3. Water, water, water. Since Rabbit won't leave, I have to haul water down to her "post". The big water tank is happily plugging way with warm water but Rabbit would rather go without water than be out of eyesight of Mayhem.
4. Mayhem hangs out with the boys. Unfortunately she stands next to the fence where I through the first flake of hay. That flake is designated as Dude's and if it's big enough, he'll eat that instead of harassing the rest of the herd. So Mayhem is hanging out with Dude .
5. Feed Mayhem her grain mash first to distract her and then feed Rabbit. That way Mayhem is distracted and wont' whinny, which sets of Rabbit at a gallop back to her "post".
6. Weaning is hard on everyone, including momma, baby, all the boys, and me!

It's definately been a learning curve. I've started Rabbit on alfalfa and she devours it the same way I devour chocolate. Hopefully I can increase her alfalfa intake so she can finish packing on the last few pounds. I still say she's at least 50 pounds underweight (but I'm always a poor judge of weight).

Rabbit has put on a winter coat, not as thick as I like but it's getting there. I can't throw a blanket on since she stands in between trees and would rip the blanket to shreds. Hopefully the sub zero temps will stay away for awhile yet until she's back to proper weight.

Rabbit is coming at a trot to eat her grain and if she's in eye sight, she'll stick around and polish of her grain. Silly girl prefers her alfalfa to grain but eats her grain like a good girl.

This has all been a huge learning curve for me. It's only day five of the weaning process. This Saturday will make a full week. I need to do some reading up on how to handle everything. I was thinking of putting the ponies in with Mayhem but not sure just yet. We'll see.