A good read:
http://www.habitatforhorses.org/so-who-really-wants-horse-slaughter/
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Tarping Hay and Saying Prayers
In the evening after our winter hay supply arrived, I needed to scramble and get some of the hay covered. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough space for all the hay to be under cover so we had to do some rearranging. You don’t think tarping hay would be all that difficult but when you’re doing it in the dark and alone, it can get a little hairy. The first area to tarp wasn’t too bad. I didn’t have any problems hopping up onto the stack of hay but had to watch my head to make sure I didn’t bang it on the shed roof. I was able to get most of that pile tarped without any problems. Then it was on to the other two rows of hay.
The hay we purchase are big squares that are 3x3 and stacked two high. So silly me, instead of getting the ladder (because it was too far to lug back to the shed and it was already 9:30pm when I started, I went the old “hick” route and grabbed a pallet and turned it into a makeshift stepping stool.
The way we had to stack the hay made it a bit more difficult. Usually this stack is completely undercover but just needs the front covered. Instead we added another two bales so the hay was sticking out. There’s a small “wall” (hard to explain) so there was about a foot between the top of the hay and the bottom of the wall. I had to slither my way under the “wall to get back to the other hay and throw tarps. I had to slither my way back out to tarp the front of the hay. That’s when I realized that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Here I am, alone with no cell phone and if I fall, I’ll fall onto concrete. Or the bales could tip and crush me if the tumble down. And of course I’m doing this all by the light of the full moon. At least there was a full moon because half way through tarping the hay, the flashlight just quit. No warning that the battery was giving out. It just stopped and everything went dark. It’s my typical luck. But in truth, it was easier to work with the light of the moon than to hang on to a flashlight and try to scramble around on bales. Once I was done with the second pile of hay, I had to go to the next stack and do the same thing again using my pallet as a ladder. I made sure to say my prayers when I was up on the hay! It’s always an adventure when dealing with hay.
(I'll post pics later so you can actually see what I'm talking about).
When my hay guy was here, I asked if he’d put the three round bales that we had from June into the drylot. I didn’t figure they were any good but the horses could eat on them if they got bored. Sure enough, instead of hanging out in the pasture, they are devouring the bales. Well, actually just one of the bales. Guess it was a lot better than I thought. But this way, with 24x7 access to pasture and a round bale, maybe everyone will be fat and sassy.
Tomorrow is the first day of the Prairie Village Threshing Jamboree. I’m planning on taking Chaos to help park cars. It should be a good learning experience. It’s the first time in 12 years that they are able to use the steam engine locomotive. We’ll see what Chaos does when he sees that big smoke breathing machine coming down the tracks.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Fully Loaded
Our hay arrived promptly at 2pm today. I just watched them pull away at 4:30. It's a great feeling to have a barn and shed full of hay. Unfortunately I didn't get my full order so I may be in search of a handful of round bales. I had hoped that with a full order and a few extra bales from last year that maybe we could take on one old horse but without the full order of hay coming through, I doubt we can take on anyone else unless someone wants to sponsor. I am waiting for the second weight ticket to find out exactly how much we will pay. I still need to go out and tarp some of the hay. We sort of ran out of room so I have a few that are a little bit more exposed to the elements than I would like. But, they are here so now I can worry about other things. We were able to get a total of 68 bales. I guess that was all the field provided. Last year we got 40 from that field. It didn't dawn on me until today when my hay guy said it. But it almost sounds like the field they pull the bales from is "my" field. Kind of a neat feeling to know that there's a field specifically for our hay. I can only hope that next year it'll produce better. Here's to keeping fingers crossed that we'll have good weather so "my" field will do even better next year.
Hay Today
If I thought I was in a panic Sunday, I guess I should have waited another day. I got the phone call yesterday after work that my hay guy was going to bale and deliver my hay today! TODAY! Ummm.. I had planned on working in the haybarn and hayshed a little bit last night in preparation for the hay arriving but I had no idea that it would be TODAY!
I forgot what it was like to work outside from the time we get home until dark. I was exhausted when we finally trudged in for the night. I would have been a little bit better had it not been a surprise that the hay would come today. It'll be a relief that we'll have enough hay to get through the year. But what's stressing me out is having to pay for the hay. It's always a struggle but even more so now with the hospital bills. I guess it's just a constant stresser I'll have to learn to live with.
The hay hasnt' yet arrived but I am anxiously waiting. The weatherman predicted rain for tomorrow and Thursday so I'm anxious to get the hay under cover before the weather changes.
I forgot what it was like to work outside from the time we get home until dark. I was exhausted when we finally trudged in for the night. I would have been a little bit better had it not been a surprise that the hay would come today. It'll be a relief that we'll have enough hay to get through the year. But what's stressing me out is having to pay for the hay. It's always a struggle but even more so now with the hospital bills. I guess it's just a constant stresser I'll have to learn to live with.
The hay hasnt' yet arrived but I am anxiously waiting. The weatherman predicted rain for tomorrow and Thursday so I'm anxious to get the hay under cover before the weather changes.
Monday, August 19, 2013
In A Panic
I think Jim have uveitis, also known as moon blindness. I don't know what's going on. Last year Rabbit lost the eyesight out of one eye around this time of year due to uveitis. Now it's Jim. I can't figure out if it's something I'm doing, if there's something that they are getting in to, or what. I know that might sound weird but how can I have horses start experiencing uvietis one year after another. It makes me feel like i'm doing something wrong when I know it's just a matter of that particular horse.
On the bright side, at least Jim isn't skittish about that eye when I look at it. I need to call the vet to find out if there is anything we can do. I need to order a specific flymask for Jim and Rabbit so that the sun doesn't bother their eyes as much. It always seems that around this time of year (or closer to mid fall), that the horses start getting sick or having health concerns/issues. Seems we are starting earlier this year.
I am afraid we are going to lose Babe. She's still spunky but she's not putting on the weight. What hay I do throw out, she doesn't polish off. I also throw her alfalfa and she can't eat but just the leaves. She polishes of her grain, which is a good sign. She hasn't indicated to me that she's ready to go yet but I'm afraid I need to start preparing myself for the loss. She has taught me SO much in the past five years. I'm not saying it's a definite yes that we will say goodbye to her yet this year but I am afraid that will be what happens. It depends on Babe and the weather. I refuse to let a horse suffer through a South Dakota winter. So it may seem that we are being rash and euthanizing too early but I don't want anyone to get sick or go down hill during a cold winter day/night in South Dakota. My preference is for grain in their belly, grass in their mouth, and sunshine on their back when we say goodbye rather than ice and snow under them and only hay and grain to enjoy with no sun. So, I'm beginning to prepare myself. Maybe I'm wrong and I'm jumping to conclusions.
I'm also keeping a watchful eye on Jim. He is a hard keeper during the winter months but he seems to be doing ok other than the uveitis. I need to get Bo in to have a full exam. He's simply not picking up weight so I want the vet to see if there's some underlying condition that is finally breaking through. Brego needs to go in for a float, as does Rain. Unfortunately we are going to have to scrape pennies to get all of this accomplished. I'd love to take them in one at a time and save us the expense of paying for everything all at once but I want everyone on the up-and-up before the weather turns (and the paying job is overloading me with work).
August has not felt like August this year. It's been down right chilly these past few weeks. This week is turning out to be hot like our typical August but I haven't heard yet what the weather will be like after this week. Even the weatherman isn't looking any farther into the future than the next few days of intense heat (intense for South Dakota being low 90s). :-)
One of our drill teams had our final performance of the year and this weekend will be the final performance of the other drill team. I'm hoping with practices and performances done for the season, that I'll be able to concentrate more on fundraising. Is anyone free in the next couple of weeks to meet and discuss fundraiser ideas? I have one of our guardian angels coming over next Tuesday if anyone would like to join us, the more the merrier.
I was also told yesterday that our hay supplier is going to be baling hay this week and they want to deliver it right away. I was in a panic when I found out the news so I went out to the hayshed to do some cleaning. I have a lot more cleaning to get done before the hay arrives! I still need to unload the 50 small squares of hay (we use those for emergencies and travel) into the haybarn before the big bales arrive. Otherwise stacking bales is going to be very difficult with the big bales in the way. I also need to move the ponies. I let the ponies back out on the lawn this weekend. They were happy but now they are demanding that they be moved. Depending on when the hay is scheduled to arrive, I can put the ponies in one of two places. I hate not being able to plan. I don't want anyone waiting on me or having to rush around to get stuff done before people arrive. I only have tonight and Thursday night to finish getting everything ready. I'm afraid Thursday might be out too as we have our son's one year doctor appoinment (and shots) and if he's not feeling well, I'm certainly not going to be out throwing bales.
We also have a ground hog. He decided to keep me company while I was cleaning out the hay shed. I came around the corner to go find a cat (found a mouse nest, yuck), and there was the ground hog. I set a trap so we'll see if I can catch him or if I'll have to move the trap to a different location. For those that don't know, we do not trap and release. Call use cruel and inhumane to wild animals I guess. But reality is we cannot have varmits on our property with all of these horses. We've already had an EPM scare, I don't want any other type of scare due to varmits!
Mike also sprayed the drylot last week. Oh what a blessing that is! The drylot was being overtaken by prickly cockleburs (you know, the ones that are painful to pull out, not the ones that shred into a million pieces when you pull on them). Mike didn't get all of the plants but now we can at least see which plants weren't affected by the spray and go after those. I do NOT want to spend my time pulling cockleburs out of manes and tails all winter long.
We have a million things to work on and I'm in a total panic. There's so much to get accomplished and fall is right around the corner. So, if anyone is bored, you are welcome to come out. We have plenty of projects to work on from easy tasks that shouldn't take very long (washing blankets) all the way to extensive time consuming projects (fixing the sliding door on the barn) and there's always fencing! So let me know when you are free and we'll get something set up!
On the bright side, at least Jim isn't skittish about that eye when I look at it. I need to call the vet to find out if there is anything we can do. I need to order a specific flymask for Jim and Rabbit so that the sun doesn't bother their eyes as much. It always seems that around this time of year (or closer to mid fall), that the horses start getting sick or having health concerns/issues. Seems we are starting earlier this year.
I am afraid we are going to lose Babe. She's still spunky but she's not putting on the weight. What hay I do throw out, she doesn't polish off. I also throw her alfalfa and she can't eat but just the leaves. She polishes of her grain, which is a good sign. She hasn't indicated to me that she's ready to go yet but I'm afraid I need to start preparing myself for the loss. She has taught me SO much in the past five years. I'm not saying it's a definite yes that we will say goodbye to her yet this year but I am afraid that will be what happens. It depends on Babe and the weather. I refuse to let a horse suffer through a South Dakota winter. So it may seem that we are being rash and euthanizing too early but I don't want anyone to get sick or go down hill during a cold winter day/night in South Dakota. My preference is for grain in their belly, grass in their mouth, and sunshine on their back when we say goodbye rather than ice and snow under them and only hay and grain to enjoy with no sun. So, I'm beginning to prepare myself. Maybe I'm wrong and I'm jumping to conclusions.
I'm also keeping a watchful eye on Jim. He is a hard keeper during the winter months but he seems to be doing ok other than the uveitis. I need to get Bo in to have a full exam. He's simply not picking up weight so I want the vet to see if there's some underlying condition that is finally breaking through. Brego needs to go in for a float, as does Rain. Unfortunately we are going to have to scrape pennies to get all of this accomplished. I'd love to take them in one at a time and save us the expense of paying for everything all at once but I want everyone on the up-and-up before the weather turns (and the paying job is overloading me with work).
August has not felt like August this year. It's been down right chilly these past few weeks. This week is turning out to be hot like our typical August but I haven't heard yet what the weather will be like after this week. Even the weatherman isn't looking any farther into the future than the next few days of intense heat (intense for South Dakota being low 90s). :-)
One of our drill teams had our final performance of the year and this weekend will be the final performance of the other drill team. I'm hoping with practices and performances done for the season, that I'll be able to concentrate more on fundraising. Is anyone free in the next couple of weeks to meet and discuss fundraiser ideas? I have one of our guardian angels coming over next Tuesday if anyone would like to join us, the more the merrier.
I was also told yesterday that our hay supplier is going to be baling hay this week and they want to deliver it right away. I was in a panic when I found out the news so I went out to the hayshed to do some cleaning. I have a lot more cleaning to get done before the hay arrives! I still need to unload the 50 small squares of hay (we use those for emergencies and travel) into the haybarn before the big bales arrive. Otherwise stacking bales is going to be very difficult with the big bales in the way. I also need to move the ponies. I let the ponies back out on the lawn this weekend. They were happy but now they are demanding that they be moved. Depending on when the hay is scheduled to arrive, I can put the ponies in one of two places. I hate not being able to plan. I don't want anyone waiting on me or having to rush around to get stuff done before people arrive. I only have tonight and Thursday night to finish getting everything ready. I'm afraid Thursday might be out too as we have our son's one year doctor appoinment (and shots) and if he's not feeling well, I'm certainly not going to be out throwing bales.
We also have a ground hog. He decided to keep me company while I was cleaning out the hay shed. I came around the corner to go find a cat (found a mouse nest, yuck), and there was the ground hog. I set a trap so we'll see if I can catch him or if I'll have to move the trap to a different location. For those that don't know, we do not trap and release. Call use cruel and inhumane to wild animals I guess. But reality is we cannot have varmits on our property with all of these horses. We've already had an EPM scare, I don't want any other type of scare due to varmits!
Mike also sprayed the drylot last week. Oh what a blessing that is! The drylot was being overtaken by prickly cockleburs (you know, the ones that are painful to pull out, not the ones that shred into a million pieces when you pull on them). Mike didn't get all of the plants but now we can at least see which plants weren't affected by the spray and go after those. I do NOT want to spend my time pulling cockleburs out of manes and tails all winter long.
We have a million things to work on and I'm in a total panic. There's so much to get accomplished and fall is right around the corner. So, if anyone is bored, you are welcome to come out. We have plenty of projects to work on from easy tasks that shouldn't take very long (washing blankets) all the way to extensive time consuming projects (fixing the sliding door on the barn) and there's always fencing! So let me know when you are free and we'll get something set up!
No IA Slaughterhouse
It seems that the people have spoken and there will be no slaughter plant for horses in Iowa. Thank those that were diligent enough to push through and save the horses. Unfortunately, Valley Meat is going to push through until they get a slaughter plant in New Mexico. Although a slaughter house wont' be in our backyards, it's still necessary to keep pushing to save the horses.
I am seeing more and more good horses up for sale. There's absolutely nothing wrong with them other than an owner that no longer wants to care for that horse during the winter months of South Dakota (or at least that's the usual jist of most people getting rid of horses "need to thin the herd").
I found out a little bit of info on Bo's previous owner, I think. Well, it's not really info but it's the location of one pasture he either rents or owns. Only when people stop selling horses at auctions for cheap and when people start doing reference checks before letting their beloved horse go to someone else, can we stop somone like this evil man from acquiring innocent horses and subsequently hurting them (and eventually entering these horses into the slaughter pipeline.
Ignorance is not something you are born with.
I am seeing more and more good horses up for sale. There's absolutely nothing wrong with them other than an owner that no longer wants to care for that horse during the winter months of South Dakota (or at least that's the usual jist of most people getting rid of horses "need to thin the herd").
I found out a little bit of info on Bo's previous owner, I think. Well, it's not really info but it's the location of one pasture he either rents or owns. Only when people stop selling horses at auctions for cheap and when people start doing reference checks before letting their beloved horse go to someone else, can we stop somone like this evil man from acquiring innocent horses and subsequently hurting them (and eventually entering these horses into the slaughter pipeline.
Ignorance is not something you are born with.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Pictures
Dude seems to be in almost all of these pictures. I guess he's just a photogenic horse. The following pictures are from the first of July when we FINALLY released them into the pasture.
Rain, Maverik, Chaos, and Dude
Dude, Maverick, and Jim
Apparently Dude really can flex!
The herd coming in for the night.
Early morning
Bo and Zeke in the early morning light
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