Saturday, October 30, 2010
Heartbroken
Hopefully tomorrow's trail ride will make up for today's horse auction. I had to leave early. I just couldn't stay. I tried saving an old skinny mare. She went for $5 to the kill buyer. No one saw me sitting there waving my hands. She was out the door before I could get anyone's attention. I left right afterwards. I'm heartbroken.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Horizontal Snow
Oh how I dread the word.....
SNOW
It's an evil word around these parts because we are faced with it for six months out of the year (it feels like anyway). It's only October 27th and we have snow. It's not the light fluffy kind that gently falls from the sky. It's the hard pellets that hurt when it comes flying horizontally across the open plains and smacks you right in the face.
Luckily last night we had a reprieve from the rain. But the wind was terrible, terrible, terrible. Had there been snow at the time, it would have been horizontal (like it is this morning). The horses were happy to stay out in the pasture until I called Sam in for his evening grain. I need to start in with my winter routine instead of my summer routine. It gets dark so darn fast these days that I'm doing half my chores in the dark.
Luckily everyone behaved for the most part and were happy and willing to snarf down the grain and hay I threw out. Even Thor decided he'd hang out for a little while and eat some hay. I need to clean out the yards a little better so I have more places to throw hay.
A few weekends back we started building an open front. At the time we only had a skeleton frame for the building. Last night it was leaning pretty good. This morning it was in a heap on the ground. I was rather disappointed. I'd hoped to have it done by now. The fencing is contingent on the open front being done and now it's lying in a heap.
When I went to feed Rabbit, she was shivering like crazy. She still doesn't have enough weight on her since she's spending all her time feeding Mayhem. I did order some waterproof sheets but they didnt' come with leg straps. I've learned my lesson with putting a sheet with no leg straps on a horse that is not stalled. I decided that we'd go with a winter blanket instead. I know it's too early and she needs to get her coat on but I couldn't let her stand there and shiver the entire night. When I flopped her grain dish in front of her though, she did stop shivering. But I wanted to make her feel better so on went her winter blanket. She must have been pampered in her earlier years because she stood like a pro for me to put on the blanket. She didn't even spook, like the others do so I'm sure she's worn a blanket in the past. Mayhem wasn't so sure about the blanket but she checked it out to make sure "mom" was still under there.
This morning I woke to the roaring wind. The only problem with winter is that I can stay in bed listening to the wind howl and not realize that there is horizontal wind blowing. It's not until I step outside that the shock hits me. This morning was a shock to the system. I knew it was supposed to be nasty out but I didn't think it would be pelting snowballs at me. I was NOT impressed. Everyone but Thor was up by the barn. Poor Thor, I'm guessing he was out in the pasture somewhere. I may have to start stalling Sam (so he can eat his grain, alfalfa, and hay without being pestered) and throw Thor in too. Thor really likes being in the barn even if his stall is too small for him.
I've found that the older work horses love being in the barn. Dictator (my first horse who happened to be a Colorado ranch horse) loved being in the barn. I couldn't get Bob out of the barn. Sam hated the barn at first and now prefers to stand in there (of course the barn means food). And now Thor is loving the barn. So we'll see how it all plays out.
The weatherman is saying the wind won't die down until after 7pm tonight. So I'll have to deal with the wind for a little bit during chores. I can only hope that the weather gets better so I can scurry around and get some of my final projects done before the real snow hits. I'm starting to panic that I'll not get everything done that needs to be done before real winter sets in and we're dealing with a few feet of snow.
Snow....it's an evil word.
SNOW
It's an evil word around these parts because we are faced with it for six months out of the year (it feels like anyway). It's only October 27th and we have snow. It's not the light fluffy kind that gently falls from the sky. It's the hard pellets that hurt when it comes flying horizontally across the open plains and smacks you right in the face.
Luckily last night we had a reprieve from the rain. But the wind was terrible, terrible, terrible. Had there been snow at the time, it would have been horizontal (like it is this morning). The horses were happy to stay out in the pasture until I called Sam in for his evening grain. I need to start in with my winter routine instead of my summer routine. It gets dark so darn fast these days that I'm doing half my chores in the dark.
Luckily everyone behaved for the most part and were happy and willing to snarf down the grain and hay I threw out. Even Thor decided he'd hang out for a little while and eat some hay. I need to clean out the yards a little better so I have more places to throw hay.
A few weekends back we started building an open front. At the time we only had a skeleton frame for the building. Last night it was leaning pretty good. This morning it was in a heap on the ground. I was rather disappointed. I'd hoped to have it done by now. The fencing is contingent on the open front being done and now it's lying in a heap.
When I went to feed Rabbit, she was shivering like crazy. She still doesn't have enough weight on her since she's spending all her time feeding Mayhem. I did order some waterproof sheets but they didnt' come with leg straps. I've learned my lesson with putting a sheet with no leg straps on a horse that is not stalled. I decided that we'd go with a winter blanket instead. I know it's too early and she needs to get her coat on but I couldn't let her stand there and shiver the entire night. When I flopped her grain dish in front of her though, she did stop shivering. But I wanted to make her feel better so on went her winter blanket. She must have been pampered in her earlier years because she stood like a pro for me to put on the blanket. She didn't even spook, like the others do so I'm sure she's worn a blanket in the past. Mayhem wasn't so sure about the blanket but she checked it out to make sure "mom" was still under there.
This morning I woke to the roaring wind. The only problem with winter is that I can stay in bed listening to the wind howl and not realize that there is horizontal wind blowing. It's not until I step outside that the shock hits me. This morning was a shock to the system. I knew it was supposed to be nasty out but I didn't think it would be pelting snowballs at me. I was NOT impressed. Everyone but Thor was up by the barn. Poor Thor, I'm guessing he was out in the pasture somewhere. I may have to start stalling Sam (so he can eat his grain, alfalfa, and hay without being pestered) and throw Thor in too. Thor really likes being in the barn even if his stall is too small for him.
I've found that the older work horses love being in the barn. Dictator (my first horse who happened to be a Colorado ranch horse) loved being in the barn. I couldn't get Bob out of the barn. Sam hated the barn at first and now prefers to stand in there (of course the barn means food). And now Thor is loving the barn. So we'll see how it all plays out.
The weatherman is saying the wind won't die down until after 7pm tonight. So I'll have to deal with the wind for a little bit during chores. I can only hope that the weather gets better so I can scurry around and get some of my final projects done before the real snow hits. I'm starting to panic that I'll not get everything done that needs to be done before real winter sets in and we're dealing with a few feet of snow.
Snow....it's an evil word.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Winter is Here
Winter is most definately here. I'll be pulling out the winter coats, coveralls, hats, gloves, etc. I had hoped to get the utility room cleaned before I pulled out all the winter gear but it probably won't happen.
Last night I was late getting out to do chores. I had hoped the rain would stop or at a minimum not be pouring when I went out. No luck. By the time I came in for the night I was soaked to the bone. And to think, I spent most of my time under cover of a barn or hay shed.
I decided that it was time to start feeding everyone hay at night. I had hoped to hold off for another week but everyone looked so miserable. I gave them all a quick treat of grain and then threw hay. I'll have to come up with a different method of throwing hay this year.
I am trying to run through the old hay which is in the hay shed. I prefer to pull hay from the hay barn first since there's light and it's under cover. But I have too much hay sitting out under tarps that I want to use up first. That means I have to fight a gate and the ever present downhill slope that always seems to take my haycart away from me. I'm not sure what will happen when there's snow and I can't drag my haycart through the gate because of the snow drifts. It will be interesting to say the least.
The weatherman is calling for snow tomorrow sometime. I haven't seen a weather report in about two weeks so hearing about snow was a bit of a shock. I really am not prepared yet for snow and winter. I need to get a bit of fencing done before the weather turns and I haven't quite figured out how to fix some of our broken fence line. I need to fix the fenceline so I can pull the electric fence charger. Last year I forgot it and it was buried under a few feet of snow until spring when I found it again.
Everyone was up by the barn this morning except for Thor. Poor Thor. I really do worry about him. He has no one to protect and he hasn't buddied up with anyone either. Last night while everyone else was munching on hay, he wandered out to the pasture to be by himself. This morning everyone was all huddled up next to the barn except for Thor who I'm assuming was out in the pasture by himself again. I just dont' know what to do. He's depressed but at least he's eating. I'm really worried about him. I don't know what to do.
The rain is supposed to stop sometime today so hopefully the horses can dry off. We are in a high wind warning/watch so that will make chores a blast. I really wish I was prepared for this type of weather. I froze this morning throwing hay to Rabbit and Mayhem. I'm just not prepared for winter. Too bad winter is already here.
Last night I was late getting out to do chores. I had hoped the rain would stop or at a minimum not be pouring when I went out. No luck. By the time I came in for the night I was soaked to the bone. And to think, I spent most of my time under cover of a barn or hay shed.
I decided that it was time to start feeding everyone hay at night. I had hoped to hold off for another week but everyone looked so miserable. I gave them all a quick treat of grain and then threw hay. I'll have to come up with a different method of throwing hay this year.
I am trying to run through the old hay which is in the hay shed. I prefer to pull hay from the hay barn first since there's light and it's under cover. But I have too much hay sitting out under tarps that I want to use up first. That means I have to fight a gate and the ever present downhill slope that always seems to take my haycart away from me. I'm not sure what will happen when there's snow and I can't drag my haycart through the gate because of the snow drifts. It will be interesting to say the least.
The weatherman is calling for snow tomorrow sometime. I haven't seen a weather report in about two weeks so hearing about snow was a bit of a shock. I really am not prepared yet for snow and winter. I need to get a bit of fencing done before the weather turns and I haven't quite figured out how to fix some of our broken fence line. I need to fix the fenceline so I can pull the electric fence charger. Last year I forgot it and it was buried under a few feet of snow until spring when I found it again.
Everyone was up by the barn this morning except for Thor. Poor Thor. I really do worry about him. He has no one to protect and he hasn't buddied up with anyone either. Last night while everyone else was munching on hay, he wandered out to the pasture to be by himself. This morning everyone was all huddled up next to the barn except for Thor who I'm assuming was out in the pasture by himself again. I just dont' know what to do. He's depressed but at least he's eating. I'm really worried about him. I don't know what to do.
The rain is supposed to stop sometime today so hopefully the horses can dry off. We are in a high wind warning/watch so that will make chores a blast. I really wish I was prepared for this type of weather. I froze this morning throwing hay to Rabbit and Mayhem. I'm just not prepared for winter. Too bad winter is already here.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Stress
This past week we had a family emergency which took us out of state. All is ok now so no worries. But the past week's worth of family stresses on top of the current stresses have been just too much.
I'm afraid my mood is down in the dumps. I do have good stories to tell about Jim but will save those for a different day.
The weather is foggy, hazy, and drizzly. It adds to my mood. And I just realized that two weeks ago today we lost Joe. Hopefully by the end of the week my good spirits will return.
I am headed to the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock sale this Saturday so add another stress on top of the already big list of stresses.
I will try to return with good stories and pictures for all to enjoy. Until then, hug your horse and say a prayer for those souls that are lost.
I'm afraid my mood is down in the dumps. I do have good stories to tell about Jim but will save those for a different day.
The weather is foggy, hazy, and drizzly. It adds to my mood. And I just realized that two weeks ago today we lost Joe. Hopefully by the end of the week my good spirits will return.
I am headed to the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock sale this Saturday so add another stress on top of the already big list of stresses.
I will try to return with good stories and pictures for all to enjoy. Until then, hug your horse and say a prayer for those souls that are lost.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Head in the Fog
There's so much I'd like to blog about but my mind is at a total loss. After the sadness of losing Joe (a week ago today), worrying about how Thor would handle the loss and adding him to the big herd, and the stresses of watching so many good lives lost at Saturday's sale I just don't know what to say.
Maybe I need to re-evaluate my outlook and start focusing on the horses here at Borderlands and the good they bring instead of looking at all the lost potential and all the lost lives. It's just stressful and beyond my comprehension how many lives were lost on Saturday. I can only hope that they were dumped into the auction circuit and someone will save them. It does make me more motivated to come up with some plan to pull horses from auctions. But the ideas haven't yet come flying off the top of my head as my mind is simply in a fog.
On a bright note, it sounds like our website will be up and running soon, which means I need to do a "spa" day for the horses so that they can all appear on the website. Maybe once we have a presence and people are more aware, I'll get off my butt and get motivated.
Until then, I may be sporadic in blogging.
Maybe I need to re-evaluate my outlook and start focusing on the horses here at Borderlands and the good they bring instead of looking at all the lost potential and all the lost lives. It's just stressful and beyond my comprehension how many lives were lost on Saturday. I can only hope that they were dumped into the auction circuit and someone will save them. It does make me more motivated to come up with some plan to pull horses from auctions. But the ideas haven't yet come flying off the top of my head as my mind is simply in a fog.
On a bright note, it sounds like our website will be up and running soon, which means I need to do a "spa" day for the horses so that they can all appear on the website. Maybe once we have a presence and people are more aware, I'll get off my butt and get motivated.
Until then, I may be sporadic in blogging.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Hug Your Horse Tonight
Spent the afternoon at the Mitchell Livestock Horse Sale. The cataloged portion was decent. Very well bred horses but half No Saled. People started leaving during the non-cataloged. Most of the horses run through that part went for $500 or less. There were a few over that but not many.
The place was deserted for the loose sale. Most of the broodmares went for $100. The weanlings went for $5-10 and nothing more. I think the highest loose horse went for $250.
When we rode on a ride in September, I saw this poor old mare carrying a kid. She looked like she was on her last legs. Well, they decided to take her to today's auction. I tried bidding on her but they already said "sold" so they wouldn't let me bid on her. She went for $10 to kill. What a waste.
A thoroughbred that had been advertised went for $250. Very nice looking mare. I believe she too went to kill.
An appaloosa that had been advertised at first at $900, then $800, and then $600 was there and went for $250 to kill.
Pathetic. It takes a little bit of effort and elbow grease and you can have a very nice looking horse. Some of the cataloged horses no saled at $4,000. Put a bit of riding time and elbow grease and people want big bucks for them. Leave them untouched and they turn into No Value horses.
So do me a favor and go hug your horse. I hate auctions. Hate, hate hate them. I need to figure out a way to fundraise and save horses from these auctions. 90% of the loose horses went to the killbuyer. My only hope is that they will be run through the Corsica horse sale this Monday and someone else will pick them up. Otherwise they will be headed to Canada or Mexico.
So much potential lost. So many lives lost. Such a shame.
The place was deserted for the loose sale. Most of the broodmares went for $100. The weanlings went for $5-10 and nothing more. I think the highest loose horse went for $250.
When we rode on a ride in September, I saw this poor old mare carrying a kid. She looked like she was on her last legs. Well, they decided to take her to today's auction. I tried bidding on her but they already said "sold" so they wouldn't let me bid on her. She went for $10 to kill. What a waste.
A thoroughbred that had been advertised went for $250. Very nice looking mare. I believe she too went to kill.
An appaloosa that had been advertised at first at $900, then $800, and then $600 was there and went for $250 to kill.
Pathetic. It takes a little bit of effort and elbow grease and you can have a very nice looking horse. Some of the cataloged horses no saled at $4,000. Put a bit of riding time and elbow grease and people want big bucks for them. Leave them untouched and they turn into No Value horses.
So do me a favor and go hug your horse. I hate auctions. Hate, hate hate them. I need to figure out a way to fundraise and save horses from these auctions. 90% of the loose horses went to the killbuyer. My only hope is that they will be run through the Corsica horse sale this Monday and someone else will pick them up. Otherwise they will be headed to Canada or Mexico.
So much potential lost. So many lives lost. Such a shame.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Riding to the Church
Here's one last picture for the day. I couldn't resist. Doesn't Dad look handsome riding handsome Chaos?
And to think Chaos was a rescue!
Shanna with Zeke and Dad with Chaos
And to think Chaos was a rescue!
Shanna with Zeke and Dad with Chaos
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