All Trimmed Up

So yesterday I got my new tires.  They are so grippy and rubbery smelling :)  I am so glad I got them, even though I think tires should last for more than 50, 000 km, I guess the tire people don't so it was time.

And when I got to the barn yesterday it was crazy busy!  There was about 10 other peole there taking kids for rides, then Lu came then the lesson girl came.  It was so unexpected cause we are ussually the only ones there.  So since it was so busy to ride and all week long I have been thinking of trimming Jessie's legs, I did.  I imagine she has been trimmed before but I don't know for sure but she was sooo good.  I didn't even have her tied up and she just stood there even when other people would walk by. 

Looks so different now, and so much prettier, except the lump on her leg sticks out more, but I will keep boots on her this weekend so it won't look as bad.  I forgot to get a before picture, but the amount of hair that came off was amazing!  You can see all the hair on the floor, it was crazy.  I also did her face, just all the long hairs under her jaw and she looks so nice now :)  We did ride afterwrds, but it was kinda a short ride cause I was tired from standing on my head to trim her legs.

I am so excited for this weekend, it should be a lot of fun, Everyone I tell about the clinic thinks it should be a good one and I hope so.  It will be kinda fun cause there are 3 of us(that I know) going together so that will be nice.  I wonder how many people from last year will be there? 

More Horses....and Cows

So it seems like we are officially back in business, the cow/calf business that is.  Actually for a couple days now and don't know why this heifer was so early, they should maybe be starting this weekend and noone else looks close, but its alive and healthy so who are we to complain.

And so cute.  I don't understand how such cute little calves can grow up to be cows.  Just cows.  not cute anymore just a cow. 

And while I was out there checking heifers I thought I should check on the ponies too, or rather they thought they should check on me ;)  And they look good, enjoying the bale I am sure.  And they don't even look as thin as they did the other day, actually there really is only 2 on the thin side and I realized later it was the two that have never spent a winter foraging for themselves. 

(a not thin Bailey, comin to see me)

I was kinda suspicious when the youngest (Jazz) and the oldest (Disco) were fat.  Then it came to me.  It was a pretty easy winter and lots of grass out there, no reason to be thin.  Until I decided they just didn't know there was no other food coming.  But now they look good and we will keep feeding them for a while till the grass grows probly.   Then I will probly end up feeding some anyways cause I will have them in to ride.  Might just switch them out every few weeks and so I am not riding them all at one time.

(a horrible pic of one of the thin ones)

And while I was out there I had a pretty good look at everyones feet and most of them look good and short, except the two that never got trimmed last fall.  November I think it was last time.  And unfortunatly Jazz probly won't get done this time either cause I have nowhere to work with her and she needs work before I attempt to get her feet done again.

(odd pic of George and his feet)

And then after I was out there and everything looked fine, I look out a couple hours later and the horses were in the calf corral!  Not impressed.  So I go and chase them out (it was easy they knew they weren't supposed to be in there)  and go find out how they got in.

(a not thin Belle, she takes good pictures)

Turns out Neil never tied the gate rope right between the horse pasture and the calves and the calves just rubbed it off.  The rope was laying on the ground still tied up.  That made me upset cause it was useless.  So I locked the calves in and opened the gate and the horses ran back and I fixed the gate better, no calves will rub it open again.  No wonder I am partial to wire gate closers, even if they are harder to close they STAY closed!

(I find it hard to get good pics of Razz, not sure why but this is probly the best one I have)

And then it was all fine and I went to go riding and left a little early and get no more than a quarter mile down the road and I have a flat tire! AHH  I shoulda just stayed in bed.  So I get that all fixed and call the tire place and this afternoon I am getting new tires.  I had been putting it off cause Neil was gonna organize it but I am sick of changing tires every week or so cause they are wore out.

Jazz stands so close all the time and she sure wants me to pet/scratch her all the time, so I usually do, even on her nose which she doesn't really like, but she doesn't leave so I just so it a little everytime and she is getting better about it.  Sure wish I had somewhere so I could do some work with her, but her leading skills are not real good yet so I am pretty sure I couldn't convince her to leave the other horses and so I am not even gonna try till I know I can succeed.

(Kals looks good, I think she is enjoying her time off)

Wordless Wednesday--Sky

Feeding

When I went to get Shasta the other day, I noticed a few of the ponies looked a little thin.  That is kinda normal this time of year for ponies on pasture, but I don't like it and was feeling bad for them.  Usually I bring them into the corral for a month or so till the grass starts to green up.  But this year we have some stupid old cows there (I wanted to sell them last fall but of course we had to keep them and they are not worth it and probly not even pregnant cause we never got them checked.  And yes I am a little annoyed no one listens to me) 

Anyways there is no corral available for 9 horses to fit in, I have my round pen and 2 smaller outdoor stalls but that's just not enough.  So Neil rolled a bale out there and he will do that every week or so till there are enough heifers with calves we can kick them out then put the horses in.

The horses were quite surprised when he drove out there and started rolling it out.  Quite often he drives out there to go somewhere else and they just get whatever falls off.  I would rather only bring in a few like Duchess and Jazz and Shasta and maybe Bailey cause the rest are doing quite well, but this will have to do for now.  I wish the weather would warm up and stay warm cause as soon as the dugouts are open I can put half (or more) in the north pasture and won't worry about feeding them, but until then I guess they get spoiled :) 

I didn't want to put it in a feeder cause I am sure those who really need it wouldn't get any with so many out there, so rolled out there is lots of room for everyone to eat.