home again home again

The horses here are none too thrilled with projections of a northward turn to the Carolinas. They'll load up and go, but they'd rather not. No matter what, I think we're going to get soaked. The question is whether we get the big winds or just big rains. We're already soaked from a strong cold front that blew in today.

UGH!!

Happy happy ponies. It is 55 degrees this morning, and they feel good. Their winter hair is coming in well, so they're ready for brisk mornings. It's still really wet from our storms the other day, but that didn't slow Envoy down on his bolt into the pasture. Kina takes her time everywhere now, but she had her tail flagged and was snorting.

Stalls leveled today. Ugh! There's more to do, but it will require some crush-and-run. We have plans to put some behind the barn where it's always muddy, so we can just get some extra to fix Kina's stall. I think our land is floating into the creek.

That is backbreaking work. You must be sore.

Not too bad. I took quite a few beer breaks. Had to share beer with the horses. Who knew? They like Alewerks Tavern Ale.

Yes, well that helps cure anything. As to the horses I had one who liked Guiness.

No night turnout for a while. Ever since we had that little tropical whatever it was, the mosquitoes have been awful. It's been cool at night, so they calmed down, but it's not so cool tonight. They're going to stay in under the fans so they don't get bled dry.

If the fans are on high the skeeters won't be able to land on them. Skeeters are poor flyers when it comes to windy conditions, thank heavens.

That's why I bring them in. I turn on the fans at the top of the stalls, and a few can get in to the far corners, but the horses are smart. They sleep right under the fans. Their hay nets hang so the top fans can blow down, and I have fans I can put in front of the doors if it's hot. That's a bit of overkill now that it's getting cooler.

Still anything to keep the mozzies away.

That much of a breeze will keep them away. Hard to fly against what to them is hurricane speed winds!

And we continue to spend the nights inside. The bugs seem to be getting worse. I know they'll be gone soon enough and I'll be whining about how cold it is. But, right now, it's even too buggy to ride at speed. Sigh...

Sneaky Envoy. The electric fence battery hasn't been charging because there's a branch in the way so the sun can't reach it. So, he figured out the fence was off, and got through. He was just munching in the back yard. No fuss and no silliness. I put his supper together, and he came right in. Fence is all fixed, and we're ready for night turnout since autumn decided to come today.

Sounds like a smart pony to me. When I get home I will be downloading a ton of snaps from Kentucky, I was able to get a tour of Pin Oak Stud. I think you will enjoy them.

On to hay panic. I don't know when the delivery will come in, and we're on vacation at the end of the month. I hope it all works out.

The other people who usually coordinate on this say they aren't ready to order. I don't know what they will do for hay now. It's almost time to start putting out hay nets. Grass is not looking as green and yummy as it has been.

I think I've decided to get enough hay to last through Christmas from another source. If the group holds true to tradition, they will get the delivery in January when the weather is awful.

I think that's a great idea.

Have you gotten the hay yet?

Not yet. We leave on vacation Friday, so after we get back is better. I just don't want to drive a loaded trailer in the pitch dark since I have to work until we leave.

I can sure understand that. I don't like driving after dark for any reason.

Hay is scheduled for November 28. I hope the weather is good. The timing's kind of inconvenient since it's right after the long Thanksgiving weekend, but it's good because it might help to work off a few of the extra calories.

I can see where the weather could be problematic. Hopefully it will clear.

Weather is usually pretty good until the end of December. My fingers are crossed. If it stays dry, we can turn the big trailer around in the pasture and back up to the barn. If it's soggy, we'll need to haul from the street to the barn. LOTS of work.