boarding school 2015

bpaquet wrote:
Spring can't come soon enough!

I second that emotion!!!

I didn't make it to the barn today. The weather was way worse than predicted. When I left work, the roads were terrible. My drive home took 3 hours. It usually takes 1. I can't imagine adding the normally 45 minute drive to the barn and the country roads on top of that.

You'd have been lucky to make it there by bedtime! And the drive home.......much worse.

Stay warm and stay safe!

Again today... We have a foot of snow on the ground. Insanity here! I might get there tomorrow, but probably not. Saturday ought to be "fun" with all the cleaning.

I heard you got more snow.....that is downright insane. Your area is not prepared to deal with that much like we are.
Hoping the plow clears the roads so you can see the ponies today.

Our county actually did really well. Our roads were passable by Friday. So, I went and picked stalls last night. Today, I started on paddocks and did stalls again. I even got in a ride. It was cold. Tomorrow is supposed to be 38 degrees and rainy. That ought to make the poo in the paddocks even more fun to find.

Good day for a ride. The temperature was better (but not what I'd call warm), and we had a lot of melting. Kina felt pretty good. I didn't ride for long because I left work late. I rode until 8 PM, but had to leave in time to make it home before I fell asleep.

Tomorrow, I will ride Envoy. It's not going to be as warm, but he seems not to mind. If I can remember, I'll load up the quarter sheet so he has something over his hind end while we ride.

Good idea...keep the rear warm and the rest will keep going.

Glad you got some warmer weather so you can ride. Very happy your street crews got the roads in good shape so quickly.

I didn't ride tonight. Got out of work late. The paddocks finally thawed, so I spent a lot of time cleaning. I even broke the poo fork when I accidentally tried to pick up one of the last frozen turds. Sigh...

I longed Envoy to make sure he's still sound after all the snow and ice. He's fine. I think I need to long him before I ride. He moved better as we worked.

You can think of longing him as a form of warmup...like athletes warm up before competing so they don't strain muscles.

If you broke the poo fork that must've been one very hard frozen turd!

Yesterday's weather was wonderful. It was warm and humid -- a welcome relief. Envoy and I had a nice ride before I had to bundle everyone up for the winter storm. Today, the weather was so bad I didn't go to the barn. It was rain for most of the day, but the roads started to get icy in the afternoon.

BEAUTIFUL DAY! The temps were in the 50s, and almost all the snow and ice is gone. Kina and Envoy got to shed their blankets, and were VERY thankful. I brushed both of them, and got a small pony's worth of hair. The birds will be happy.

Kina felt really good. She was happy to go for a short ride that concentrated on loosening up stiff muscles. She wanted to do more, but I didn't want to stress things. It's supposed to be warmer all week, so we'll have more chances.

Another great day for a ride. Kina and I had fun for our short ride. After work rides are always shorter. Yesterday, Envoy had a great time. I think both of them are happy that the weather is changing. Now, we can work on getting fitness back. Envoy wants to hit the trails, and Kina wants to do more things.

They sound like us peoples, weary of winter and more than ready for spring and all the activity that comes with it.

I had all kinds of plans to ride today. It took an hour and a half to go the 25 miles from my office to the barn. Traffic was stupid. By the time I got there, I was totally burned out. I cleaned paddocks and stalls, fed, and came home. Sigh... Maybe tomorrow.

Had a great ride today in much better weather. It wasn't as warm, but it was sunny and in the 50s. I'll take it. The horses have to wear sheets tonight because it's going to get cold, but spring is definitely on the way. Kina is losing 1/2 her body mass with shedding. I took off a ton of fur and there's tons more to go.

So there's plenty of hair for the birds to use...it is almost nesting season.

Oh yeah. I get about a small pony worth of hair off Kina every day. Envoy doesn't seem to be shedding as much, but he didn't grow as thick a coat.

Kina accidentally kicked my friend today. She (friend) was standing between her own horse and Kina. Her horse bit Kina's butt, and Kina let her back foot fly FAST. Unfortunately, my friend's knee was in the way. OUCH! It's just a bruise, but there's nothing like a horse foot to the knee. Poor Kina looked ashamed. My friend hobbled over and said it wasn't her fault, but I think Kina still felt bad for doing it.

Fortunately, my friend is ok. Her knee is bruised and hurts, but she's mobile. Thank goodness! (Kina apologized.)

Today was farrier day. He said Kina's ankle is swollen, although it doesn't seem to be bothering her. I'll keep an eye on it. She probably slipped in the mud. It's going to rain again tonight, so more mud for us. Yippee (NOT).

It was a very nice weekend to be with the horses. The weather was great, and we had fun riding. I am covered in horse hair. Shedding season is in full force. Kina sheds about a pony's worth of hair every time I brush her. Even her legs are shedding a ton. Envoy is shedding too, but he doesn't grow as thick a coat, so it isn't nearly as impressive.

I am getting ready to have the kids at home. The grass here is growing pretty well, and the flooding is getting a bit better. I think another 3 or 4 weeks will mark "come home" time.

It's always nice to have all the family home.

I bet they would be counting the days too if they knew how to use a calendar.
With all the hair Kina is losing it's a wonder she isn't bald.....

She is getting shiny in spots. Envoy is all shiny. They are both very ready to see grass. The grass at home isn't ready yet, but soon...

Then we'll get to see if Kina gets into high spirits from all that sweet spring grass like a certain other pony I won't name.....

I bet she will. Both are ready to run and be in a bigger space.