home again home again

Poor ponies. The weatherman said it was supposed to be partly sunny and warmish today. Instead, we got fog and a downpour (52 degrees) right before lunch. I had put them outside without sheets because it was supposed to be nice out. Instead, they got chilly showers. Poor kids.

YUCK!! Are they okay?

They are fine. The sun came out in the afternoon. It wasn't as warm as expected, but at least they got a chance to dry. Today was dry - thank goodness. The horses were happy to wander around the puddles and eat dead grass. I think they are ready to get some real grass. Bored with hay!

Bad Envoy! He ran around the soft back yard because I hadn't secured the pasture gate. He ran down the driveway to the road, snorted at a truck that had stopped to watch the action, and turned back into the yard to run around like a goofy pony. He finally decided that he would just go (on his own) back through the gate and eat hay. Sigh...

I didn't really mind that he got out. It was my fault for not securing the gate. I don't like that he tore up the turf. It makes work I don't want to do.

Happy that he is safe. As to making work, well I thought that was in their job description.

He's goofy. Every time he's escaped, he doesn't go anywhere. He just runs around the property kicking up his heels. He knows where his supper is.

Today, we're flooded. I had to put the horses in the resting pasture because the other 2 look like lakes. We had a TON of rain last night. The next week is supposed to be dry, so I hope we can drain a bit and the resting pasture can go back to getting ready for spring.

Drying up a little. Hopefully, the forecast for dry weather starts soon. We have had cloudy and semi-wet days even though the weather people have been calling for sun. What do they know?

I pulled blankets off today because it was supposed to be sunny and 60 degrees. Instead, it was cloudy and didn't make it to 50 degrees. The horses were happy to be naked though. They made sure to roll like equine piggies.

What is it about horses and mud. I've met more than a few that refused to get their dainty little hooves wet but the second you pull that blanket and turn them out. It's how nasty can I get in shortest period of time.

You know it! I have Arabians. Wet feet are not an option (except for Envoy who sticks with his Swedish side). And, since shedding season is starting, it's only going to get worse.

Saddlebreds are almost as bad.

True. I think the worst are Thoroughbreds who don't care at all about wet anything, and will roll like ponies in any puddle. LOL

I messed up today. My farrier rescheduled the appointment, and I thought it was to today. Nope. It's still on the 8th, just at a different time. Poor ponies had to come in for an hour on a very nice day.

I do hope that you made amends by giving them treats along with carrots with the tops on them.

Phew! Tough day. We stacked the rest of the hay. The horse trailer is empty, which is good. The barn is full, which is good. We are tired. The horses are happily munching all the loose hay I swept up from the barn aisle. All in all, I think it was a success. The weather is beautiful, so I wish I had ridden, but sometimes need-to-do outweighs want-to-do.

Always hate it when that happens.

So yesterday was 75 sunny degrees and it was farrier day. I don't ride on days when they get their feet done. It's kind of like asking a person to walk 5 miles in brand new shoes.

Today, it was WINDY and the temperatures nosedived. When I was done working, it was already 36 degrees and still going down. I'm glad we're not getting the blizzard that's beating up the north, but the tail end of the storm is kicking us around.

Same here. We went from 80 to the mid fifties and the wind had a bit to it.

Finally a nice day to ride! I didn't ride for long (recovering from a slip on the ice and resulting bursitis in my left hip). But, I got in the saddle and we walked around the pasture for a nice ride. Envoy was a real gentleman and didn't fuss when my left leg proved to be a noodle rather than a leg and I plopped into the saddle like a sack of rocks. (Poor pony!) He took good care of me on the ride. I love my horse! I hope I can do this again because there's no better physical and emotional therapy than riding a horse.

He such a good pony.. Give him a treat and a hug from me.

And now we're back to mud. The downpours yesterday were vicious, and it's supposed to rain some more on Wednesday. We'll need another 3-4 days of no rain before we start to dry up. If the wind dies down, maybe we can get a road ride in.

We could use some of that here.

I always whine about rain, but it will make beautiful spring grass in a month or two. I am fighting the urge to let the horses into the pasture that's resting. Their current 3 acres looks like a bomb hit the pastures, but they will improve quickly enough once dreaded February is over.

We're finally getting some rain here. You're right with rest the pastures should come back.

It POURED today, and then it got cold. We were drying nicely, but now we have lots of standing water and mud. Ready for spring! There is one tiny sign... An intrepid stray daffodil is blooming near the pasture gate that opens to the road. I walked the horses there to avoid the back yard, and there it was smiling at me.

I love daffodils. You know spring is around the corner when you see crocus.

All my crocus bulbs went bad. I didn't plant them in time last year, and they got mushy. I plan to put in some good ones this fall. I love crocus!

Today, the pastures are kind of under water, and Kina showed that she loves to "swim." It was really cold and windy, but there she was, all the way up to her belly, in the flood water. Silly girl! I think she was standing in the ditch.