home again home again

Good news for the swamp farm! The county/state/Army corps is starting a drainage project along the outfall ditches to the creek behind our property. We're flooded because the ditches can't push water to the Bay. We signed an access permission paper so the crews can get to the ditch behind our property. They will repair and reseed when they're done (supposedly - not sure about the fencing I can't get out of the way because of the water). Anyway... They're starting at the far end near the Bay and working their way to me. I should see progress by June. I'm hoping sooner!!

Fingers crossed

I hope they replace your fences, hopefully they will keep their word on the repair and reseeding.

Fortunately, the fence is electric tape and fiberglass posts. So, if they get the drainage started, maybe I can pull it before the equipment gets here. There's barbed wire in the trees behind the electric fence, so horses won't go anywhere. Fortunately, they know it's there and won't challenge it. (Good ponies!!)

You have the best ponies. The air heads that I had would have gotten hung up in it.

They are inside watching the rain/snow/rain/snow. The weather is miserable, and I am OVER mucking.

While cold here, it's at least sunny. I don't want to even think about the stalls.

Nothing like a little exercise, right?

Some how I can think of a lot more fun ways.

And now we have warmish RAIN. Last night, as it was starting, the horses decided to be insane and gallop through the flood. Their sheets were all covered in mud. I had to strip them and hang the sheets on the fence so the rain could wash them off. They are now hanging in the barn trying to dry enough for horses to wear them tomorrow. They were inside today. Don't know if I can do 2 days in a row. I think it's supposed to start getting better tomorrow. Have I said how OVER the weather I am?

For your sake, I hope so. There is nothing nastier than soggy, wet cooped up ponies and the deposits of goodness that they leave in the stalls.

They are out with minority damp sheets on. Those will dry with some body heat applied. I'm very glad for the new materials they use for sheets and rugs. I remember the days of the HEAVY canvas rugs. It was hard to lift them, and the things were almost impossible to dry once they got wet. Now... It's all nice nylon that cleans pretty easily and dries in a snap. Now... If the weather would just dry, all would be good.

I remember those old canvas monsters. Impossible to clean too.

It's been SO wet. The 4 acres of pasture is down to 2 acres of mud and 2 acres of flood. Supposedly, VDOT is working to get drainage to work better, but no progress on our property yet. Horses have been sloshing to their tree island where their hay nets are tied around the trees. This gets them out of the worst mud. It's still just kind of awful. At least the forecast is good for the next week.

DAMN!! I hope you don't have cases of rain rot. That would truly suck.

No rain rot. They wear sheets if it's under 60 and raining, and they stay inside if it's truly nasty out. The biggest thing is Envoy's penchant for finding the muddiest puddle to roll in.

There is always that one.

Ruby went with me to my friend's house to ride in the indoor arena. She hasn't been ridden since October, and she was an absolute angel. I love my girl!

That is a sweetheart. Hope she got lots of carrots with the tops on for a reward.

Carrots were unavailable. (Topless ones came for dinner.) But, we had apples and COOKIES, and lots of tasty hay. She also had fun meeting her friends. They were running and playing along a fence line.

Now, everyone is tucked into messy stalls because it's POURING a cold rain. Other parts of the state are getting snow. We are having yet another deluge to justify our arks.

OOOOO!!!! Those are even yummier. Glad everyone had fun and sorry the weather sucks so bad.

Cleared up today, and everyone went out. They kept blankets on since it was cold and windy, but at least they got some fresh air. Envoy went wading despite the temps. Silly boy.

LOL!!! There is always that one who just has to get dirty.

That's Envoy. He's a piggy in horse form.

I messed up today and turned them out naked. I thought it was going to be warm, but it's going to be 45 and start raining while we're at a basketball game. I'm going to have to put their raincoats on while they're in the pasture. I hope Envoy and Ruby stay still. They need to stay outside today because tomorrow is a big change day. It will be close to 60 for a high temp and crash to 15 overnight. I am hoping and praying that they happily munch hay and drink water so their tummies stay happy.

The horses have big hay nets out in the pasture, and are enjoying the 60 degree morning with no clothes on. I have blankets and liners to prep for tonight. Temperatures are going to nosedive. I need to get the trough cleaned and plugged in, and create a path (of used bedding) across the puddle I know is going to freeze so the horses can make it out to the nets tomorrow.