Weaning Day

 They are OFF. Both vehicles heading to Gulf Shores pulled out at 5:30 am. They are on track to make it down by 8:00 pm. A long trip!  Praying the unloading goes well and mom can get settled into bed quickly. Mark and I had an easy morning. The Bible studies were taken to the barn and laid out for the graders coming at 10:00 am.  Sarah brought over 11 of the guests here for the singles weekend and they got 74 sets graded in the time they had allotted for this service project. 

All that didn't get done will be brought to the Peoria church for other graders to pick up. Jewel, Sally and Curlin were moved over next to Valiant for teasing.  Jewel had a good roll then went over to meet Valiant across the fence. She was quick to say "No" very emphatically. 

It is 21 days since her last cover. Hopefully we will be able to move this group out to Middle Grove soon. Mark helped unhook the 2 horse trailer and hook up the stock trailer for my next job.  Today is weaning day for Madiera's colt. That meant Leah and Madiera needed to be taken out to Middle Grove while Madiera's colt and Oliver stay here. I was very pleased with how Leah loaded. She walked right in with me and didn't try to throw herself backwards. I tied her up while Mark shut the back door. Madiera was loaded into the back of the trailer. I drove right into the winter pasture before unloading. 

Below these two are looking for the rest of the herd. 

I hiked up the way they went and sure enough the herd was all at the top spread out grazing.

Jury was so glad to see Madiera, she started following her.

Above left to right is Sheena, Dancer, Valerie and Tessa. 

Below is Titus.

That is Thalia (Leah's 2023 filly) in the picture below.

Below is Lily left and Mika right.  Lily was the start of our Friesian farm, she was born at Pleasant Home May 4th, 2022 and is expecting her 20th foal in 2025. Mika was born here at the farm in 2000 out of our Thoroughbred mare Grace (the same dam as Jewel) but by of a big palomino quarter horse stallion. 

These two oldies hang out together. They are set in their ways and the younger horses all know they are the bosses of the herd. Both Lily and her daughter Rosalie have dapples, who knew those black coats could carry dapples. Can you see them on her back and side.

Below is a closeup of Rosalie, who is in the middle.

Mike arrived on his 4 wheeler to fly spray the horses.

Madiera, Titus and 3 of Mike's Thoroughbred mares ran all the way back down to the trailer. Madiera was just making sure her colt wasn't in the trailer. When they found it empty they came cantering back up the hill to the rest of the herd.

If you would like to see the rest of the pictures from that trip to Middle Grove click HERE. I got back to the farm and the single group had already arrived to play pickle ball.  They had a good turnout and everyone had a good time.

The apartment booked for tonight and tomorrow night so the lights were turned on for the guests coming in. While there the two colts were checked on. They seem to be doing very well. Madiera's colt is sticking like glue to Oliver.

They had finished their grain and wanted out but without the mares here I did not let them out to graze.

They have plenty of hay in the shelter.

Then it was time to get the laundry done and work on supper. Since I'm serving haystacks tomorrow, six pounds of ground beef was browned and seasoned.  Mark went up to the barn to set up a table with all the screws he needs for the apartment porch/shelter he hopes to get up soon. He came walking back down to ask if I meant to have 2 horses loose out in the yard. He told me the guests were out by their truck and he didn't think it was a good idea to have 2 horses loose. "Ya THINK?" I was sure it was the weanlings and wondering if they broke a board trying to find the mares. I jumped in the golf cart, the two colts were standing side by side grazing. Since I didn't have a halter small enough I just looped a lead rope around Oliver's neck and both followed me into the paddock. Thank goodness they are both well behaved. Mark went to check the far paddock to see where they got out and found the gate open. I know exactly what happened. Madiera's colt plays with ropes and chains with his mouth. I'm sure he knocked the chain off then just pushed enough to walk right out. I took a picture of him this afternoon playing with a rope.

The colts were put in Raven's old paddock as they can't possibly get that gate open.