A Promise of Rain

The horses were fed early then Mark's breakfast made and even then it was still too early to head out to the walk.  Mike rode Sangria and ponied Skye last night on the trails and reported she was perfect, crossing the creeks and staying with Sangria without pulling back. This morning he was long lining her.

Karin arrived and helped me take Rosaleigh and her colt out of the stall for some pictures for the website.

If interested in seeing the rest of the pictures click HERE. They were left out to graze and Karin pulled Madiera out for a few pregnancy pictures. She is due June 20th and just looks huge.

Skye was pulled out for a few action shots for the website.

Above she is sliding to a stop to change directions. She has such big movement even when she isn't trying to show off. This is her usual trot.

At 11:00 am Karin had a trail ride scheduled with Braelyn, Taegan, Kensley, Berlica and Faith. We had the horses tacked up when a big storm came blowing in. The horses were untacked and put away and we all headed to our houses for shelter except not too long later the storm moved the other direction and only dropped a little rain on us. I drove to Meisters to pay the first of the month bills 3 days late and when I got back the sun was shining again and it was hot. The short shelter paddock needed a new bale as did the middle paddock. At 4:00 pm Gary Geier came to check our hay fields to see if he would like to harvest it as the farmer we have used for 3 generations is no longer in business. He didn't give us an answer but promised to soon. Next the 2003 Ford truck was taken to Zane's in Hanna City to get the brakes fixed. Mark put some brake fluid in right before I drove it and by the time I arrived we could see a line of brake fluid and a puddle forming under the truck but I made it without hitting anything. After that was done it was time to make supper which was just chicken salad and chips. After a nice long shower to get all that hay and dust out of my hair from moving bales we left for mom's for church. Gregg Rumbold had the message on 1 Thessalonians 1. After church Rosaleigh and her colt were moved to the indoor arena for the night. There is a continual sound of rumbling thunder and maybe we will be able to have some rain tonight. Believe it or not we could use some rain.

Sale Pending

Rosaleigh's colt is doing well for being 3 weeks early. Iodine was applied again today on his cord. There was an email from a lady wanting to buy him and she is mailing the deposit tomorrow. 

Rosaleigh had delivered the placenta during the night. That was buried this morning and the stall cleaned up before our walk.  Of course the walkers had to come see him. Mike brought Skye on part of the walk. We needed to tease her and he wants to get her started so he put a bridle on her and walked her along with us.

 Below he is walking her down Spark's lane toward his house.

She is just magnificent!

Mom and I left for the Berean office right after the walk. There were already volunteers hard at work there when we arrived. To read about our morning there click HERE. We were done by 10:40 am and stopped at Sam's club on the way home for dog food, cat food AND people food. From there we went to Meisters to drop off the studies for the Roanoke church and we finally made it home around noon. The groceries were put away, Rosaleigh's water buckets filled then I headed over to the beach. It was 90 degrees outside and sunny and that brought out the kids. David had his two Israel and Elisabet, Rhoda came with Iris, Sarah came with Zion and Eden and Anna brought Braelyn, Taegan and Kensley. Karin had already taken them riding and now they were having fun in the lake. They had found a just hatched baby turtle to play with.

 We went on a golf cart ride and some of the trails had to be cleared of fallen trees. Taegan and Kensley did a great job with that.

 From there we went to the barn to see Rosaleigh's new colt by Evan.

Above they are waiting for the colt to come to them and below they are all petting him.

We went back to the lake for more fun on the water.

IF interested in seeing more pictures click HERE. 

David had to take his two and leave. Sarah used the camper to put Eden down for a nap while Rhoda used the pack and play in our house to put Iris down for a nap. Then Sarah and Rhoda tacked up Missy and Jury and headed down to the trails. Even Zion got to go on part of the trail.

 Pax loves going on the trails and loves the creek crossings.

Mark got home from work, had a short nap, ate supper then headed out to put the mower on the big Kubota. That is a job that takes the two of us. Once it was done he got Valiant's pasture mowed. Rosaleigh's stall was cleaned again, she was fed and her water buckets filled before coming in for the night. Another good day!

Rosaleigh's Surprise Colt

Early this morning while checking mares I noticed Rosaleigh was waxing heavily. She was taken out of the middle paddock and put in the pasture to keep clean for some updated pictures before she has the foal. Right after the walk I took her to the stall and de-tangled her thick long mane for the pictures then she was taken to the round pen.

 Rosaleigh isn't due until June 22nd but each year she delivers about 3 weeks early. She was taken back to the paddocks and just left loose to graze while I worked around the farm.

 I planned on staying up tonight. She was left out while I went to work with Soul's filly, Lola's filly and Irish's filly. Dr. Hoerr was coming today for ultrasounds and I wanted these fillies to have a refresher course on haltering, tying and hoof picking up.  Soul's filly was first. She was by far the hardest to remind that she must stand still while the halter is on. Once it was on though she remembered about the rest and let me handle her legs with no problem.  Soul was happy eating her grain while I worked with the filly. Once the halter had been put on and taken off about 10 times they were taken out and Irish and her filly were brought into the stall. She wasn't happy the first time I put the halter on but did not fight like Soul's filly, she just shook her head. Once it was on she stood happily while I gave her lots of wonderful scratches and handled her legs. Lola's filly is so easy going it was a breeze to put her halter on. Lola has foals with the sweetest dispositions. Every single one has been sweet and loving from the time they are born even through weaning. They were all put back in the paddock and I went in to get some inside work done while waiting for Dr. Hoerr. He arrived around 3:00 pm and Lola was the first mare done and we are pleased to announce Lola is pregnant and due April 20th, 2021. The sire of the expected foal is Valiant.

Jury was right across the aisle so she was next and she too is now confirmed pregnant. Valiant is also the sire of this coming foal.

Dr. Hoerr was laughing that I wanted pictures of each one as they were finished. I told him that he needs to be in the pictures as he is the one that finds these foals and is famous for finding them. Jury is due April 28th, 2021. Soul was bred the exact day as Jury only by Evan and she too is now confirmed in foal also due April 28th, 2021.

Irish was last and she is pregnant and due April 23rd, 2021. The sire of her expected foal is Valiant.

4 out of 4! WooHoo!  Mark had just gotten home from work so he helped me load Soul and her filly then Lola and her filly and finally Irish and her filly for the trip to Middle Grove. Loading went without incident, all three foals just followed their dams into the trailer. Mark shut the doors and then came with me to drop them off. Below are a few pictures once we made it there and opened the trailer door.

They took off to find the herd and we took off for home. As soon as the trailer was backed into place the stalls were cleaned then Rosaleigh put in a stall and I went up to the house to make dinner. After dinner I checked the monitor and saw Rosaleigh in the process of giving birth. I didn't have time to wrap her tail or bring in straw.

 The birth went smooth except the cord was wrapped around the hips and tore pretty quickly spilling blood everywhere.  The foal was born on her thick tail which is now covered in blood and amniotic fluid.

 Thankfully Joan had given me plenty of towels and those were used to sop up some of the wet and keep the sawdust from going in the colt's lungs.

 He was born at 6:48 pm and was up and rooting around about 8:00 pm. 

I left to put the towels in the washer and have been watching him on the monitor. He is nursing well. He is skinny and very hungry. SO thankful for another safe delivery and another healthy foal. That is now 10 on the ground 5 colts and 5 fillies and all are doing well.  We still have 3 to foal. 

We WENT To CHURCH

For the first time in 11 weeks we were able to go to church.  Mom, Mark and I left at 9:00 am so we could get there as soon as the doors opened. Today was considered a trial run but everyone that got to come was pretty thrilled. There really is something special about sitting IN church while listening to the Bible being read aloud then expounded on.
As soon as we got home the vegetables that had been chopped this morning were stir fried and mixed with the chicken that had already been cooked. Lunch was ready in a half hour and taken over to mom's for 'church lunch'. Joan and her children joined us. After church Mark helped move a bale in for the far paddock then Lacy the outside mare that is here to be bred to Valiant was taken over and teased. She screamed and struck out at him so we will mark her down as OUT.  Karin took out 5 horses for a trail ride and Israel got to go also. After the ride Faith helped bring Ayanna over here so she could be teased. She is not in so was given the shot. It has been 10 days since the ultrasound that showed she had just ovulated. Now that she had the shot to bring her back in she will need to be teased every day. Indy was also teased and she also was not interested. Sarah, Nolan, Zion and Eden arrived to play on the beach and swim. David, Stephanie, Israel and Elisabet were the next to arrive then Phil, Anna, Braelyn, Taegan and Kensly and all came to supper.
We had a busy afternoon and evening with plenty of company. Everyone has now left but we had horse back riding, swimming, fishing, volley ball and lots of golf cart rides. Tumnus the deer came back while Israel and Zion were there and both got to pet him. No pictures, the camera was left in the house all day.