Surgery On a Goose

Right after breakfast Madiera and her day old colt were taken out so Madiera could graze and I could get a few pictures for the website and for the colt's owner.

 This was his first time outside. He was curious about the grass seeds.

 He touched the seed heads and some pollen went on his nose. Below is his reaction. He wrinkled up that nose then sneezed.

 He is so tall and well filled out at just a day old. He also has a HUGE tail for such a young colt.

While they were out the outdoor arena was sprayed for weeds. Finally as no rain is in sight for 3 days. They were put back in the stall when Mark needed some help with the manure spreader.  We quit working on that at 8:55 am and Karin had a trail ride scheduled for 9:00 am so I headed over to the cabin to take a few pictures. On this trail ride she was taking her chain saw so they could clear more trails for Indian camp which will be held here next week. Our airbnb guest Zoe went on this trail ride, she rode Cookie.

 Below is a short video of some of the trail ride. 

When everyone left mares were teased. Hadassah is now done with her foal heat. I wanted to try to get her covered today but she went out sooner than expected. I'll write this down then try again in 21 days.  About then Kayla called asking if Zoe was around. Her dad's Toulouse Goose had been attacked by a raccoon and the raccoon had taken off her leg. Zoe was not just a regular airbnb guests, she is a vet tech and works with small animals. She was more than willing to help with the poor goose.  Below she is getting the table ready while we were waiting for Kayla and her dad to bring the goose.

 Where the leg was missing the bone was sticking out. This needed to be cleaned up, all the dead tissue trimmed off, the wound flushed, cleaned then antibiotics injected.  

 Below Zoe is finishing up with the wound cleaning and is getting ready to wrap.

If you would like to see the rest of the pictures of the trail ride and the goose surgery click HERE.
I left for Aldi to get the grocery shopping done and when I got back went right to work browning the 10 pounds of ground beef for the meal tonight and tomorrow. The wedding guests started arriving this afternoon and some of came with a camper to spend the night at the playground. They had a wedding crasher first thing. Tumnus the deer showed up as he heard there was free food.

Caleb and Emily's wedding was tonight in Rachel's yard. She had the place decorated beautifully. Below is a picture of the lights from mom's house across the lake.

The farmer arrived this afternoon with 2 tractors, one with a rake and one with a round baler. Brian and Justin Sprout got all the raking and baling done by 5:30 pm. Mark and I started moving in bales as soon as each was done and finished moving the last one at 7:30 pm. We got 31 bales for our first cutting. The hay was not stemmy, very green and the horses are going to love it. I'm so thankful we got our first cutting up early and very thankful for such nice hay. 

Zoe our airbnb guest left a great review: “Judy goes above and beyond what is expected from a host. Extremely welcoming. If you're a horse lover this is your place.”“Judy, thank you again for such a wonderful stay. We were looking to get away from the city for a night, and ended up making so many more memories and having such amazing and special experiences than expected. Thank you for going above and beyond. We hope to meet again!”

Zoe was an amazing guest, she helped with covering Ayanna on Friday night, then helped clear trails on the trail ride, came back from that and had to do surgery on a goose! I give HER 5 STARS!

Madiera's Colt Sold

After showing the walkers the colt I took a few pictures to post and write the blog of his birth but before I could post it Karin arrived with a broken halter. I had one on the golf cart, gave that to her and told her I was just going to post the blog then come to the cabin field to get a few pictures of the trail riders today.

 They left for a ride but I headed back to the house as my phone was dinging about messages but I wasn't able to see them on the phone, I needed the computer. While there a deposit came in for Madiera's colt so he was marked sold. I headed back to the cabin just as the horses were being put away. The girls were all loving on Ayanna.

 Ayanna was so happy with all the attention and petting.

 When I got back over I snapped the picture of Tori (left) and Rosaleigh (right) eating on the same hay bale. Tori's colt was up nursing but Rosaleigh's colt was taking a nap. 

 Hadassah is now in her foal heat and hanging around the gate. Her filly is gorgeous. It looks like she will stay black but we won't know for sure for a couple months. Right now though there is not even a tinge of brown which sometimes shows up if the foal will turn gray.

 Hadassah went out to the field and her filly took that opportunity to play in Mark's wood pile.

 She really is special. 

 Hadassah's filly is for sale for just $4500.00 but once we find out if she is going to stay black her price will be $5000.00. Lily took her colt down to graze.

 He was playing and looked like a clown when he was hopping around. He is very friendly and enjoys the attention from the children just like his big sister Ayanna. 

Rosaleigh and her colt were hosed down then taken inside as the sun came out and it was getting hot. These young black babies cannot regulate their temperature and it is very easy for them to get over heated. That is why we have an air conditioned barn but today it was still cool enough inside to just run the fans. When Rosaleigh was given her grain he dived right into the bucket and decided at almost 4 days old this stuff was GOOD!

 Rosaleigh had a tough time gently moving him out of the bucket so she could eat.

 On the way back to the house I took the pictures below of the plant now blooming. Not sure what they are but they are pretty and smell nice.

 Mark planted them.

Mom invited us for dinner tonight and served chicken paprika with a lettuce salad from her garden. Spark and Rhonda along with Ruth and Fedi came for dessert which was strawberry shortcake. The strawberries were from her garden, mom had whipped up heavy cream and added sugar to make a delicious whip cream and that was served on home baked shortcake. I left after dessert to bring Ayanna from the cabin field, tease her and cover her with Evan. She stood well. She was taken back to the cabin field. Rosaleigh and her colt were taken out to the field once it cooled off. When I got back to mom's they were playing games and I joined in. After the games Madiera and her colt were put in the indoor arena for the night and the stalls cleaned and made ready for tomorrow. 

Madiera's Surprise

Last night Rhoda asked if we should bring in Madiera or Sheena but neither were bagged up enough to worry and of course no waxing. I didn't expect anything out of the ordinary when I went out to feed but as I drove by the middle paddock something was laying down at the far end of the paddock next to Madiera. Madiera had a big bay colt this morning sometime before 6:00 am. The colt had obviously been up and nursed but wasn't too steady on his feet. They were brought into a stall, iodine applied to his cord and a few pictures taken.

This colt will be registered and dna'd in the Warlander book of the Friesian Heritage Horse International registry. He is by Evan so will have big movement and lots of hair. Both Evan and Madiera have the mega hair everyone wants in a Warlander. I'm very thankful for another uneventful birth and a healthy foal. Just 2 to go for 2020, Sheena due May 20th and Tatiana due July 13th. Sheena usually goes late and Tatiana usually goes early.

Hay Cut

Karin took a load out this morning for a trail ride. Mike was home meeting the gravel truck and snapped this picture of one of the riders hugging Cookie.

Rhoda came this morning to work with Josiah (Jewel's 2019 colt by Evan) and while she was doing that we made a video of him. He really is impressive and really is a nice colt. He is so sensible it is hard to believe he is just a year old. We let him run in the field next to Evan and did he ever have fun even though it was sunny and HOT at 90 degrees.
Below is the video which shows his movement then Rhoda introducing him to the trampoline then learning about tarps.

I also took pictures to update the website. He is pretty photogenic and easy to get movement shots as he has air time and hang time. Check out the picture below of all 4 hooves off the ground.

 He has that extra big push from behind.

If interested in seeing the rest of the pictures taken today of Josiah click HERE. 

I also took the time today to download the video of Rosaleigh giving birth on June 1st to her Evan colt. This was a little unusual as the cord was wrapped around his hips.

Karin took Braelyn, Taegan, Kensly and Jordan out on the trails today. I just took a few pictures of that as I was pretty busy arranging for the farmer to cut the hay.

 There were a lot of girls on the beach today.

 Above is Rebekah's daughter Riley and below is Zion who hurt her finger.

 Zion had to come show me her bandaid. She was pretty proud of that.

 Eden was glad to see me and came crawling through the water.

 Rhoda helped her stand up.

 Emily had a bunch of company all enjoying the cool water.

 I took a bunch of kids on a golf cart ride. We stopped at Joan's where she was very busy finishing up the wood splitting.

 It was so hot that Rhoda helped bring in the mares to hose them off. Even the foals got some of that cool water. They didn't like it.

 Below Rhoda is putting Jewel and Hadassah away after their cool shower. These two foals spend a lot of time playing together. They are just 2 days apart. Hadassah's filly was born May 27th and Jewel's filly was born May 29th.

 Emma has some kind of cyst on her left paw. Rhoda rigged up a bag so we could soak her paw in Epson salts. She thought she was being punished but this will help it heal.

Not only were we able to hire a farmer to cut the hay, he came THIS evening. There is a slight chance for rain tomorrow but Saturday, Sunday and Monday look perfect. Bright sunshine and highs in the 80s are predicted.