Sunday's Activities

Of course Church is the main activity of the day. Thankful to be there. After church the kids came over minus a few. The Texas Sceggels didn't make it for dinner (imagine that) and Lee didn't come. The kids did not swim, it was just too cold for that but the weather was perfect for volley ball, playing on the playground, fishing and sitting around a campfire.
Karin helped get Rosaleigh covered by Evan. We decided to stay with him as those two produced an exquisite colt that is as friendly and sweet as he is beautiful this year.

Everyone stayed late to watch the fireworks someone across the lake was letting off. When we got home Emma was in the bathtub and wouldn't get out. David was trying to help me lift her out believing she was stuck in there then Mark got the great idea to offer her a hot dog. She very quickly was able to get out of the tub. That funny, HUGE almost 180 pound Mastiff was afraid of the fireworks.

Saturday's Slave Labor

Yesterday was such a fun busy day that by the time the day was over it was just WAY to late to even think about writing everything down. The day started early, Anna dropped the girls off to help grandma. We had the owner of Star's filly coming in the morning to see their filly but the barn hadn't been swept out for a while. Thankfully we had plenty of brooms.

After the aisles were swept bedding was added to the stalls. Below Braelyn and Kensley are helping to spread the bedding pellets by throwing them into the air. 

 Shadow the cat was a big part of the fun. 

 The girls made a 'nest' for him in the water trough and thought he should take a nap there.

 Shadow would stay in there but as soon as the girls would walk out of the stall, his head would  pop up and out he would jump. 

 It was Kensley's job to bring him back. He really is a good cat. 

 Below Braelyn is hauling him back into the stall. 

 Shadow soon decided it was much safer to be high up and climbed up on the rafters to watch the girls work. Below it almost seems as if he is laughing at them. 

One of the amazing parts of the day is Braelyn saw a blue bird flying around inside the barn. She was sure it was a blue jay but it really was an Eastern blue bird. We watched it as it landed on the rafters and started singing it's beautiful song for us. Mark had put up bluebird nests years ago but we had never seen any and here there was one right inside the barn. We opened up the big back door so the bird could fly out. We found a big fat toad by the water hydrant. All three girls played for a while with him until they got distracted by something else. The toad was rescued and put back by the hydrant where he can eat lots more flies. We like toads here. 

 Our company arrived, Lisa, Elsa's owner and her mom,  as we were finishing up the barn. Karin was working with Whitney when they arrived. Star and her filly were brought into the barn, the filly haltered, her hooves picked up and she was led around a bit then we took them outside so the owner could see her move. Elsa is such a pretty filly and her trot is just amazing. Karin brought out Valiant so they could see Elsa's sire. Karin showed them Star's trick and Valiant's trick. Mark got the manure spreader hooked up to the tractor, put the bucket on the skid steer and started spreading manure on the fields as Karin was showing the horses. After the company left our real work day started. Rhoda, Lee, Karin, and Mark started on repairing the fences around the paddocks. Each winter we have broken boards that need to be taken down and new ones put up, or the old boards just put back in place. Below is Karin working on one of the shelters.

 Dakota's paddock was next so she was put in a stall, the girls took turns picking grass and feeding her.

 Below Karin and Rhoda are working on putting up a new board in Dakota's paddock. 

 While Mark and Lee remove and replace boards Evan broke. 

 The work went well and was done by 1:00 pm. We went in for lunch then after lunch the girls were taken to the playground as a reward for all their good help. 

 Karin and Rhoda pulled out Whitney and Madeira for training. 

 By the end of the session Rhoda was riding Madeira around the round pen, just at a walk but Madeira was accepting and quiet. They quit on a good note. 

 Nolan and Sarah arrived so the mares were called in from the pond pasture for a trail ride. Below is Elsa, Roxanne and Star. 

 Rhoda picked Star, while Zalena was brought in for Nolan. Below are those two mare's foals, Elsa and Flynn having a ball running around while their mom's were working. 

 It was interesting, Flynn didn't want to go on the trail ride, he wanted to stay in the paddock with Eli so was put back in. Elsa went and we were pleased Zalena was well behaved even though her colt was left behind. Below are the three horses used. Karin riding Whitney, Nolan riding Zalena, Rhoda riding Star with Elsa. 

 Sarah and I went on the golf cart down to one of the creek crossings. Sarah's dog Ari got to come with us and had fun exploring the creek while waiting for the horses to arrive. 

 Whitney was the first down into the creek. She was so well behaved that Karin made the remark, we just can't sell this horse. That seems to be a problem around here, the horses all turn out so well behaved that we don't want to give them up. 

 Nolan and Zalena walked right into the creek. Zalena is another mare that is just so well behaved. 

 Elsa wanted to stop and take a drink. She did perfectly crossing all the creeks without hesitation. This was her very first trail ride and nothing fazed her. Lisa her owner is going to be thrilled with her. 

 Below they are coming up the drive followed by the dogs that went too. The dogs just love going on these trail rides.

Rizzy had to stop and get a drink out of the horse waterer. 

 After the ride they stopped at Jessica's to talk over plans for the 2018 March show. Jessica brought her pugs out so we lined up all 8 dogs for a picture. 

 Those dogs are so well behaved that they stayed quietly until I yelled, "ok" then they all jumped up and came running. Studley is so quick he was first to find his owner. 

Around here we pay for labor with food. The kids all are willing to work for food so at 5:30 we met at the Warehouse for dinner. Unfortunately the Warehouse was packed and there was no where to sit. Half of the group just decided to order a pizza from there and eat it at David Jacob's house while Karin, Rhoda, Lee, Mark and I walked over to Gils Supper club. We enjoyed a good meal without having to do any of the work.
After supper everyone met over at Rachel's for a campfire and that delicious treat, 'heartattackonastick' (big slabs of bacon cooked over the fire).
Mike and Diane spent the night at Middle Grove and sent the picture below of some of the horses grazing together on a hillside. This is probably a bit more than half of the herd out there. It isn't easy to get everyone in one picture. This pasture hasn't been grazed for over 2 years so the grass is thick and long. They are loving it.

We had such a fun exhausting day that by the time we came in, it was just hard to sit at the computer to write.

So Many Fun Things

We had a decent rain storm this morning and even walked in the rain with umbrellas. This is great except Karin and I were suppose to go to Middle Grove to pick up Whitney and the drive isn't passable after a storm. Mike had the idea of loading up the 4 wheeler and using that when we reached the drive. That worked perfect. Below Karin is bringing Whitney in from the field. The horses were WAY far away making it even better that we brought the 4 wheeler.

 Below Karin is out of the pasture and heading to the road. 

 It is probably more than a half a mile to get out to the road so that 4 wheeler saved us a tremendous amount of steps today. 

 Below Whitney is loaded in the front and Karin has just loaded the 4 wheeler in the back. 

 When we got home Whitney was put right into the outdoor arena so I could move a bale in her paddock. The middle paddock also got a new bale. 

 While Whitney was in the arena, Karin brought Evan out to work in the round pen. Below she is leading him over. 

Of course with a girl right next door, Evan has to show off. 

 He soon settled down to work.

When I took  Whitney back a fox came running across the drive heading to the pond. I took the ramp for the 4 wheeler back over to Mike's and on the way back this doe was standing right in the middle of the drive. 

Of course I needed to zoom in a bit to get a better picture. 

 Madeira was brought out next, loaded into the trailer just for practice then taken to the round pen. 

 She was excellent so put over into the outdoor arena while Valiant was brought out. 

Valiant doesn't react like Evan but was still very interested in the fact that there was a mare right next door. 

 Karin finished his training up with a sit. 

 Rhoda arrived just as Valiant was being put away. She brought Madeira out to saddle, bridle and put weight on her back. 

 She ended with letting Ruby take a ride on Madeira before putting her away. 

 After lunch Rhoda tacked up Whitney and took her on the 'death trails' by herself. 

 The ride was successful. We are going to really miss this mare if she sells. The farrier arrived to trim Whitney and Roxanne. We were all surprised at how well Whitney stood for the farrier, Chuck. 

 That's some BIG hooves getting trimmed. 

 Whitney and Chuck making eye contact. 

Roxanne was next. She was not as well behaved as Whitney but Chuck got the job done. After Chuck left it was time to head inside to make dinner. Mark brought home fresh corn on the cob which was delicious. After supper he went out to grade the driveways but I went over to play games at mom's house. I had to quit before the game finished as Ralph and Jamie brought their mare Dakota here to be bred to Valiant. She was teased but is not yet in. She will be staying for a while.

Ralph and Jamie stayed to visit about an hour. Now it is more than time for bed. Another great day.