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Archive for the ‘Horses’ Category

Gem last winter

                                                                             In April of 2010 we were offered a quarter horse mare said to be ten years old.  Upon seeing her we knew that she was much older than ten more like well into her twenties.  She had been bought before and returned to the seller as her new owner was going through a divorce and no longer had a place to keep her.  She was in need of a forever home so we took her as she was with out disputing her age.  Over the summer she filled out and some of her former beauty showed through.  She provided many a ride for the grandchildren and a few for me as well though feeling sorry for her I did not ride here for long periods of time.  She is a sweet old lady even though at times she is a little cranky in her old age.  As winter creeps upon us she has now been put in a pen with six other horses that need extra feed for the winter and daily enjoys alfalfa cubes, alfalfa pellets, beet pulp pellets and oats soaked in hot water till they swell up.  When the pails are brought in I am warmly, if a little impatiently, welcomed till the warm feed has been divided between the  tubs and then of course I am forgotten about completely as they stand happily munching on their treat of the day.  Gem also has a choice of brome and alfalfa, timothy and oat straw round bales to eat on night and day.  Hopefully she and her pasture mates, Sandy, Don, Dante, Misty, Tiny and Dakota will winter well and be ready to run on the grass again come spring time.  I’m sure the kids will be looking froward to more rides when the weather warms up. 

Enjoying the sunshine

Flicka with her winter coat

In mid May of 2010 we made  the two hour  drive to Grande Cache to pick up a little palomino, part Arab, yearling filly. She had been offered free, for some time, but no one wanted her. As a last resort we agreed to take her.

They wanted to get a couple more rideable horses so that the family could all ride together and this one was taking up space. They were only allowed a certain number of horses in their barn yard area.

When we arrived to pick her up we could see that she was mildly foundered.  That meant that her hooves would need a lot of attention. She had also been spoiled a bit. After a little trouble getting her loaded, as she definitely has an attitude and a mind of her own, we were on our way home.

Over time Flicka has finally fit in with our group of young horses and they don’t take any of her attitude, so she is mellowing out. She still has a mind of her own but is showing she also has a sweet side.

Our grand daughter Vijay has taken a great liking to her and though I am not sure that they will make a great team yet, (Vijay being very strong willed as well) we will give it a try. With her foot problems and the constant care that she will need for them, she will be a permanent fixture here, so they will have time to get to know each other over the years.

I’m sure Flicka will be a beautiful little mare in a few years, and with time a good kids horse for grand kids and maybe even their kids.

Wearing her summer coat and looking good

 

Enjoying the sunshine

Sandy has been a fixture here since he was foaled in 1986. He is a purebred Morgan gelding, though he has some very unusual markings. He was foaled a month too early.

His mother, having her first foal, got overly excited when all the other mares foaled and she had not. As a result of the early foaling, he was born almost totally blind. He does see white shapes in summer and black in winter. We were told by many people that we should do away with him. Would we do that if he was our child? No! So our animals being almost like our children, he is still with us.

Most people that see him from a distance don’t realize he is blind, but when you call to him or talk to him he cocks his head to the side, and they think he has a lot of personality.

Sandy has had some tough times, but for the most part he has had a good life. He has spent most of his life with his three sisters, but this year he has a pasture of his own, as there are too many horses out in the big pastures for him to be safe. A few of the mares out there would chase him through the fences or into the dugout. Not that he has not gone through fences before, but God must be looking look after him, as most horses would be hurt from hitting a fence like he does. He always seems to come out without a scratch.

He has also had a swim or two in the dugout, as his sisters would run to the other side, then neigh for him to join them. He of course would take the direct route to them and land in the dugout. Undaunted, he swims the 100 ft across the dugout and climbs up the other bank, then goes over beside the mares before he shakes the water all over them. However, for the next long while after that, he makes sure of his footing before he runs to their calls.

Swishing flies and listening for the oat bucket

Sandy is now 24 years old and enjoys having his own space. There are  other horses in pens on a few different sides of his pasture and Starsky the goat comes in to visit from time to time. He is healthy and happy in his old age, and as always, looks like he is really listening to you with his head cocked to the side. Or maybe he;s just listening for the sound of oats in the bucket coming his way.

Bill heading out for hay

The hay fields on our land were all cut and baled on shares by a neighbour in late July. There were a few more bales than we expected due to the drought this year, but a lot less than we need to get us through the winter. In early August Bill started up the tractor to bring our share in to the feedlot. Our son Stephen came home after about five had been brought in, and then disappeared only to return about ten minutes later in as close to a Mad Max Mobile as you can get.

Stephen and the Mad Max Mobile

Slow but sure getting the bales in

49 bales were lined up in the feedlot with spaces between to put the 100 – 125 we still have to buy. The horses will get a variety of feed with the Timothy and Brome off our place and what ever types of hay we can purchase. Hopefully we will be able to buy for a reasonable price but prices are high right now.

Looking a little fuller

With the price being between $50 and $80 dollars a bale delivered, it will likely cost between $5000 and $8000 to get the horses through the winter. Then we will also need to find some straw bales for bedding, as well as oats and alfalfa pellets for extra energy for them in the really cold weather. The thoroughbreds and Arabs will need to have a lot more feed than the rest, but hopefully we’ll find some good timothy straw as that works well for them to eat on all day between feeding the regular hay.

Stephen kicking up dust

We are hoping that next year we will have equipment of our own to put up our own hay. If put up earlier in a good year we could get two cuttings off the land and would very likely not have to buy much in. The neighbour that puts up our hay now, does not believe in a second cut, but a lot of others around us get quite a bit of hay on a second cut. Till then we will do what we can to keep the animals fed and comfortable. Here’s hoping for a better year next year and the end to the drought. We would have gladly taken some of the excess rain from the south and Manitoba and Saskatchewan. We will keep our fingers crossed for better conditions for all provinces for next year.

Don who is actually ‘Notable Times’ is a retired Thoroughbred race horse and came to us in June of 2010. He had been rescued by young woman who shows and competes as she had hoped that he would make a good mount for her husband, who is a novice with horses.

Don may be almost 20, but the heart of a three year old, thundering down the track, still beats in him, so the match was not to be.  He got the name Don because that was the man that he was bought from. He was just called Canner before that because he was heading to the dog food factory.

Not being able to keep more than a few horses on her acreage his rescuer had to find him a new owner. After trying vainly to find another permanent home, we offered to give him one. In his time racing Don had 44 starts and is listed on his pedigree as a winner though how many he had, I don’t know.

Don grazing on the hill

Don is a winner with us though, as he never misses a chance for a hug, and is not at all mean with the other horses, even though he towers above them. Every once in a while we will look out and see him running laps around the field, probably reliving his glory days like we all do.

He is fun to ride but you have to hang on and enjoy his speed. However, with the grandchildren on board he is just a big sweetie and is careful not to lose them. It is a long way down for them and they do feel like they are on top of the world on his back.