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Posts Tagged ‘foals’

Well looks like winter is here with a vengeance. After a week of -30C we finally have had a good dump of snow. Almost 60 cms in three days. That brings our winter total to about 90cm’s. Could use some more for spring moisture but not complaining as this is enough to slog though for now. The animals are all doing well but looking forward to the end of the deep freeze that is supposed to happen in a day or two. Hope so as it has been no fun feeding in this weather. pulling the sled with the feed on it through knee deep snow and trying to find the feed tubs has been interesting to say the least. Will be good when it is warm enough to get the tractor going to plow out some paths.
The horses are cranky in the cold and not to interested in attention though we still have a few that like a hug even when the weather is bad. When it warms up to a balmy -10C they will all be no doubt standing around basking in the heat. If we are lucky enough to happen to have sun with the warmer weather then they will be a very happy bunch and more than willing to have any attention that we can give them.
The dogs have weathered the cold by cuddling up at night in their houses packed with straw and coming out for two daily howling sessions, Can almost set your clock by them they are at nine in the morning and four in the afternoon. The howlings are not reserved for cold weather and times will change come spring with more light but I guess they figure they have to welcome the day and say farewell to it at night. They also have to bark at anything unusual that they figure may be a threat to their domain and when the weather is cold and clear there are many spooky sounds out there. However even the bravest barker eventually figures enough is enough and heads back to the warm straw.
The cats have decided that in this weather they no longer really need to make the trek to the house to remind us that it is feeding time and that they will get their food and warm water delivered without setting a paw out in the snow. There are a few that come to the gate to meet me but are more than happy to go back into their little house and enjoy their meal. They have several small straw filled cubicles to cuddle up in with their choice of room mates in what used to be a chicken house. Though the main door is closed in the cold they have two small cat sized doors on on each side of the building so they don’t feel trapped and the new cats that get dropped off quite regularly at our driveway can find their way to the food and comfort inside. When the weather warms up and the paths are clear again I will no doubt have many cats coming up to meet me and following me back the the cat house like they do in the summer.
All in all we are getting through the winter and with only three months to go should be well on our way to getting prepared for the next one soon. This winter has seemed longer than most already because with the drought last year we had to start feeding the horses hay in September. Hopefully the coming summer will give a little more rain to grow the pasture and hay needed and we won’t have to start feeding till well into November. For now we are looking forward to spring and the new Paint foals that will soon be running around with their mothers. Spring time and new foals what more could you ask for?