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Posts Tagged ‘horses’

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?

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.