One More Chestnut

The 13yo kid-safe TB gelding, Shane, arrived tonight and he was a lot thinner than what I was led to believe.

 

His owner is in college and could not afford to feed him grain, so she knew she had to find him a home before winter.  She’s been trying to sell him, but he just kept losing more weight and no one was interested.  At least she made the decision to bring him here before he got much worse.

Shane has a tattoo that I’ll have to look up to find out his registered name – just out of curiosity.  He’s an incredibly sweet horse and is very laid back and easy going.  I figured he’d be low on the herd totem pole, so instead of throwing him to the wolves in the main herd (Classy and Molly would have eaten the poor guy alive) I put him in the back pasture with Stride, Flo, and Sadie.   It was a pretty traumatic introduction – they all sniffed noses and Lilo ruffled his mane with her lips, then she lead Shane up the hill to the hay and allowed him to stand next to her to eat.   I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. :)

I’ll be blogging about Shane’s progress over on Rescue Recoveries.

Taste the Rainbow

I got up this morning and moseyed outside barefoot in just a t-shirt to see how many layers of clothing I’d need to put on before feeding .  Who needs a thermometer when you’re dumb enough to walk outside half naked to take the temperature?

It was REALLY warm.  And windy!  It was the best of Fall weather that greeted us when I opened the door.  The air smelled fresh and clean, the wind felt good on my face, and the guineas were off in the pasture so things were fairly quiet for once.  Donkey brayed good morning when he saw me come out and Timmy looked up from the hay roll to give me a whinny and beg for food.   All was as it should be with the world and I didn’t think it could get any better.

Then I looked right at the beginnings of what could have been a beautiful sunrise.  Not a cloud in the sky – the promise of a beautiful day.

 

Then my eyes wondered west to look up on the ridge…

and found not only a rainbow, but enough clouds to make me wonder if rain was on the way. 

I went about morning chores and as I was picking up empty buckets after everyone ate, the temp suddenly dropped at least 10 degrees, the wind died, and the rain started.  I was soaked and shivering within minutes, slipping and sliding barefooted in the mud, and the dogs were standing on the porch waiting for me to let them in.  We all went inside to dry off and turn on the heater.  Even Lucky didn’t want to curl up with me until I put on a dry shirt.

 

 

Now we’re all just sitting around waiting for the phone to ring and trying not to think about the pile of dishes that need to be washed.  These are the days when being on call for work isn’t so bad after all. :)

Happy Halloween!

This is NOT an air fern!

 

Timmy is the starving TB stallion I mentioned in my last post.  He arrived here yesterday, looking a lot worse than the pictures I had been sent of him.  The camera really does add poundage!

It amazes me how some people seem to think that horses can live on air.   Or they just don’t give a damned about a living, breathing, feeling animal.   Whoda thunk this horse actually feels pain and depression because he’s starving??  Aren’t they just like tractors and cars??  Why can’t I tie him up to my trailer for three days with no water or food??  You mean that’s wrong??

I’d really like to string the guy up that did this.  Let’s bring back lynching as a legal form of punishment!  What do you say?

Timmy’s condition hits especially close to home with me, because not only is he a big chestnut TB with a blaze, but he’s also got a very Junior-like personality.  He’s a friendly and personable guy who has no problem with using a complete stranger as a scratching post, and made friends with Maverick almost immediately last night.  Within minutes they were playing bite face with each other over a pile of hay, and scratching each other’s withers.  The other boys just did a quick introduction while doing the suckling “I’m a baby, please don’t hurt me” mouth motions.  Timmy just sniffed them and dismissed them to go back to their hay.

Doesn’t he have just the sweetest face??

Check out more pictures of Timmy over on Rescue Recoveries.

Winter Fat

Sadie looks good.  She’s going into winter with a nice layer of fat that will help keep her warm, but not too much fat that would be hard on her joints.  Let’s just hope she doesn’t stick that tongue on any lamp posts this winter.

 

Stride is also looking good for an older gentleman living with two younger women (and a bunch of hens that just adore him).

 

 

And then there’s fat boy, who kind of reminds me of a small beached whale when he rolls.

 

Fatrick will have NO trouble keeping warm wrapped in all that blubber this winter!

To sum up…

I’m beat.

Glenn left again Friday night to get back out on the road driving and I’m already missing his strength around the farm.  Yesterday wasn’t so bad since it was raining and I kept myself inside with a playful kitten most the day.  It was nice.  It was restful.  It was incredibly boring.

Today was sunny and beautiful and there was no way I was hanging out in the house.  Sorry Lucky! 

After feeding everyone and making sure the young chickens survived their first night in the outhouse coop, I played around with my baby boys a bit.  I worked with Quill and Buddy on picking up their feet and they’re both doing really well.  Buddy has been adopted and is getting gelded next week, so I’m trying to put as much time into his manners as I can before he goes.  Quill has finally turned a corner with his attitude towards human interaction and is becoming quite an affectionate boy.  He used to just tolerate being touched, but now he actually seeks out attention and enjoys a good head rub.  Woohoo!

Oh, and then… there’s Sky.  From bad boy to mama’s boy in just a few days:

 

Yes, he’s got his head in my lap.  I have waited five long months to be able to cuddle with this little guy and after a few days of tentatively rubbing his head while he was eating, he finally decided that humans weren’t all that bad after all.  I can rub him all over, I got a halter on him with no fuss last week, and he’s learning to lead.  He comes to the fence for attention whenever someone is standing there, and thinks a neck scratch is best thing that has ever happened to him.

After playing with the boys I rode Cheyenne for a bit, since she’s leaving next weekend.  She’s been doing great and is more than ready to head off into the sunset with Rosa!  Then it was off to get hay – why do those 1000lb hay rolls seem like they’re getting heavier every week??   Break my back unloading the hay rolls, then load up the water tanks and head back to town for water.

Somewhere in between the boys and water I unloaded and setup way too many 10’ dog kennel panels that someone graciously gave us when they moved away.  I won’t reveal what the kennel is for just yet, but it won’t be used for dogs.  It’s a surprise, and you’re just going to have to wait!

By then it was after 4pm, so time to feed again.  Then I took Kita for a trail ride, but ran out of daylight before we got too far.  It’s been way too long since I rode my favorite girl, but she was an absolute champ about it and wasn’t ready to turn for home when I asked.  I so love that mare!

During the week I dread 6:30… that’s when the light starts to fade from the sky and there’s still so much I need to do outside.  But today I was relieved when I turned Kita for home and knew the dark would beat us home – that meant I could go inside, get something to eat, and RELAX!

Look for more  interesting things happening in the next couple of weeks:  Buddy, Patches, and Cheyenne leaving, a starving TB stallion coming in on Thursday from Virginia, a 13yo kid-safe TB gelding coming in next weekend, and Horse Haven Holler’s first public event on November 7th at the Tractor Supply in Marietta, OH!  Be there or be square!  :)

Lucky Update

Guess who’s feeling better!

 

He’s just not amused at having his picture taken.

 

Lucky’s congestion is just about cleared up.  His eyes are still a little runny, but not the yellow goop that was coming out of them when I first brought him home.   He no longer sleeps ALL day… now I have to throw him outside to play with the ducks in order to wear his little butt out so I can work.   Major Tom the turkey doesn’t know what to think of the little guy and he and the guineas follow Lucky around the yard as if they’re studying him.  Or maybe they think he’s a really big kernel of corn with legs. 

We got the little guy wormed and now his belly is gooshy and soft instead of feeling like a balloon about to pop, and he’s put on three ounces in just a week.   Four more ounces and we’ll have ourselves a two pound kitten running around the house looking for trouble!

On second thought, I probably shouldn’t be excited about that.

Morning Snooze

Cold weather has arrived and we got our first heavy frost Sunday night.  Except for the greens, my garden is finished.  Each night has been dipping down in the 30’s and we spent part of Sunday going through the horse blankets and assigning each one to a horse and debating on how many more we’ll need to buy before winter.  These are sure signs that winter is coming.

But even if I didn’t know about seasons and thermometers, the herd is a pretty darned good barometer.  Not only are they starting to grow thick winter coats, but every morning following a chilly night, I can find the herd dozing in the sun on the eastern side of the hill of death – the first place in the pasture to get sun each morning.

 

By the way, Patrick is in LOVE with Miss Molly.   He flirts with her constantly and she tolerates him as long as he’s not too annoying.

 

Poor Jewel.  She never rests and is always on the lookout for danger.  Or food.  Whichever comes first.

 

Miles the mustang, standing apart from the herd because his best buddies are already in the yard chowing down on breakfast.  He’s fit himself neatly into Junior’s clique, and doesn’t like to be apart from Semi, Classy, or Junior. 

 

As I was snapping these pictures early this morning I heard a whinny coming from the back pasture, and turned to see Lilo running down to the fence, eager for breakfast.

 

Apparently, I was supposed to feed her before doing ANYTHING else.  I guess I need to get my priorities straight!

As a side note, we may have a new farrier!  He’s supposed to be coming on Thursday, so keep your fingers crossed that he actually shows up!  Donkey sure does need a trim!

Over the Top

Connie, over at WV Fur and Root, has presented me with an Over the Top blog award!  Sadly, I didn’t even know that Connie existed before today and I’ve never read her blog (something I remedied earlier this morning).  But she still had the absolute NICEST things to say about my little blog!

I feel so selfish.   So self-absorbed. 

 

 

Anyways, back to me.  In order to accept the award, I have to answer the following questions with one word answers. 

1. Where is your cell phone?  imagination

2. Your hair?  ponytail

3. Your mother?  short

4. Your father?  dead

5. Your favorite food?  fruit

6. Your dream last night? R

7. Your favorite drink?  water

8. Your dream/goal?  happiness

9. What room are you in?  living

10. Your hobby?  horses (duh)

11.  Your fear?  drowning

12.  Where do you want to be in 6 years? here

13.  Where were you last night?  bed

14.  Something that you aren’t?  materialistic

15.  Muffins?  raspberry!!!

16.  Wish list item?  tractor

17.  Where did you grow up?  Lucketts

18.  Last thing you did?  lunch

19.  What are you wearing?  jeans

20.  Your TV?  silent

21.  Your pets?  snoring

22.  Friends?  enough

23.  Your life?  hectic

24.  Your mood?  tired

25.  Missing someone?  Brie

26.  Vehicle?  Bessie

27.  Something you’re not wearing? smile

28.  Your favorite store?  ACE

29.  Your favorite color?  blue

30.  When was the last time you laughed? morning

31.  Last time you cried?  Brie

32.  Your best friend?  GBH

33.  One place that I go over and over?  barn

34.  One person that emails me regularly?  spam

35.  Favorite place to eat?  Auggies!

 

Whew.  I never thought those questions would end.  I’m not going to call out specific people to pass this award on to, but if you’d like it, take it!

Thanks Connie!

Redheads

Heidi didn’t immediately take to Lucky like Thor did.  Like the other cats, Heidi chose the run and hide tactic whenever she saw the kitten.  But I think she’s warming up to the little guy now…

 

 

 

 

 

His cold is doing a lot better.  His eyes are still a little runny, but not with goopy yellow gunk anymore.  He still gets little sneezing fits and is still congested, but he’s doing A LOT better on the meds.  I just wish the happy little guy would find somewhere other to lay all day than on me while I’m working!

One unhappy baby

We separated Sky and Jasmine back on October 3rd, and let me tell you… he was NOT happy about it.  For two days he paced the fence.

 

And called for his mommy every few minutes.

 

And he stared at the fence, willing it to come down.

 

All the while Jasmine was in with the main herd partying down with Willow and Jewel like she didn’t even miss the poor little guy.

Then Sky learned that hanging with the boys was cool.  They knew how to play, and loved to run and buck.   No curfew, no more nagging, and no more forced naps.

Voluntary naps are still ok, though.

 

Especially when your new best friends aren’t blocking the sun and you’ve got a fluffy bed of hay to lay in.

 

 

Ah, life is good!

Herd Protection – Check!

A few weeks ago I got a call from a very nice man, Bill, asking if I could take his horses since he had lost his job and had to move away from the farm where he kept them in order to get another job.  They weren’t even really his horses.  He had bought the farm two years ago and the previous owner said he’d be back to get them, but he never came back.  So Bill, being the kind and compassionate man that he is, kept the horses fed and gave them attention for two years.  And as almost always happens, Bill also fell in love with the furry critters and hated having to give them up.

I thought long and hard about whether or not to say Yes.  Then Bill told me that one was a mule and one was a donkey.   Didn’t I just mention a while ago about going to Sugarcreek to get a mule or two for herd protection?  Sure!  I’ll come and get them!

Molly is a flea bitten grey, about 10 years old.  She’s very sweet, but also incredibly protective of her little family.

 

Sassy is a four year old mule, out of Molly.  Sassy isn’t halter broke and it took a couple of hours for Bill to get a halter on her yesterday, and another hour for he and I to get her in the trailer.

 

This is Donkey, the miniature donkey.  I wish I could have gotten a better picture of him, but Molly and Sassy weren’t really interested in letting us near him.  But he’s a very sweet little man who loves attention.

 

Anne went with me on the first trip yesterday and on our way home with Molly and Donkey, I almost ran over this little guy.  He was standing in the middle of the road, all by his lonesome.  How could I resist?

 

Lucky, as Glenn named him, is pretty sick with a nasty sneeze, runny nose, and goopy eyes.   We’ll run him to the vet tomorrow, but right now he’s curled up on my shoulder under my shirt snoozing.  We’re keeping him separated from the other cats and making sure to wash our hands after we’ve handled him, but I really think he’s just got a bad cold.  Not to mention the big wormy belly. 

When he first met Thor, he just threw his little body up against Thor’s head for a rub… no fear of dogs here!  We’ve got him in the side room with the baby chicks (by the way, final count on those from the broody hen: 11!) and he likes to curl up on top of the wire, right above the heat lamp.   The chicks aren’t too happy about it, but I don’t think the little guy is feeling well enough to stir up trouble just yet.  Besides, most of the chicks are bigger than him!

Unmountable Boot Volume

After 16 years of working in the computer field, you’d think I’d be smart enough to keep a backup of my work in case of hard drive failure. 

Nope.

The only excuse I can come up with, is that the brain cells are slowly leaking out of my nose and I’m losing common sense as I age.

Anyway, that’s where I’ve been.  Computerless.  Internetless.  Whining to everyone because I lost a year of photos and the spreadsheet where I kept all data for the horses.  At least I can use the blog to recreate most of that – except for all of the contact information for a few of the adopters.  I have email addresses for most of you, and know physically where all of you live so I can hunt you down if necessary.   So if you’ve adopted a horse from me, please feel free to volunteer your contact information again before I have to send some Italian guy named Guido to your door (horsehavenholler@frontiernet.net).

 

Thanks!