Showing posts with label Daily Log. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daily Log. Show all posts
Friday, May 9, 2008
Friday May 9, 2008
Had two neighbors work with me for 6 hours today getting all the fallen trees out of the goat barn pasture. We cleared about 40 trees that were knocked down at the beginning of the winter and that took out all our fencing in that pasture. All exhausted but the amount of work we did was great. I very much hope that on Monday we can move on to clearing the old fencing and getting a new fence up. I just finished with one outside mare and have three more coming this week. We need the extra space!
Friday, May 2, 2008
May 1, 2008
Seems like spring has finally shown up. As of the past three days, the snow is melting. Creek has jumped its banks and there is lots and lots of mud, but not as bad as most years so far. Temperatures are in the 30's getting up higher every few days.
Started my first breeding client of the year. Did the breeding by myself yesterday and it went well. No one here to help this year, so I am glad I have the routine down well enough to handle on my own.
Fences down in the back 20 today - Jared is here fixing that. Had hoped to get him going on a different project, but seems like there is always upkeep needed that takes precedence!
Echo and Cowboy got themselves over a deep part of the creek (Echo so she could be near Ryder, Cowboy because he is in love with Echo...). They couldn't get themselves back the way they had come - I left them on this little island of dry for two days, hoping they would get up the motivation to jump the creek back the other way. Finally went out and forced Cowboy across, getting myself dunked up to my waste in the process. Didn't want to force Echo the same way, as it was pretty deep and she is pretty pregnant. So I coxed her closer to Ryder's pasture and took her through a gate into there (couldn't do that with Cowboy unless I moved Ryder out, as they would have fought). All was well until Cowboy got so panicked that Echo was going in with Ryder that he JUMPED THE CREEK AGAIN and got himself suck on the little island of dry AGAIN. I finally just fed him there.
Am breeding today and moving some horses. Fixing fence. All pretty normal spring around here.
Started my first breeding client of the year. Did the breeding by myself yesterday and it went well. No one here to help this year, so I am glad I have the routine down well enough to handle on my own.
Fences down in the back 20 today - Jared is here fixing that. Had hoped to get him going on a different project, but seems like there is always upkeep needed that takes precedence!
Echo and Cowboy got themselves over a deep part of the creek (Echo so she could be near Ryder, Cowboy because he is in love with Echo...). They couldn't get themselves back the way they had come - I left them on this little island of dry for two days, hoping they would get up the motivation to jump the creek back the other way. Finally went out and forced Cowboy across, getting myself dunked up to my waste in the process. Didn't want to force Echo the same way, as it was pretty deep and she is pretty pregnant. So I coxed her closer to Ryder's pasture and took her through a gate into there (couldn't do that with Cowboy unless I moved Ryder out, as they would have fought). All was well until Cowboy got so panicked that Echo was going in with Ryder that he JUMPED THE CREEK AGAIN and got himself suck on the little island of dry AGAIN. I finally just fed him there.
Am breeding today and moving some horses. Fixing fence. All pretty normal spring around here.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
April 15, 2008
We have melt! Just a little bit, but under all the snow, I can see the outline of the pond for the first time in 6 months, and the creek has begun to jump its bank. I figure this has to mean spring is on its way...
Monday, April 14, 2008
April 1, 2008
Well, here is the ranch on this first day of April...
Does it look like spring to you? I am sure it should be spring. Or at the very least not still this much winter. There's still a solid 2 feet of snow covering everything. And we got 5 new inches last night. Ah well. Its beautiful!
Dave and I are both doing surprisingly well with this new adventure. He moved to Chicago three weeks ago and started a new job there. I am on the ranch alone, but am able to hire some good, consistent help, so I am actually handing things here easily. Dave loves the new job and we both have high hopes that he will get back here within a year.
I had a family come out for a week's vacation last week. Great folks with four kids - 6 months, 18 months, 4 years and 6 years. We did trail rides
and some work with the kids on horses, getting them ready for their first horses on their new 40 acre place they just bought in Wyoming. The parents are both sixth grade teachers and I really enjoyed getting to know them and the kids.
Am selling horses like crazy right now. 6 youngsters sold last month. Four go out this week and the rest in a couple month.
So all in all, ranch life is great. But I do wish this winter thing would let go. I am ready to get out and ride and right now there is too much ice and snow up here to do it!
Does it look like spring to you? I am sure it should be spring. Or at the very least not still this much winter. There's still a solid 2 feet of snow covering everything. And we got 5 new inches last night. Ah well. Its beautiful!
Dave and I are both doing surprisingly well with this new adventure. He moved to Chicago three weeks ago and started a new job there. I am on the ranch alone, but am able to hire some good, consistent help, so I am actually handing things here easily. Dave loves the new job and we both have high hopes that he will get back here within a year.
I had a family come out for a week's vacation last week. Great folks with four kids - 6 months, 18 months, 4 years and 6 years. We did trail rides
and some work with the kids on horses, getting them ready for their first horses on their new 40 acre place they just bought in Wyoming. The parents are both sixth grade teachers and I really enjoyed getting to know them and the kids.Am selling horses like crazy right now. 6 youngsters sold last month. Four go out this week and the rest in a couple month.
So all in all, ranch life is great. But I do wish this winter thing would let go. I am ready to get out and ride and right now there is too much ice and snow up here to do it!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Monday January 21, 2008
On Sat. evening our wood stove started spewing smoke all through the house. We were struggling to fix it until after midnight - finally had to remove the burning logs and throw them out on the lawn (at least our present 2 feet of snow keeps disposal of burning logs from being a problem - no fire danger there.)
We went to bed with no heater on, as our wood stove is our only source of heat. Sunday the temperatures dropped bellow zero. On Monday morning it was 29 below zero when I got up to feed. And we haven't had a working wood stove in two days.
Dave put in a heroic effort on Sunday and Monday keeping the house from dropping bellow freezing by keeping our fire place lit (a fire place does not heat a house, really, that job is left to a wood stove. But we did manage to use it to keep the temperatures around 50, so our pipes wouldn't freeze.) We were up at 5am this morning, trying more things to fix this problem, but just couldn't figure out what was wrong. Finally called every chimney sweep company in Missoula but no-one would come up and work on our chimney in -30 degree weather. We were about to go buy a chimney cleaning pole and have me climb up on the roof myself to see if I could see anything that might have fallen in there and was blocking the air flow, when one of the chimney sweeps called back. He said he thought he couldn't just leave us with no heat, so he would come right up. He was great.
Turns out to be a really good thing he came - the stove pipe had been nocked out of kilter and we never could have fixed it (or even diagnosed it) ourselves. He tromped right up on our roof (through a good foot build-up of snow) and got the thing fixed. We now have a fire roaring in the wood-stove and the temp in here just broke 70. Its heaven!
We went to bed with no heater on, as our wood stove is our only source of heat. Sunday the temperatures dropped bellow zero. On Monday morning it was 29 below zero when I got up to feed. And we haven't had a working wood stove in two days.
Dave put in a heroic effort on Sunday and Monday keeping the house from dropping bellow freezing by keeping our fire place lit (a fire place does not heat a house, really, that job is left to a wood stove. But we did manage to use it to keep the temperatures around 50, so our pipes wouldn't freeze.) We were up at 5am this morning, trying more things to fix this problem, but just couldn't figure out what was wrong. Finally called every chimney sweep company in Missoula but no-one would come up and work on our chimney in -30 degree weather. We were about to go buy a chimney cleaning pole and have me climb up on the roof myself to see if I could see anything that might have fallen in there and was blocking the air flow, when one of the chimney sweeps called back. He said he thought he couldn't just leave us with no heat, so he would come right up. He was great.
Turns out to be a really good thing he came - the stove pipe had been nocked out of kilter and we never could have fixed it (or even diagnosed it) ourselves. He tromped right up on our roof (through a good foot build-up of snow) and got the thing fixed. We now have a fire roaring in the wood-stove and the temp in here just broke 70. Its heaven!
Sat. January 19, 2008
On days when I am feeling good enough (when I have a little extra energy) I try to take a snow shovel around to all the pastures with me when I feed. I shovel a path from the house to each pasture, and through each pasture to the various spots where I have to break ice in the creeks, or carry hay to feed. It is a lot less work to walk a clear path than to trudge through heavy snow, and we have been getting a few inches of fresh snow per day for the past few weeks, so there is plenty of snow out there.
I did the paths today, and had good enough energy to shovel everywhere I go on a daily basis - that's a lot of ground to cover, but I actually had some energy for the first time in a week. Today's work should make things a lot easier until the snow builds up again. (One of these days we will figure out what is wrong with our snow blower and then I wont have to shovel any more...)
My normal routine right now is to get up around 9am and go to the Upper Little Barn. I load two bales of hay on a sled (150 lbs) and pull that to the feeders in the Lower Little Barn, usually doing two runs and putting out between 3 and four bales. Then I load up two more bales and drag that all the way across the Little Barn Pasture to the Middle 20. I throw flakes of hay over the fence all the way up the fence line between the Upper Little Barn and the Middle 20.
After that I take a maul (very heavy headed ax) and a shovel and walk to the far side of the Lower Little Barn to the creek spot and break it open. Then I walk to the Big Barn Pasture.
In the Big Barn, I take two bales and distribute it between 9 feeders. Then I take the same maul and break open their creek.
Every few weeks we have to do extra work on the creeks. Did that today with Dave's help. This time of the season, the bank of the creek builds up with a couple of feed of snow. However, when the horses walk on that spot over and over it tuns into ice, not snow. So there is a solid bank of ice built up around each of our watering holes and if it gets too high or too steep, the horses can't reach the water anymore. Either the water is too deep down for their necks to reach, or they slide down the ice too much and just can't stand in that spot anymore. Dave and I take a pick-ax and a couple of shovels and try to lower the bank and make it flat instead of steep. We spent about an hour doing that today and counted that good work, which will hold us for another week or two.
One of these days we will manage to water without the creek during the winter. We just found a propane heater for water tanks that would allow us to keep a water tank from freezing without electricity. Still looking into its effectiveness, but something like that would be great both for us and for the horses.
In any case, I worked for about 3 hours today - best energy I have had all winter. Slept most of the rest of the day, but am quite happy to have had that kind of energy for a while.
I did the paths today, and had good enough energy to shovel everywhere I go on a daily basis - that's a lot of ground to cover, but I actually had some energy for the first time in a week. Today's work should make things a lot easier until the snow builds up again. (One of these days we will figure out what is wrong with our snow blower and then I wont have to shovel any more...)
My normal routine right now is to get up around 9am and go to the Upper Little Barn. I load two bales of hay on a sled (150 lbs) and pull that to the feeders in the Lower Little Barn, usually doing two runs and putting out between 3 and four bales. Then I load up two more bales and drag that all the way across the Little Barn Pasture to the Middle 20. I throw flakes of hay over the fence all the way up the fence line between the Upper Little Barn and the Middle 20.
After that I take a maul (very heavy headed ax) and a shovel and walk to the far side of the Lower Little Barn to the creek spot and break it open. Then I walk to the Big Barn Pasture.
In the Big Barn, I take two bales and distribute it between 9 feeders. Then I take the same maul and break open their creek.
Every few weeks we have to do extra work on the creeks. Did that today with Dave's help. This time of the season, the bank of the creek builds up with a couple of feed of snow. However, when the horses walk on that spot over and over it tuns into ice, not snow. So there is a solid bank of ice built up around each of our watering holes and if it gets too high or too steep, the horses can't reach the water anymore. Either the water is too deep down for their necks to reach, or they slide down the ice too much and just can't stand in that spot anymore. Dave and I take a pick-ax and a couple of shovels and try to lower the bank and make it flat instead of steep. We spent about an hour doing that today and counted that good work, which will hold us for another week or two.
One of these days we will manage to water without the creek during the winter. We just found a propane heater for water tanks that would allow us to keep a water tank from freezing without electricity. Still looking into its effectiveness, but something like that would be great both for us and for the horses.
In any case, I worked for about 3 hours today - best energy I have had all winter. Slept most of the rest of the day, but am quite happy to have had that kind of energy for a while.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sunday January 13, 2008
What a weekend - it started out one of the hardest weekends we've had in a while, but ended up quite nice. Somehow we pulled through a few challenges and got everything to work out as needed.
Thursday a snow storm caused the trailer to be difficult to get out of the driveway, and we spent hours digging it out of the yard after it slipped back down. Four hours after I had intended to take Cory to town for a brand inspection so he could ship out that night, we finally got him loaded and on his way only to find out that the brand inspector couldn't do the inspection after dusk (we got there 15 minutes too late). Spent the night trying to find a way to get him on the transport anyway, and finally did. They arrived at 11pm and took him on to his new home in Colorado. So, while we spent a frustrating day fighting the snow and much of the evening thinking that we'd have to drive him to Colorado Springs ourselves and on our own dime, we finally finished the day with everything working out well.
In the midst of all that craziness, we got a call saying that our trainer (whom we love, but who just moved 8 hours away) found a good transport option to get 3 of our horses to her if I could have them ready to go by Sunday. So, after being up most of the night on Thursday seeing Cory off, I got up at 6am on Friday and rushed these three horses to town for Coggins tests and health certificates (and brand inspections) so they could travel the next day. On Sat. we got them onto the transport and sent off to do a few months of training.
Add to this weekend that we weaned all the babies on Sat. - very smoothly and successfully (the easiest weaning we have done yet) - and I feel like it was really a great weekend.
We now have one herd in the Big Barn pasture of yearling boys who are on Free Choice feed. I just put out multiple bales in feeders once per day, making sure that they always have food, and they eat as often and as much as they want (since they are growing, they need this). Now I also have a herd in the Lower Little Barn Pasture with 7 weanlings, 2 yearling girls and Blackie who are also on Free Choice which I just keep full all the time. And additionally, I have 8 mares in the Middle 20 whom I feed twice per day. Ryder is away at training for a few months so that I might start riding him on the trails more often this summer. All in all, it was a good, productive weekend at the ranch and all is well.
Thursday a snow storm caused the trailer to be difficult to get out of the driveway, and we spent hours digging it out of the yard after it slipped back down. Four hours after I had intended to take Cory to town for a brand inspection so he could ship out that night, we finally got him loaded and on his way only to find out that the brand inspector couldn't do the inspection after dusk (we got there 15 minutes too late). Spent the night trying to find a way to get him on the transport anyway, and finally did. They arrived at 11pm and took him on to his new home in Colorado. So, while we spent a frustrating day fighting the snow and much of the evening thinking that we'd have to drive him to Colorado Springs ourselves and on our own dime, we finally finished the day with everything working out well.
In the midst of all that craziness, we got a call saying that our trainer (whom we love, but who just moved 8 hours away) found a good transport option to get 3 of our horses to her if I could have them ready to go by Sunday. So, after being up most of the night on Thursday seeing Cory off, I got up at 6am on Friday and rushed these three horses to town for Coggins tests and health certificates (and brand inspections) so they could travel the next day. On Sat. we got them onto the transport and sent off to do a few months of training.
Add to this weekend that we weaned all the babies on Sat. - very smoothly and successfully (the easiest weaning we have done yet) - and I feel like it was really a great weekend.
We now have one herd in the Big Barn pasture of yearling boys who are on Free Choice feed. I just put out multiple bales in feeders once per day, making sure that they always have food, and they eat as often and as much as they want (since they are growing, they need this). Now I also have a herd in the Lower Little Barn Pasture with 7 weanlings, 2 yearling girls and Blackie who are also on Free Choice which I just keep full all the time. And additionally, I have 8 mares in the Middle 20 whom I feed twice per day. Ryder is away at training for a few months so that I might start riding him on the trails more often this summer. All in all, it was a good, productive weekend at the ranch and all is well.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Thursday January 10, 2008
We're hard into winter by now. Feeding involves pulling a sled of 2 bales across a pasture with 2 feet of snow (about 140 lbs) two times per day. Breaking ice every day but still not happy about how much they are drinking. Have found a water option that might work out here - submersible propane heaters for water tanks. $500. Might be worth it. Just evaluating.
Cory goes to his new home this afternoon. Thinking of sending Ryder, Rose and Cami of for a couple of months of training. Still want to get Sahara going on training, but would like to wait a few months to start that up again. Thinking of weaning babies at the end of this next week.
Been snowing most days for the past two weeks +. We usually get a few new inches every night. Our snow blower is broken, so I am shoveling paths to all the pastures (and through them - anywhere I have to go daily to feed). Hoping to get that fixed soon!
Cory goes to his new home this afternoon. Thinking of sending Ryder, Rose and Cami of for a couple of months of training. Still want to get Sahara going on training, but would like to wait a few months to start that up again. Thinking of weaning babies at the end of this next week.
Been snowing most days for the past two weeks +. We usually get a few new inches every night. Our snow blower is broken, so I am shoveling paths to all the pastures (and through them - anywhere I have to go daily to feed). Hoping to get that fixed soon!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Chrismtas Eve, Monday December 24, 2007
We got six inches of fresh, powdery snow last night and the ranch is all set for a beautiful, snowy Christmas! The horses are content and happy, and (thanks to all the new fencing we put up) very little trouble right now!
Dave and I are happy and excited for Christmas tomorrow and very much looking forward to starting a new and better year!
Here's a picture of the ranch this morning. Peaceful and beautiful!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Thursday December 6, 2007
A couple nights ago some coyotes got two of our geese. The last two remaining geese are trying their best to move into the house. They camp out on the front step, and rush the door whenever we come in or out. I can hardly blame them, but they are a bit of a nusence. I will have to see if I can convinced them to live in the chicken house for the winter...
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Sunday December 2, 2007
Change in weather moving in and we have high winds blasting through again. Nothing like the storm a couple weeks ago, but its been rattling the house all day, none-the-less. Temps have moved up to 30, but feels a lot colder because of the wind.
Still, the ranch is in good shape and all the horses are well.
Still, the ranch is in good shape and all the horses are well.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Sunday November 25, 2007
We've had a few beautiful, sunny days, though its been quite cold. Bellow 0 at night and often in the teens during the day. Yesterday it got up to 30, however, and that was nice. Creeks are freezing up, so I am on ax duty already - going out twice a day to break ice.
Still working out the kinks in the new fencing for Ryder. Yesterday we came out to find him in with his mares (the pasture across from his new fence) and there was no damaged fencing anywhere. All we can think of is that the boy jumped right over the whole thing! I looked more closely and saw that the workers had put up only 3 rails in a few spots (we had asked that this be a 4-rail, 6+ foot fence). I am guessing he jumped at one of those. I will go out tomorrow and affix a fourth rail and we will see how this fence does!
Still working out the kinks in the new fencing for Ryder. Yesterday we came out to find him in with his mares (the pasture across from his new fence) and there was no damaged fencing anywhere. All we can think of is that the boy jumped right over the whole thing! I looked more closely and saw that the workers had put up only 3 rails in a few spots (we had asked that this be a 4-rail, 6+ foot fence). I am guessing he jumped at one of those. I will go out tomorrow and affix a fourth rail and we will see how this fence does!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Saturday July 21, 2007
It looks like this summer will not allow me the leasure to write regular updates at this point. I will fill things in as I can.
We are getting a lot done around the ranch. Some friends (Karen and Aud) and Jarred have gotten a ton of fencing done for us and we should have all of our fences secured or replaced by next winter.
We've had three babies born: Desinty's baby (Prize) is a tiny, delicate, beauful girl with a very strong indipendent streak. We have spent more time trying to teach her to lead than with any other horse. She clearly is smart enough to get it - she has just not decided to trust us enough to let a human control her yet. She is, however, coming along.
Echo's baby (Friday) is a big, loving boy who learned to lead in about half an hour. He is handsome and fine and we think he will be big.
Mariah's baby (name still unknown) is the image of Sahara. She is going to be smart, flashy and wonderfully confident. She isn't scard of anything!
We are expecting Flicka and Sky to have babies this week.
Sahara and Onyx are in training and coming along beautifully. They are both exceptional horses who will be coming home next week for two days with their trainer. I will spend two days riding them and working with the trainer and decide them if I should send them back for another month or finish them myself.
We are cutting down on what we have to do around here - sold most of the goats and are probably going to let go of our last three soon. (In the mean time, we are getting over a gallon of milk a day from one of them and loving it!) We are probably going to give away some of the ducks and geese and just gave away the rabbits. I am serious about making this winter more managable than the last.
Dave and I built me a new tack room which we are quite proud of.
We have had many mares here to breed, despite not advertising this year. We expect a number more through the rest of the summer.
Michal (our summer help from Chicago) is doing wonderfully and making a big difference around here. I am finally managing to get the rest I need and starting to feel better, thanks to her constant help. She is talented with the horses and good at getting work done. We'll miss her when she goes home in Aug.
We are getting a lot done around the ranch. Some friends (Karen and Aud) and Jarred have gotten a ton of fencing done for us and we should have all of our fences secured or replaced by next winter.
We've had three babies born: Desinty's baby (Prize) is a tiny, delicate, beauful girl with a very strong indipendent streak. We have spent more time trying to teach her to lead than with any other horse. She clearly is smart enough to get it - she has just not decided to trust us enough to let a human control her yet. She is, however, coming along.
Echo's baby (Friday) is a big, loving boy who learned to lead in about half an hour. He is handsome and fine and we think he will be big.
Mariah's baby (name still unknown) is the image of Sahara. She is going to be smart, flashy and wonderfully confident. She isn't scard of anything!
We are expecting Flicka and Sky to have babies this week.
Sahara and Onyx are in training and coming along beautifully. They are both exceptional horses who will be coming home next week for two days with their trainer. I will spend two days riding them and working with the trainer and decide them if I should send them back for another month or finish them myself.
We are cutting down on what we have to do around here - sold most of the goats and are probably going to let go of our last three soon. (In the mean time, we are getting over a gallon of milk a day from one of them and loving it!) We are probably going to give away some of the ducks and geese and just gave away the rabbits. I am serious about making this winter more managable than the last.
Dave and I built me a new tack room which we are quite proud of.
We have had many mares here to breed, despite not advertising this year. We expect a number more through the rest of the summer.
Michal (our summer help from Chicago) is doing wonderfully and making a big difference around here. I am finally managing to get the rest I need and starting to feel better, thanks to her constant help. She is talented with the horses and good at getting work done. We'll miss her when she goes home in Aug.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Tuesday July 3, 2007
The past couple weeks have been so busy that I have not been able to keep up with writing anything. I have been struggling to get through each day and manage what we have taken on. My energy got so stretched that (as happens when I get overtired) my stomach stopped working right and I have been quite sick for days. Today I finally got to rest a bit and am almost able to eat again.
Here is a glimpse of what these last weeks have been like...
Wednesday june 27: Fence down in Big Barn and the horses got out. They came up on the porch and tore apart everything in my planting area. We haltered Ghost for the first time and taught him to lead and groom, including fly spray. Cowboy and Dancer were worked with. Nefertari and Spirit arrived and Stormy left - put Nef and her baby in with Mamas and babies. Moved Blackie, Little Creek, Breeze and Rose to Middle 20. Bathed Mariah and treated her wound. Loaded Mariah and baby in trailer for trailering lesson. Took Pictures of Mariah.
Monday june 25: Woke up to find that Destiny had just had her baby - a beautiful, black baby girl. We got a stall ready for them, gave shots, checked the filly over and settled them in (Dave picked her up and carried her inside). Did full imprinting treatment with her, with Michal's help. Later Michal did another imprinting session again. Took Georgia (goat) to check a lump and to check health of her udder. Took Mariah and Baby in same trip because Mariah has a lump on her neck. It was an abscess and we had to cut it open, drain it and now need to treat it twice per day until healed. Took them all home, then turned around and came back for Ryder. Got Ryder home and settled in.
These have been typical of the past two weeks. Michal is here and helping wonderfully. Jarred is working on fencing for us. We have one breeding mare here (Noir) and one on the way later in the week. Three babies born, plus Nefertari and her baby are here for a while. And Two more babies due this month, with one later.
My brother's family was here this week and just left this morning - loved having the kids around, but am quite exhausted. My only goal right now is to get enough rest to make it through a bit more of the summer without getting as sick as I did this week.
Here is a glimpse of what these last weeks have been like...
Wednesday june 27: Fence down in Big Barn and the horses got out. They came up on the porch and tore apart everything in my planting area. We haltered Ghost for the first time and taught him to lead and groom, including fly spray. Cowboy and Dancer were worked with. Nefertari and Spirit arrived and Stormy left - put Nef and her baby in with Mamas and babies. Moved Blackie, Little Creek, Breeze and Rose to Middle 20. Bathed Mariah and treated her wound. Loaded Mariah and baby in trailer for trailering lesson. Took Pictures of Mariah.
Monday june 25: Woke up to find that Destiny had just had her baby - a beautiful, black baby girl. We got a stall ready for them, gave shots, checked the filly over and settled them in (Dave picked her up and carried her inside). Did full imprinting treatment with her, with Michal's help. Later Michal did another imprinting session again. Took Georgia (goat) to check a lump and to check health of her udder. Took Mariah and Baby in same trip because Mariah has a lump on her neck. It was an abscess and we had to cut it open, drain it and now need to treat it twice per day until healed. Took them all home, then turned around and came back for Ryder. Got Ryder home and settled in.
These have been typical of the past two weeks. Michal is here and helping wonderfully. Jarred is working on fencing for us. We have one breeding mare here (Noir) and one on the way later in the week. Three babies born, plus Nefertari and her baby are here for a while. And Two more babies due this month, with one later.
My brother's family was here this week and just left this morning - loved having the kids around, but am quite exhausted. My only goal right now is to get enough rest to make it through a bit more of the summer without getting as sick as I did this week.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Friday June 15, 2007
Michal and Naomi (got here yesterday) started settling in today. Michal (17 year old girl from Chicago) is going to stay the summer and help me out here.
I checked on babies and did ranch up-keep today. Aud has been working on building new fences all week. Karen continues to work, work, work with the horses for me, so that my job is easier.
Karen and Aud moved Chance and Ghost back to their normal pasture with their normal herd - we'll bring them up again to do some intense work once things calm down. They also got pictures of four of the yearlings for me so I could send them out to a perspective client.
I drove Michal and Naomi to town in the afternoon in order for them to go stay with a near-by rabi for the sabbath. Came home and got ready for a couple to come up here to buy some goats.
I checked on babies and did ranch up-keep today. Aud has been working on building new fences all week. Karen continues to work, work, work with the horses for me, so that my job is easier.
Karen and Aud moved Chance and Ghost back to their normal pasture with their normal herd - we'll bring them up again to do some intense work once things calm down. They also got pictures of four of the yearlings for me so I could send them out to a perspective client.
I drove Michal and Naomi to town in the afternoon in order for them to go stay with a near-by rabi for the sabbath. Came home and got ready for a couple to come up here to buy some goats.
Thursday June 14, 2007
Got up and checked on the horses - Karen has been handling the babies for me and they are both doing great. We moved Echo and her little colt to the goat pasture (emptied of goats - let them run free) so they could run around for a bit. Moved Mariah and her's to the Lower Little Barn pasture to stretch their legs.
I went to town to get our guests at the airport, then came back. We immediately put them to work! They cleaned the stalls of the mares and foals as I got some things ready for the vet to come up. Then we all walked down to a far pasture and led Blackie and Stormy back up, while the 5 youngsters in there followed. We let the youngsters hang out in the yard and put Blackie and Stormy in a pen.
The vet got here and ultrasounded Blackie and Stormy. Neither are pregnant (very good - I realized I had them in with the stud colts for a while) but both seem to be cycling and could be bred next month as I planned (at least with stormy - I may not breed Blackie anymore).
The vet then looked at the mommas and babies. All are doing well and Echo is clearly kicking into mother gear. A little worried about Mariah's baby's leg - one is a bit twisted. We will restrict their freedom a bit so they don't run so much until it straightens up.
Turned Chance and Ghost out to big barn pasture today to give them some grazing time. Brought them in during evening.
Long, long, long, long week and day.
I went to town to get our guests at the airport, then came back. We immediately put them to work! They cleaned the stalls of the mares and foals as I got some things ready for the vet to come up. Then we all walked down to a far pasture and led Blackie and Stormy back up, while the 5 youngsters in there followed. We let the youngsters hang out in the yard and put Blackie and Stormy in a pen.
The vet got here and ultrasounded Blackie and Stormy. Neither are pregnant (very good - I realized I had them in with the stud colts for a while) but both seem to be cycling and could be bred next month as I planned (at least with stormy - I may not breed Blackie anymore).
The vet then looked at the mommas and babies. All are doing well and Echo is clearly kicking into mother gear. A little worried about Mariah's baby's leg - one is a bit twisted. We will restrict their freedom a bit so they don't run so much until it straightens up.
Turned Chance and Ghost out to big barn pasture today to give them some grazing time. Brought them in during evening.
Long, long, long, long week and day.
Wednesday June 13, 2007
Moved Mariah at 2am because she was so agitated about being in the Big Barn. But the only other choice was the little barn stall next to Echo, and we are worried enough about her that we don't want to add to her stress by putting another mare in there next to her baby. So Karen and I nailed up curtains between the two stalls at 2am, settled Mariah in and went to bed.
At 8am the foalert system went off and we rushed out for Mariah's birth. She had an easy birth with a beautiful, dark red baby girl with 4 white sox. Tiny little thing with a VERY Arab looking head. We were delighted with all of it. Did the handling, all the medical things and all went well. But we didn't like how Echo was doing. She has been worse and worse at being a mother.
We were suppose to be picking up two guests today at the airport but as I was preparing to leave I heard that they had missed their flight. Had already arranged to go to town and meet with the vet about Echo, so I did that anyway. He sent home some Oxytosen, a hormone we started giving her around 4pm. I ran two other errands and then came home to look that over. Decided to move Echo and her baby down to the Big Barn, since they needed to be alone, in my opinion.
As we started the process of walking them together all the way across the property, Echo started getting frantic about keeping her baby by her. This is good, as all mothers act this way when they first leave the stall with the new baby. We were really pleased to see this. I stayed in the stall with them for a while, giving the Oxytosen periodically, making sure the baby was nursing and watching Echo's actions. It went great - by 9pm I felt we had gotten her past the problem. I think she is going to be a good mom now!
Turned Chance and Ghost out to big barn pasture today to give them some grazing time. Brought them in during evening.
At 8am the foalert system went off and we rushed out for Mariah's birth. She had an easy birth with a beautiful, dark red baby girl with 4 white sox. Tiny little thing with a VERY Arab looking head. We were delighted with all of it. Did the handling, all the medical things and all went well. But we didn't like how Echo was doing. She has been worse and worse at being a mother.
We were suppose to be picking up two guests today at the airport but as I was preparing to leave I heard that they had missed their flight. Had already arranged to go to town and meet with the vet about Echo, so I did that anyway. He sent home some Oxytosen, a hormone we started giving her around 4pm. I ran two other errands and then came home to look that over. Decided to move Echo and her baby down to the Big Barn, since they needed to be alone, in my opinion.
As we started the process of walking them together all the way across the property, Echo started getting frantic about keeping her baby by her. This is good, as all mothers act this way when they first leave the stall with the new baby. We were really pleased to see this. I stayed in the stall with them for a while, giving the Oxytosen periodically, making sure the baby was nursing and watching Echo's actions. It went great - by 9pm I felt we had gotten her past the problem. I think she is going to be a good mom now!
Turned Chance and Ghost out to big barn pasture today to give them some grazing time. Brought them in during evening.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Tuesday June 12, 2007
At 8:30 this morning, the foalert alarm went off and I shot out of bed. Karen and Aud rushed out just after me and I got to the pasture to find that Echo was having her baby. After last year's hard birth and rejection of the foal, we were all nervous about this one. Also, she showed so few signs that she was ready. I think her vulva didn't stretch as it should have - she had a very hard time pushing the baby out. Karen and I pulled and pulled. Took 15 - 20 minutes. Had a lot of trouble getting the shoulders around her opening. She kept getting up, then going and laying down in the mud, then standing up again. Finally Karen and I were able to both pull and we got the baby out.
Echo immediately started talking to the baby and turning to check it out, even as the feet were still in. That was a very good sign. We cut the bag and tried to keep the baby as warm as we could in the mud-puddle it was in. Once he (its a boy!) was out, we called Dave out and he lifted the baby and carried it to a stall which we quickly prepared for them.
Through the course of the day we stated to worry about her mother instincts. She had episodes of striking and biting at him when he nursed, then other times seemed fine with it. We talked to the vet a bit, but are waiting to see what develops.
By mid-afternoon Mariah's milk was white and she was waxed up. We expect her to foal tonight. We put her in the big barn, but she really didn't want to be there. Are keeping an eye on her now.
Turned Chance and Ghost out to big barn pasture today to give them some grazing time. Brought them in during evening.
Echo immediately started talking to the baby and turning to check it out, even as the feet were still in. That was a very good sign. We cut the bag and tried to keep the baby as warm as we could in the mud-puddle it was in. Once he (its a boy!) was out, we called Dave out and he lifted the baby and carried it to a stall which we quickly prepared for them.
Through the course of the day we stated to worry about her mother instincts. She had episodes of striking and biting at him when he nursed, then other times seemed fine with it. We talked to the vet a bit, but are waiting to see what develops.
By mid-afternoon Mariah's milk was white and she was waxed up. We expect her to foal tonight. We put her in the big barn, but she really didn't want to be there. Are keeping an eye on her now.
Turned Chance and Ghost out to big barn pasture today to give them some grazing time. Brought them in during evening.
Monday June 11, 2007
Sat. night passed without babies or problems and Sun. morning we went to check Flicka and found that her milk was NOT white. She seemed back to where she should be. I found it very difficult to be gearing up for a baby that may have very little chance of making it. Was exausted and spent a lot of Sunday in bed.
Today (Monday) we took her down to the vet (my vet is back, thank goodness) and had about an hour to wait while he had an emergency call. Went into his office and got some hand soap and a few paper towels, then went around back to the hose he has out there and gave her a bath while we waited. When he got there he checked her and thought she was in good shape. Not at risk. So we loaded her up and were happy to get her home.
Turned Chance and Ghost out to the big barn pasture today, then brought them in before bedtime.
Mariah's milk is starting to turn. Echo is hardly bagged up at all. We put Mariah in a birthing stall for the night.
Today (Monday) we took her down to the vet (my vet is back, thank goodness) and had about an hour to wait while he had an emergency call. Went into his office and got some hand soap and a few paper towels, then went around back to the hose he has out there and gave her a bath while we waited. When he got there he checked her and thought she was in good shape. Not at risk. So we loaded her up and were happy to get her home.
Turned Chance and Ghost out to the big barn pasture today, then brought them in before bedtime.
Mariah's milk is starting to turn. Echo is hardly bagged up at all. We put Mariah in a birthing stall for the night.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Saturday June 9, 2007
Aud worked outside on the fence much of the day, making good progress. The farrier came and put shoes on Flicka and Cami. We moved Chance and Ghost to a pen by the big barn so we could work with them and groomed up Chance. Did some work with the electric shaver to get his winter coat remnants off. He was great.
Kept the little goat kid with a cold in the stall with the heat lamp for some of the day. Gave him antibiotics as well as giving them to Chico, who is also coughing.
Saw that Flicka had milk in her bag and decided to put her with the birthing mothers to keep an eye on her. We have her due date as being in Aug. so we were sure she couldn't be this early, but she sure looks like she's ready.
As we tucked the mares in and checked everyone's milk this evening we found that Flicka's milk is white. This usually means she is going to birth tonight. Karen and I took her down to the vet stocks and installed a foalert transmitter in her. We set up the birth stall and put her in there, gave her warm bran mash and tucked her in. Then I went in and looked at my records of when she gave birth last year to see if it is at all possible that she is ready tonight. The earliest possible date she could have gotten pregnant makes this only 310 days pregnant - far too early. My vet is on vacation, so I called the back-up he had. He told me to get Flicka to town immediately and get an ultrasound done at Blue Mountain clinic. But when I called them they said she was probably aborting right now and there was nothing to do but let her (that's typical of them).
The thing is, she doesn't seem distressed about anything. She seems FINE. She seems normal. I get no energy that there is anything wrong at all. In fact, she doesn't seem particularly ready to brith, either. I have a camera on her and the folert transmitter in. If anything starts I will know it. This may be a long night.
Kept the little goat kid with a cold in the stall with the heat lamp for some of the day. Gave him antibiotics as well as giving them to Chico, who is also coughing.
Saw that Flicka had milk in her bag and decided to put her with the birthing mothers to keep an eye on her. We have her due date as being in Aug. so we were sure she couldn't be this early, but she sure looks like she's ready.
As we tucked the mares in and checked everyone's milk this evening we found that Flicka's milk is white. This usually means she is going to birth tonight. Karen and I took her down to the vet stocks and installed a foalert transmitter in her. We set up the birth stall and put her in there, gave her warm bran mash and tucked her in. Then I went in and looked at my records of when she gave birth last year to see if it is at all possible that she is ready tonight. The earliest possible date she could have gotten pregnant makes this only 310 days pregnant - far too early. My vet is on vacation, so I called the back-up he had. He told me to get Flicka to town immediately and get an ultrasound done at Blue Mountain clinic. But when I called them they said she was probably aborting right now and there was nothing to do but let her (that's typical of them).
The thing is, she doesn't seem distressed about anything. She seems FINE. She seems normal. I get no energy that there is anything wrong at all. In fact, she doesn't seem particularly ready to brith, either. I have a camera on her and the folert transmitter in. If anything starts I will know it. This may be a long night.
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