If you want the fun stories of this summer (since i am not writing much) check out Dave's blog. He has been writing quite a bit - just short stories that tell his perspective on all the fun adventures we have been having here in the past couple months.
http://montanadave.blogspot.com/
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.
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