Enjoying 47F here at the moment. However it is raining, so not much going on outside. Horses are filthy again, “breaded in mud” as 2Dogs put it on another thread! What a great way to say filthy! Ha ha The horse with a rainsheet looks like a committee put him together, muddy head, neck, legs, with a gleaming body when he is undressed for the night in his stall. I got tails shortened just in time, all are clearing the sloppy mud as they ”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹ go thru the gates!
Our blood is getting thicker too, 36F is not as cold this week as it was last week. Only needed a vest to do morning chores, instead of vest, coat and sweatshirt! The snow caught us by surprise and felt like much colder temps. Horses left big snowballs all over, solid and lumpy to trip over. Looked like we had giant eggs all over the paddocks! We are starting to get winter shoes with studs and rim pads on, 2 horses done. More scheduled this weekend. That will help prevent the snowballs. I was getting tired of chunking out the ice when bringing them in. Two hooves with ice, two without, makes horse very tentative walking. I use an ice hammer to chip out the ice, no hoof pick is up to the job. Just like old-timers did. Looks nasty to use with that sharp point, but it only takes a couple controlled strikes and hoof is clean. We are not driving in roofing nails!”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹
No horse driving or training at the moment. Sloppy ground, short day hours, filthy horses to clean before using. Got my saddle, western, back from cleaning and conditioning. Sure looks nice! Much softer, more flexible, the mare is going to like it when I can get some riding weather to use it. I do need to get back riding a lot more.
Trying to clean house for our family gathering Saturday. DD will be gone on Turkey Day so we will get together earlier. Kind of messy with husband cleaning and conditioning reins on the floor. Should be done by tonight so I can mop.
Got both dogs washed, both cats washed, and the cats are a bit disgruntled as they groom to get hair back in order. Cat washing happens frequently around here, you would think they would get more accepting! Clipping off claws first is VERY important, no grip should they try to escape! I did turn the furnace up to keep them warm while damp. Fixed the dog blanket velcro and sprayed waterproofing on, so blanket will stay put the newly shorn dog. The other dog has his winter coat coming in, Shelty mix so he is pretty weather and waterproof. He does not need a coat with 4" deep hair.
Days are already dark early and evenings too. Funny with the warmer temps we are leaving the hose out, though blowing it clean with the air compressor after use. Hope that keeps working, so much easier than winding up hose and putting it away in the tack room every night. Getting a lot of use from my head lamp. Those LED lights are very bright. Kind of fun to scan the front area of the barn, see all the reflective tape on trailers, truck and farm equipment light up! I added some reflective tape to the rear and sides of Gator, because it was finally warm enough to stick. We use Gator to go across the road, out in those fields often. Traffic can get going fast on the road, Gator is built low, green blends in with roadsides, even wearing traffic vests. Funny how JD doesn’t put any reflectors on them. Motor traffic is going to see us now!
Birds are happy with the feeders full. Lots of visitors to keep “cat TV” entertaining for them. Dogs get to chase away squirrels, no stealing the sunflower seeds! And I finally got my flower bulbs planted! Dirt was cold but I was able to dig in and then get them covered. One more thing off the list. Darn things were sprouting even being left out in the cold shed. They will be pretty come spring.
Life is kind of slow this time of year. Got my new Mischka Driving Horse calendars for next year. Two of our friends got their pictures in! He always makes everyone look terrific!!
