Getting things around for winter. Ordered 2 rainsheet and a light blanket to stay ahead of possible needs as it gets colder. The two horses in training needed 2 rainsheet to stay dry and sort of clean over at the Trainers. She said they both like standing out instead of inside their shed during the rain. Then rolling in mud GREATLY increases grooming time, so they needed covers. Ok, I then had one extra rainsheet for the older horse, until Trainer called to tell me Lia had torn off her front buckles, needed another rainsheet! At least they were on sale, with good price reductions.
Weather has been “wet” the last couple days, ditch is running fast, lots of standing water. Horses were soaked last might and it was snowing. Still have some snow stuck on the north side of things this morning. Got my tall boots on for turning out! I keep checking for rainrot, this is certainly the conditions for it. Husband did manage to sneak in a drive in the arena with the Pair on Tuesday. He said it is interesting that they seem to like the marathon carriage better than the lighter funline carriage on air filled tires. Arena sand drains well, very firm being wet, so pulling either vehicle is not hard. They are improving at stop and stand quiet. Gave him a lovely back up too.
Took my stuff to Topeka Saturday, it was controlled mayhem with consigners, a horse auction going on and…rain! I planned to go back Monday but did not. Afraid if prices were low I might buy my stuff back! Having the room they took up is nice. Also heard the weather report of only 3 nice days, then snow. So I stayed home, cleaned my gardens, hauled the cut foliage. Amazing to me how much foliage the plants produce each year. Why do i have so much garden? Put covers on some of the roses, picked the last bud and some hydrangeas to dry… Then rearranged outside things for clearance when snow plowing, checked fences for loose staples. Still need to move tractor implements into their winter parking area, but it has to be weed whacked first. It is a 2-person job, one hitching, unhitching, other one driving and parking them. Otherwise climbing on and off tractor gets very time consuming. I got a lot done which was good because Wed was NOT nice as promised, rainy most of the day.
Need to get winter insulated tanks out and in place. Who knows when it will freeze?! Still have a couple bags of flower bulbs to plant after the rain stops so they don’t drown in the holes. Ha ha I told the Trainer we would be picking up horses around the 15th, so we are not caught with trying to come home in icy weather. I would like to get them now, but the full month is not over until the 15th. HOPING they don’t get snowed in like the horse there did 2yrs ago. He was there until Dec!!
Starting to feed hay, though grazing is still available. Picking up apples daily from the neighbors tree hanging over the fence. They enjoy apples for supper. When it dries some, I will be clipping legs, shortening tails, to let hair dry faster, avoid mudballs, ice, dragging hair thru mud and snow… Tails grow back by spring. Got things inside barn and sheds arranged better, despite the rain. I feel pretty prepared for winter, with the exception of having the training horses home. Have to see if we can keep horses worked over winter.
