Farrier days are extra busy around here and they start early. We like to get everyone fed and all the horses that are to be worked on brought to the barn before Gwen’s arrival at 9:30 am. Usually we use farrier days to give each of the horses on the schedule a bath as well. We don't like to over bathe the horses as it can dry out their coats, so a bath every six weeks works well for a bathing schedule. Of course we are doing some grooming between baths!
Bringing horses to the barn for the farrier really highlights the weakness in our current farm’s layout. The far pasture begins a long half mile from the barn and then stretches onward for another half mile. Because of this and because horses are seldom waiting at the gate to be caught, the trek to the rear of the farm often becomes a very inconvenient two mile hike in order to drop off one set of horses and bring another set up to the barn. Anyone wanting some aerobic exercise should forego the gym and show up here on a day when we’ve got 10 horses from the back of the farm that need to be brought into the barn and then taken back out. Think eight to ten miles additional walking on top of our regular daily dose of walking as we do chores, are for the horses and go about the business of running the farm.
Of course traipsing about the farm as we do is far from all bad. It’s excellent exercise and it affords us the opportunity to repeatedly check everyone over as well as enjoy the beauty of working outdoors in all the seasons of the year.
On Thursday Lily and Cuff Links were both given a bath and body clipped. This time Melissa remembered to take a few pictures. In addition to having the right tools for the job, which are the previously mentioned two sets of Andis clippers, a really clean horse is key as well. Dirty horses dull the blades quickly, while with a clean horse you can just buzz through the hair efficiently and quickly without living clip lines. The clippers are now tucked away in their cases and hopefully won't be needed again until next year.
Hope everyone is having a great Friday !
(this post was written by Jason)
The Big Boys are forever providing entertainment. Elfin and (a very dusty) Thomas having a grand time playing. Hemi and Chance put in a brief appearance at the end.
Lily getting the finishing touches on her body clip. Although hard to really see in this picture she looked amazing after she was done. She had a total beauty day with a bath, body clip and mane pulled.
Cuff Links in the middle of his clip session; it looks like Amy is working on one of his legs here
Cuff Links clipped and ready to rejoin his friends; he is so cute with his Kensington fly mask on!
Another grey pony; Traveller having his hooves trimmed
yet another grey horse, Asterik; I should re-name this post the grey horse post
Missy
O'Reilly
I could be wrong but I think Thomas and Elfin might have rolled. Send your horse here for retirement and this is the type of picture you get to see, I know their owners must be so proud.
Hemi and Chance napping
Clay and Lucky grazing. In the background we have Snappy, Hemi, Leo (who looks like he might possibly have rolled as well!), Homer and Levendi
Hemi and Trigger
Winston, Faune and Sebastian
Posts
3 comments:
Our "far pasture" horses have all learned to trot up behind the four-wheeler. I usually take two at a time. :)
The worst part about our far pasture is that it's 1/4 mile from house to gate and then 1/4 mile back up TOWARD the house, so if you have to catch them at the back of the pasture, you're right back where you need to be... you just have another 1/2 mile to trek to get back to the same place you started!
Sleepy Lil! She sure does look clean - wonder how long that'll last!?
I love the dusty horses best. They are very thorough rollers! Natural sunscreen at its finest ;)
Post a Comment