Snow day

Too many horses

Poor Emma hid under my dress popping out from time to time. She will just have to learn to stay out of the coral until she gets bigger. Don’t want her to get stepped on. She has become my shadow and staying in a safe place, alone, is not something she wants to do. Oh the things a pup must learn. 

Jasper

Joe and I went to the Troyer’s draft horse sale this weekend and came home with a new friend. An untrained pony! This will be Hank's pony to train so he was given the opportunity to name him. Jasper was the name chosen and I think it fits well.

My first birth

Clair was born this morning around 7:45. I know this because I watched! I decided to go for a walk, I was feeling a little down, and as I came over the ridge and looked into the small valley I saw my mare on the ground. I walked closer, very slow. I was about 4 yards from her when I sat in the grass with the dog at my side. She knew I was there, I thought about running to the house for my camera but what if I missed this? It was good I stayed. The front feet where just out when I sat down, in about 5 minutes a slimy small life was on the ground. Oh, the wonder of it! She made it look easy, painless and quick. She was exhausted and after a sniff and nicker she lay flat. After some time they both started to move, Molly licking her baby nudging her softly. She then got up and looked the baby over, after deciding she was fine she came to see me. Big head hanging down, lips lose and eyes shut, resting in my arms. I loved on Molly then went to the baby. She looked so clean, just wet. Yuck, that is not “just wet” on a baby. Molly nosed her and talked, trying to get her up. The long legs in the front would work and the back would not, then the back would hold and the front would collapse leaving her on her face. Molly did pick a nice thickly grassed spot, free of weeds and dirt, this was good seeing she would be licking off anything that got stuck to the wet fur. I just stood very close watching it all. Molly was uneasy about the other horses and kept running to the top of the hill, looking around then back to her baby. She wanted her up, now. It seemed to take forever, no watch to tell how long it realy was, but she finely made it up on wobbly legs. I turned Molly so baby could suck the right end without moving , didn’t want to chance another fall. After a snack she had new energy, Molly knowing this started her on the long walk to the water tank. As we walked the baby would lean on me, Molly would run ahead leaving the baby and I to follow after. What I joy to have a mare that trusts you with her new baby. I will never forget Molly’s gift of letting me be involved.

Jorgenson

Jorgenson turns 3 this spring and is ready for work. We have been driving him, in a way, off and on from about the time he was weaned. When he was young I would harness him and lead him around. His first winter we had him pull the sled with the children on it. Last summer we drove him some with Katie and this winter we used them to feed from time to time. With our dear Phoebe gone Jorgenson is now need to partner with Katie until we can find her a better match. Today we put them on the disk and they did great. If all goes well Joe or I will do this every few days. It’s good for the field and the horses. The boys enjoyed it was well and walked behind for the longest time. We all need a little exercise this time of year

Merry Christmas

My Christmas gift was unexpected but oh so wonderful. Sugar was due, I thought, the first week of February. What a surprise to find she had a baby this morning. He was still wet when we saw him, the sun not yet up, standing on shaky legs. We will call him Rudy, short for Rudolph. It was this or cookie, seeing his mom is Sugar, but Joe wasn't going for that.

Toby

Toby is a friends pony that loves to buck. He is also a little stud pony and must be kept away from the big girls who wish to kick his head in as a way of saying hi. Karlee has volunteered to put a few rides on him this winter and hopefully break him of his bucking problem. She might be a little girl but she has some spunk and is the only one who can stay on him. Oh, the boy who owns him is 9 and you can tell that a "girl" fixing his horse is a hard pill to swallow.

Mama and baby

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Katie and Phoebe came home from up Bear Creek with their babies Lavonne and Bill in tow. Lavonne belongs to a friend who wanted a team out of Katie. Bob was the first who is black, very black. Lavonne is, well a brownish greenish kind of thing. I pray they turn out the same size but the color is not even close. Bill is Phoebe’s baby. Phoebe is not doing well and can’t feed her ever growing boy so we took him off of her put him on Katie. That girl makes so much milk she is easily feeding them both and is sill staying in good condition.

Our girls, Chloe and Dionne, are growing into such nice girls. Friendly and willing to please.

little big feet

We have had a wonderful spring with babies everywhere.

Puppy‘s baby was an unplanned addition. Daisy is a Paint/Belgian cross, cute but who knows what she will be good for.