November 15, 2023
The weather is telling me to be prepared. I am working on the list as fast as I can, of course it depends upon the weather and availability of my help. Fencing has been a chore. Zoe and Rem removed a tree or two today and got the last of the insulators fastened. Tomorrow I will plug in the Gallagher and test for a snap.
The worst news last week, a Tioga barn fire took 30 horse’s lives. I have been involved with 2 race track fires years ago. It is terrible, emotionally, and a great loss because very few of the horses race again. I am taking precautions. It is time to refresh the Fire Extinguishers. T&G came to the barn, Kyle recharged 12 and declared 2 past help. From Kyle, I learned not to buy extinguishers if they have plastic handles. For me it is better to buy the rechargeable extinguishers. I am learning, I am learning. The barn chain was next on the agenda. I knew I was going to get old when I built the barn, now that I am old….er I appreciate it everyday for myself and my help. One of the biggest chores of any barn is dung removal. It is important for the health of the animals. If it gets deep it heats and that gives you an excess of ammonia. Ammonia is not good for the lungs (ours or the animals). Our barn is designed with straight standing stalls. The barn cleaner (chain) goes around the aisle behind each stall. So all the help has to do, is rake the manure into the channel, flip the switch, and the chain takes it along the channel and up a ramp to dump it on the heap. I could clean out 20 stalls in 20 minutes. All moving machinery needs regular maintenance. The cleaner has 3 wheels on each corner that has bearings, each wheel has a grease nipple. Bearings need lubricating, hence the grease nipple eh! Well the last few years, I have not been able to squat or kneel to service the wheels in the channel. They are seized!! My bad, because now the motor is working really, really hard and that will lead to bigger problems for the pocketbook. I am lucky Fundy Agriculture is coming to the rescue and replacing the corner wheels. There will be a lot of horse buns to move this winter when the herd will be in the barn on a daily basis. There will be a training session with the grease gun after Fundy Agriculture gets us in good working order again.
I provide free choice salt for the herd. There is always a large block in the field and in each stall there is a small block in a holder. I am particular in that I provide a red salt block. Blue blocks are for cattle. Zoe was shopping the other day and brought back two large block of red salt, except they were for cattle. They were returned after I read the label. There was too much iron. Cobalt was included, horses do not need Cobalt. Selenium the mineral that builds strong muscles) was included but without Vitamin E. Most minerals have a partner mineral or vitamin for balance. Vitamin E is necessary to get the most from the Selenium. Nutrition charts have been posted online for the necessary Macro and Micro minerals that horses need. Check it out.
Winter is here and of course the question is, do I blanket or not?? Personally after observing horses out west, 200 on the ranch, wild horses in the foothills, and wild horses around Sussex on the prairies., I believe nature looks after them well. I never had the time or the money to blanket the herd at the barn. Nature has given them an overcoat and an undercoat. Au natural protects them, very seldom are they ever wet to the skin, in inclement weather. Our herd has lots of tree shelter, we do bring them in if it is freezing rain. I see a lot of interference with nature, in my opinion if they have sheets on in the summer, perhaps they haven’t had a chance to grow their winter coat. In the winter the blanket should be clean and checked often. A horse will sweat and then you get a fungus or bacteria growth. If the horse is stabled all the time, why do they need a blanket. Just because we are cold does not mean they are!! Working and performance horses may be in a different category if they have been clipped. There has been a lot of research regarding this question. Every situation has to be assessed. Of course if you do not blanket, the industry may collapse, people will lose jobs, etc. There is always two ways to look at things. Trailblazers are staying overnight in the bunkhouse this weekend. I have lots of management chores planned. The jump course in the field has to be dismantled as well as all the game paraphernalia in the ring. Amazing how many caveletti, poles, and barrels that can be fitted in our small outdoor ring. It has to be cleared, the hardy riders ride in the ring under the lights in the winter. The lights are on the list too. They need to be restored, another Fiona Gift. Difficult times, be kind help out whenever you can.
Love and hugs from Yogi and the herd.