November 10, 2021
We used the Yellow Brick Road as our theme for Halloween. There was a cast of Dorothy, Tin Man, Toto, Wicked Witch and a Munchkin. Maxine and Melanie spent a few weeks developing costumes. Art was the scarecrow. Brilliant Art is the tallest horse of the herd, he is truly a gentle giant. To date, I give him to the newbies, knowing that he holds no surprise behavior. Even we traipsed up and down the shedrow in costume, singing and dancing the yellow brick road, even though he walked along the road with the tin man without a blink of his eye, he could of care less when we dressed him in his costume of Scarecrow. Boy oh boy did we get it wrong!!!! On the day, when our newbie Hannah was at the end of the lead rope, the minute he saw the Tin Man, he froze, he backed up and showed us he was going to have none of this. We dismantled his costume and took him to the ring, Tin Man went back to the barn. It was a good lesson for all of us. A lot of work. A lot of conditioning to something new with the horses can still be a surprise to them. The good news – Art recovered and returned to his usual easy soft composured self. Check out Facebook page Handibear Hills to see us in our costumed glory. And that was just our Saturday. On Sunday at Smalls, we added the charming good witch, who brought all things wonderful, games and treats to a grand afternoon on the yellow brick road.
It has been two weeks now since we brought the herd from the south pastures to the winter paddock. It did not take them long to get back to the old routine of coming into the stables for their daily rations. One thing was different this time. I built a watershed to protect the water tub from the north wind. It is different and scary. We are monitoring water levels, 10 days later they are finally lowering the water level of the tub to a level that makes me happy. |My rule of thumb is 10 gallons per horse per day. The tub is 150 gallons, for 16 horses, large and small that makes it just about right. #17 the mini has her own tub.
10 out of 17 horses are 20 years and older. Teeth are worn to the gum, a couple have wobbly teeth. This is not good for processing hay. I have made changes to how I feed them. I now buy crimped/rolled oats, for extra fibre they get beet pulp or alfalfa cubes. We wet their feed to protect airways. It is tricky to balance their diets to provide enough fibre and nutrition to keep body condition constant throughout the winter. Fuel prices are high and necessary for planting, harvesting and processing so feed prices are rising. As an example Flaxseed is part of my feeding regime. In May it was $32 for 50 lbs, it is now $62. Rule of thumb has been $2000 to maintain a horse at home for a year. I think if all things considered it is getting close to $3000 a year, and that is without boarding a horse, training, lessons, tack and all things a show horse needs. Sadly this is the bitter truth and makes it difficult financially for anyone to keep a horse. I am eternally grateful for the financial support we receive at the Sanctuary. The donation box is on the post and gifts are found there. Paypal from the website has regular donors and I am very good at stretching the pennies (nickles now).
I have a barn full of starter horses. Good to start learning the ins and outs of working with a large animal, good to start to learn how to provide for them and good to start hugging them. Good to start sitting on a horse too. November 11th is here, and all the horses and mules should be remembered as well. They had a great part in winning wars.
Do take care, be kind to one another. Love and hugs from Yogi and the herd.