Moving Day

Moving day came with a jolt!  I was calmly enjoying my morning with a cup of coffee and getting my computer fix.  The phone rang with the message that three horses were trying to get into the pasture with the two rescue horses.  Well, being the intuitive person that I am, I knew that the three horses were my three that had pulled off an escape sometime during the night.  I guess they had figured out there were other horses on the property and they had to check them out.  First things first.  I had to get the three back into the pasture and then, I would have to find where the fence was broken.  Luckily, one of my neighbors came to help, and I only had to walk up the hill a half a mile leading horses, then back down a half a mile to get the farm truck.  My plan was to get the fence fixed, then move Speck and Charley.  That would entail walking down the hill and back up again one more time.  

You have to admit, this is a beautiful place to live if you are a horse.   Well, even if you are not a horse. The barn was on the property when we moved here.  It is a log barn  and while it is not as spiffy as a new barn, it has all sorts of great features and character to boot.

Charley's first meeting with boss hoss Dillon went fairly well.  Dillon wanted out so he could get an up close look.  

Speck was not so concerned with meeting anyone.  He was checking out the benefits of the new digs.  Food continues to be his number one concern.  

Hey, did you hear the one about the filly down the road?  Notice how similar Charley and Spirit are.  I love this color.  Charley has the bridle on.  Spirit has the one white sock foot.

Midnight  has joined the party.  Notice how beautiful boss hoss Dillon looks.

I have a grey speckled horse on one side and a white horse on the other.  I am thinking that I may have to rename him because as he gets healthier, it appears his coat has become whiter.  Look at Spirit, the sorrel in the foreground, and Midnight, the black horse, and you see how beautiful a well fed horse looks.  

Unfair, unfair.  Charley and Dillon got a head start!   Dillon says, " I must hurry and get in front.  I am their leader!"

Awww man!  I gotta climb that hill?  Wonder what the grass tastes like up there?

And, all is well.  They are getting used to each other.  Of course there has been some biting, and I saw Speck pick up both hind legs in unison and kick at Dillon.  I also saw him run, so this is the most energy that I have seen him expend.  I am proud of him.  Dillon is clearly the leader and Midnight is straw boss in waiting.  The rest really don't care.  They just want to be fed and loved.

Its A Coming!

Today's blog is going to consist mainly of pictures.  We are not in prime time leaf viewing yet, but today has been such a beautiful day that I just had to share.

I am going to be really smart and say that this is a yellow Maple.  Maybe a yellow and orange Maple.

And what might this one be?  A red Maple of course!

As you can see, the colors still have a way to go.  This is looking from the top of the horse pasture down to their barn.  The first mountain that you see is called Punch Bowl and it is not on our land.

On another part of our farm that we call the Self field, there are many, many Dogwoods.  Notice the rock wall to the right.  It probably is easily over a hundred years old.  There are plenty of rocks to build more, just not the energy!

The Dogwoods are very healthy this year and have plenty of berries to provide food for the birds this winter.

And there is food for the bears.....far, far away from the house!

Then there are beautiful flowers that make us sniffle.

The day continued beautifully until sundown.

And there is a promise in the wind that I just might be able to light my fireplace in the morning.

The Tooth Man Cometh

Who says there is anything wrong with my teeth?

I called to make an appointment with the horse dentist and he told me that he would be there bright and early at 0800 the next morning.  He did not ask for directions and he is not a local, so I am thinking that he just might  not make it when he said, but I had the gate open and was waiting for him.  Then I see a BMW car pulling up my drive and I think, "Uh Roh"!  I am used to vet trucks, farrier trucks, farm trucks and just plain ole truck trucks.  But a BMW?  Oh, with personalized plates, WONAFEW.  

We quickly got down to work.  Spec was first as I expected that he would be the worst of the six.  Now can you imagine brushing your teeth with a metal file?  That was the deal, and boy could he do a great job.  After he got through filing both sides, he put a metal contraption that looked like a bridal on them that would hold their mouths open.  He then filed the tops of their teeth. 

You already know that Charley is a nervous Nelly.  I have to keep him with Speck or he really suffers from separation anxiety.  I had told Mr. Dentist that Charley was skittish, but you should have seen him work.  The entire time that he worked on them, he talked, whistled to get their attention and would touch them.  Charley thought that he could stop him by walking forward and I have never seen anyone move backward and continue working the way this gentleman did.  I asked him if he danced and he said only with horses because they don't mind if he steps on their feet.  I told him that he appeared to be doing a pretty good two step.

I found out that this gentleman's family had owned a horse farm (200 horses) and had raised racking horses to show.  He, himself,  had showed several champions.  He has been around horses all his life and had been a horse trainer.  It was pure delight to watch him work the horses.  He told me that all that Charley and Speck needed was a gentle hand and that he could see that they had that.  He also told me that he thought that Speck was 20ish.  Charley was pretty much the same as the vet told me, around 9 years old.

So, life is pretty much back to normal for these two.  They have been here at Poplar Springs farm for almost two months now.  Charley is in great shape and probably when this next month is through, Speck will be as well.  The dentist told me that they would be gaining more weight with their teeth fixed, so I am going to have to really watch the food with Charley and my other horses.  Next month, they will be moving to the pasture with the herd.  They do not have shelter in their current pasture and they will need that when it gets colder and wetter.  Charley needs new friends and Speck will be able to fend for himself (actually hang out with Sonny).

I thought I would give you a side view so you can see Spec's progress.  His hip muscles are filling out and actually, I cannot put my fingers in between his ribs any longer.

This week, we have fence work to do with the cows and we will be watching the leaves as they continue changing colors.  So far, it has been a beautiful October.