It's Way Too Early

Our weather has been quite pleasant for January.  We have had what seemed like Spring rains, thunderstorms, and Spring temperatures.  Of course, there is a little Spring fever to go along with all these things as well.  When I am out and about taking care of the animals, I am always looking for the first sign of what's to come, even though it is way early.  Today, I was not disappointed.

Oh, little Crocus, it is waaaaay to early for you to appear.  Two weeks or possibly a month early here in the mountains

The Flowering Quince is a little early as well.  I am not sure if it is always before the Forsythia, but this year, it is.  This is not a most beautiful bush, but I appreciate the boldness of the flowers.

The daffodils want to get in  on the action.  This location is usually where we get the first blooms, but Steve planted some in another garden and I think they will be the first this year.

The girls had an opportunity to go out on a stroll and scratch here and there looking for their version of Spring.  There was no sign of Coyotes, Chicken Hawks, or red dogs!

I could not leave the post without mentioning a couple of my boys.  Lucky and Mr. Speck are now pasture mates.  Lucky is semi-permanently in the pasture now.  Semi means that unless the weather gets really cold and I feel really guilty to where I can't stand the thought that he just might be cold, he will stay in the pasture.  If guilt wins out, he goes back in the pen under cover.    Speck is the least dominate of all the horses, so he makes a good pasture buddy for Lucky.  So far, they have gotten along extremely well.

Today, I spent about an hour grooming Lucky.  His coat is just so tremendously bad that it will probably be at least summer before I see much improvement.  Even with his improved diet I think it will take new summer growth to get rid of the crud.  I did not have him tied up and he stood for that long while I brushed and tugged at his coat, mane and tail.  When I was brushing his shoulders, he turned and laid his head on my shoulder.  He is just a beautiful little guy.

Almost a Month

It has been almost a month since my last post, and almost two months since Lucky and Jon Boy came to the farm.  Overall, it has been a good month with forward progress for Lucky.  So far, no backward steps for him since early December.  He did well while we were in Texas over the holidays and no heart attacks for the caretaker.

He is still underweight, but I have to keep letting the bridle out.  He no longer has any of the sores that he had from being on the ground, except the last inkling on the left hip.  Hair is growing nicely over all the others.  When he sees us, he calls to us, of course thinking that he will get a little extra grain.  He has begun to run a little, especially if he sees me coming with his food.  I can't wait to see him in another month when he will be filled out more because he is going to be a little beauty.  His mane and tail are very thick so, once mud and snow season goes away, he will clean up well.  I have to watch myself as our weather has been so great, it is easy to think that Spring is here.  A reminder of Winter is forecast for this Friday as we are supposed to get snow.  I do not like snow when I have horses to feed!    Our farm is spread among too many mountains and I am not a fan of truck sledding!

Jon Boy is still a little on the rotund side.  Our job with him is to get him slimmed down and back in good shape.  Before the rescuers got a close look, they thought he was a pregnant mare.  Glad he wasn't, but he only get's half rations on the grain.  He was the first one that the trainer worked with and he responded to her very well.  She likes him a lot, and I hope one day that he just might be hers!  By Spring, I hope he is a gelding and ready to go to a new home.

Here is a quick update on Charlie.  Yes, he looks a lot like Jon Boy, but he is smaller and his blaze is not as broad as Jon's.  He is getting a lesson in manners from the lady that found me through the blogs and is a horse woman extraordinaire!  She is all business with these guys and hopes to teach me a lot since I have a lot to learn.  Charlie has moved up the pecking order so that he is just behind Dillon and Midnight.  That means he is the assistant to the assistant head horse!  He shows no signs of being an underfed horse, is on the smaller side and of course, I like him a lot.   


It has been good to be able to relax a little with the horses as they have all been making great progress.  I am not sure that I am willing to take on any more, at least for a while.  Right now, I am out of room for any more, so I don't have to think about it.  I did have to turn down three more right before I went on vacation.  Hard, but I have to take care of what is here plus think about what I really want to be when I grow up.  Or, more likely, where I want to go!