Category Archives: Horses

Watch any plant or animal

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and let it teach you acceptance of what is, surrender to the Now. Let it teach you Being

Eckhart Tolle

Jack, Palomino paint on the left, and my line-back dun Bebe enjoy grazing

Three years ago one acre of ground was turned from a wooded lot into pasture for Jack and Bebe. As soon as they were let out in the grass, they kicked up their hooves and raced around the space before settling down to graze. Eventually, due to overgrazing the upper space turned into dirt and was reseeded this spring with Bermuda. The sprouts are just beginning to cover while the horses spend time in the lower section where they were turned out the beginning of spring. Despite the lush greenery pictured below by now they have eaten every scrap of grass and mostly inedible weeds remain.

Lower section

Bebe

Before this section was overgrazed

Jack

Alfalfa pellets are supplementing the square bales of hay they are fed just until this growing season produces enough hay for purchase. It was a poor growing season last year, much like this one: rainy far too long. Last year when the sun arrived it scorched the earth. Local hay farmers were lucky to get two cuttings when in a good year they get three.

Normally hay farmers begin cutting after Memorial Day but it has been too wet this season to start. Anticipating a week of hot weather (summer has finally arrived) I am hopeful the upper pasture will be ready for the horses to move back soon. If I move them too early, they will pull up the new shoots leaving nothing but bare ground.

Platform deck

Whether from the interior of the cabin or outside on the small deck, one of my great pleasures is watching both Jack and Bebe. It is easy to be present when around them.

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The Lord is near

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to those who have a broken heart… Ps.34:18 NKJV 

SonnyEatsHayCrop

Oh, how I miss you, Sonny. Would love to be able to wrap my arms around you, feel your raspy tongue lick me, and let your soul touch me one more time.

Goodnight my dear friend, until we meet in spirit.

Reminding myself: “When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.”  Micah 7:8 NKJV

JackSonnyBebe

The Lord is near

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The Lord is near.  Phil. 4:5b CEBBebe Jack wait for breakfast long view

Three minutes before midnight the electricity flickered, then shut down–heat and lights. Having called in the outage to the power cooperative, at 4:00 a.m. when the alarm went off, we were still in the dark.

Taking Sam by flashlight out for his constitutional I checked on the horses. Jack came up to me, got his nose kissed and I could see Bebe was OK too. The night’s deluge of rain, thunder and soft snow drifts had stopped, but the wind was high. Outside it was 20 degrees. It could have been so much worse.

Sonny in snow 2

Inside the cabin the temperature was 64 degrees. Crawling back under the covers was the best of all options. Later I heard the whir of the refrigerator. What a terrific sound. I rose, turned on heat, lights and brewed coffee before sitting down for my devotional time.

Holly Bebe & Jack in distance

Thank you, Lord, for Your protection for me and mine.

There are persons for companionship

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but then there are friends who are more loyal than family.  Prov. 18:24 CEB

Bebe and Sonny

Bebe licks Sonny (2)

Living in adjacent spaces the horses and bovines became grooming partners. It all began when Buff, the copper-colored Charolais-Angus bull, started licking Bebe’s mane.  Soon Jack, the Palomino paint, began grooming Buff and then both horses included Sonny, the Brahma bull.

Jack licks Buff Mon 5_24_10Bebe hugs Buff

For thou hast delivered my soul from death

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yea, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. 

Ps 56:13 (NOAB)

You are in the wilderness now but not for 40 years, I vow.  You are safe.  We are blessed to have this land. The trees serve not only as fence posts but shelter as well. And soon there will be warm, dry weather.  We can plant grass. You’ll see.

In the forest looking toward Jack and Bebe

Jack flanked by Bebe

Holly, our beautiful heifer

There is no market for pine,” he said—“Nothing here but pulp and fence posts.  Lumber harvested after Katrina is still plentiful and construction is down, you know“ from one among an extended family who still logs with horses and mules. “Since you just want to create pasture, perhaps you can find someone just to take if off your hands.  I recommend heavy equipment to clear the rest.”

Every now and then I peer through the brush to glimpse the golden hue of Shangri-La less than 100 yards away.

Shangri-La

Cooler weather brings relief

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and Bebe’s bandage is removed

Bebe improves exponentially

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following farm visit by vet

Bebe three days after vet visit

Injured three months ago my sweet filly, Bebe, had reached a plateau with her recovery. There was a lip along the inside leading edge of her leg just below the hock, and skin would not cover it.

So last week I called our large animal vet, Amy, who arrived Friday and trimmed a half-inch of granulated tissue.

With instruction to clean, apply prescription strength medicine and bandage daily, Bebe made marked improvement in 24 hours.

Now three days later it is obvious she will most likely heal without residual scarring, for which I am immensely grateful.

Only a hint of snow

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or was it

In the morning there was just a hint of its arrival. Scarce, icy droplets glanced off and melted before hitting the ground.

By mid-day the drops turned to flakes floating through the air, and amateur forecasters said there would be no accumulation.

As the temperature dropped one layer carpeted, then two. Well after dusk it was still falling.

Charolais-Angus bull and Palomino paint

In for more snow

Misreading the tea leaves

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a retreat is better than charging off the cliff

What appears to be an answer to a prayer may not always be so. When taking a second look reveals the precipice ahead, I have learned it is better to step back and regroup. On Saturday Buff, the Charolais-Angus bull, refused to load giving me time to rethink the plan.

The horses, Jack and Bebe, had settled into being with the herd and were thoroughly enjoying grazing on the 40+ acres. They pranced about with such delight. Jack discovered the pond, taking a dip and later showing it to Bebe. What an abundance of natural beauty surrounded them!

From housemate Jay I learned which side of a T-post should face out to provide maximum tension and how to use a nail to twist a clip around barbwire securing it. From Nick I learned greater patience with the animals allowing them to signal when it was right to go forward.

Yet there was an underlying river of conflict, being held at bay by the newness of the relationships. Despite money paid and horses on the ground, the way was clear. Loading the horses for the second time in less than a week was easier than the first time. On halter Bebe nudged Jack from behind to take the next steps.

And for the first time I experienced the exhilaration of transporting both Jack and Bebe in the trailer. As we were driving off, Nick advised thinking of having an egg-shell underneath the accelerator pedal, which is exactly what I did.

Now, like the Shogun, when no move is preferable to all the alternatives, we wait for time to reveal a better way.

Early morning on the farm

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Siddhartha–a wanderer of another sort

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Siddhartha and Jack search out grain pellets

Any grain pellets Jack left behind earlier Sid helps him find

and definitely not the Siddhartha of Hermann Hesse

 

Sid, the wanderer, just appeared one day with tail wagging at a gated area beside the house. Asking around, I was not able to find his owner. Sid has the build, the color and the markings of an Australian cattle dog which seems appropriate for our farm.

Friendly and eager to please, he has one annoying habit that could be the reason he ended up fending for himself out in the country. Sid thinks jumping up on people and horses will endear him. To the contrary, this is a habit we have been working to dissuade for the better part of a year.

Jack, the Palomino paint who shares space with the canines when they come out for their constitutional, has taken an interest in Sid and one other canine named Sam. To my surprise Sid will lie on his back in complete surrender or sit perfectly still while Jack sniffs or licks him.

Fed grain directly on the back porch since he tips over his dish, Jack usually misses some pellets before beginning to consume hay. Once Sid hits the back yard his first stop is the porch. Leaving the hay Jack returns alongside his pal to find a few more morsels.