Hay!

Well first let me start off by saying that Sunday was a very depressing day. Our barn cat, Tigger, was hit by a car that morning. Our neighbor, from down the road, pulled up to tell us that he was laying on the side of the road. We buried him near the barn. I really miss him. He was a great friend that always kept me company whenever I was outside. He was always in the barn with me, and would keep me company when I was in the garden picking vegetables. He would lay on my lap and keep me warm in the winter while I was waiting for the horses to finish eating. I really really miss him. I think I'm taking it worse than I did when my other animals died. I think because, with them, I had time to prepare; they were sick and weren't going to get better. I saw Tig the night before happy and healthy, and the next day he was gone. I don't really want to look at any pictures at the moment, but I do believe there is one of him in my second or third post that I've ever typed.

On another note, the same neighbor who told us about Tigger, cut our hay fields on Sunday. He's an awesome neighbor who has been a big help to us since we've moved here. On Monday the hay was flipped, and last night it was baled. We got just under 300 bales. However, they each weighed around 65-80 pounds, which is more than the average bale of hay. We had loads of help from neighbors, family, and friends. The country is great, everyone helps each other out. In fact before we did our hay, we went and helped another guy (the one who baled our hay) finish with his hay. Some of the hay is a little on the green side, so I really hope it doesn't mold. But, unfortunately, it is supposed to rain today, so we couldn't give it another day to dry. I actually just got in from raking up some of the loose stuff that got left behind from the baler (in almost 90 degree whether.)  It is hot hot hot outside!

We still have another field to cut. We should get another 100-200 bales off of that. I don't know where we are going to put it all. Our one tall shed is full. We have two small hay loft type areas in the barn that are empty. But, I think we are going to have to fill up the two empty stalls like we usually do (one is already has some hay in it.) This is only the first cutting though, and if the second cutting is as good as the first, then we might have to clear out another shed. Hopefully none of it molds; if it doesn't, then we might be set for winter. It will be great if we don't have to buy any! We also have to make sure the hay doesn't get too hot (especially the green ones,) or else they might catch fire. Last summer we didn't get very much hay, but this summer we have a ton!

The Horses (Part 1)

On this post I'm going to introduce you all to a couple of my family's horses. They will be mentioned a lot in this blog, and this way you will know what each horse looks like and the story behind them...

Jasper

This is my baby. I usually only call him Jasper when he is in trouble, or I'm trying to get his attention. Most of the time I just call him Pony. He is a very sweet boy, and tries his best to do what is asked of him. He's about 14.3 hh, and is currently 5 years old. I got this guy when he was just over a year and a half. He was a rescue. He was a PMU colt that was at a feedlot in Canada getting ready to head to slaughter. I was able to get him through the United Pegasus Foundation. Every year, around fall, they post, on their website, pictures of PMU horses that need saved. They handle all the transactions and communicate for the broker that you are buying your horse from. United Pegasus was great to work with, and I would definitely consider rescuing through them again.

Lightning

This is my sister's horse, Lightning. He is a 15.1hh leopard appaloosa. My sister started taking lessons on this guy years before my family bought him. He can be hard headed and quite testy for new rider, so, at the time, only experienced enough riders were allowed to ride him. However, there weren't enough at the lesson barn, and so he was sent back to his original owner. My sister and I followed him there about a year later, and started working there in exchange for free rides on their horses. Shortly after we bought him, and I got Pony, we were able to move them both to our family's new place along with my friends two horses (Maggie and Space.) Lightning is a fat lazy horse who enjoys his food and being the boss of the field more than anything else.