Making Hay While the Sun Shines

It's that time of year that I love.....driving around seeing fields swathed and baled with hay! There is nothing like the smell of a hay field and knowing there is hay out there to stock up on and feed our horses through the winter!

I have some questions for you. Do you feed hay? If so, what kind of hay do you feed your horse/s- and why? I often wonder this as I have come across so many different opinions on what kind of hay to feed horses. Do you feed what is local, what is affordable, what your vet recommends? Do you feed what your horse's performance or health needs might dictate? Do different horses on your property get different kinds of hay?

I'll start- My Boy has been on a mixed grass hay for around 3 years. This has varied from a more "local"  grass hay (which really varies from grower to grower and can often be weedy) to a higher protein grass hay from another part of the state that specializes in hay farms. When I first leased My Boy, he was on alfalfa but was very gasey. He can still be gasey but taking him off the richer hay has helped. A vet told me that he also needed to be on a grass hay as his level of work wasn't high enough for alfalfa. Interestingly, I noticed my horse has fewer "hyper" moments on grass hay than when he was on alfalfa.

I have paid anywhere from $4-10 a bale for the local grass hay. Hard to believe now, but a  few years ago I paid up to $23 a bale for Eastern grass hay! This was in the winter months when local suppliers were out of the local grass.

Here's to a season of good hay!

Ranch Girl

 

 

p.s. Just a reminder about my Mystery Foal Contest! Go HERE to enter if you haven't already. The contest will be running until Ruby foals, which is unknown but will be in the next month.

It's My Fault

I'll take the blame. Full responsibility.

If it wasn't for me, Ranch Boy would not have these chinks.

I'm the one that found them, I'm the one that made him try them on.

The shame. I'm so, so sorry RB, that you had to get such an awful, hideous piece of cowboy equipment that cowgirls just despise seeing their cowboys in.

I will try not to be such a negative influence on you in the future.

Yours Truly, XO~

Ranch Girl

Just a reminder about my Mystery Foal Contest! Go HERE to enter if you haven't already. The contest will be running until Ruby foals, which is unknown but will be in the next month.

The Cow Whisperer

I just had to share this story with you.

Last month I took a small group of preschool girls to a farm. One of the first things they wanted to do was to go look at the animals.There was a cow in a field, chewing her cud and taking a late morning nap. The girls cooed at her through the fence, but she was quite content and paid them no mind.

We started walking to the barn and as we got to the cow's pasture gate, she got up and met us down there, probably thinking we were going to feed her. The girls reached through the fence to pet the cow.



One little girl in particular really enjoyed petting the cow's face. She kept talking to the cow. The cow became more friendly and soon had her head pushed through the gate to get more scratches. She made this almost purr-like moo deep in her throat. The little girl kept saying, "The cow is my friend. She likes me."



I have very limited experience with cattle but have never seen a cow behave like this. Most cows in a field stare at you through fly-covered faces, then spook off if you as much as point a camera lens at them. Of course, this was a farm where children frequent.

We left the cow and continued our morning elsewhere on the farm. However, before leaving we went back to say goodbye to the cow.



The children were at the gate, petting the cow, and she mooed softly again. We let them pet her for a few minutes, then it was time to go. The cow began to moo louder. The little girl began to say, "It's okay, I'll come back and see you again." As we walked away, the cow began bellowing after us so loudly, I think the whole farm heard her. I began to worry someone might think we were harming that cow. She sounded almost pained.



It was so touching, the connection of a child and an animal. I did tear up a bit, it was a rather profound moment. I had never seen this child with animals before, nor seen a cow this responsive to anyone. Maybe it was coincidence and this cow is like this after anyone pets her. I'll never know.

But I don't think I can eat a hamburger ever again.

Ranch Girl

p.s.

Just a reminder about my Mystery Foal Contest! Go HERE to enter if you haven't already. The contest will be running until Ruby foals, which is unknown but will be in the next month.

Spotted!

Why am I so excited?

Well, how could an Appaloosa-lovin' Ranch Girl not be after she noticed a new set of spots in the field when she pulled up to the ranch last Saturday?

I immediately had to check him out up close. The sorrel leopard color is my new favorite, a color I'd love to have on my next Appaloosa.

Of course, this spotted beauty was nearly too busy devouring his pasture dinner to give me the time of day, so I picked a handful of the green stuff to guarantee a pet.



This gelding, named Tigger, is blind in his left eye. He has moon blindness. This has always been a bit of a fear for me, being an Appy owner.

I love how this little gelding has loud color and a handsome face and expression! He seems like a character and I'm curious to get to know him more and observe how a horse with reduced eye sight manages life. Already he has found a buddy that seems to help him on his "blind" side (the bay in the photos.)

Just a reminder about my Mystery Foal Contest! Go HERE to enter if you haven't already. The contest will be running until Ruby foals, which is unknown but will be in the next month. Thank you to all of my old friends who have stopped by to say hello, and welcome to new friends, too. I am happy to get to know you!

Ranch Girl

A Welcome Back Contest!!!

I am honoring my return to blogging with a fun contest for you!



There is a new horse on the ranch, a little sorrel Quarter Horse/Morgan mare named "Ruby."

After a month on the ranch, Ruby started getting fatter.....and fatter.....and fatter. Hmmm...... a vet check confirmed that yes, this mare is indeed very much in foal, unbeknowest to her owners. She was purchased from someone who was selling her for a friend.....you know the story. The fact that she was in foal was an "oops."

Miss Ruby will be foaling any time in the next month.

So here is the contest. Having NO IDEA who the sire is, this will truly be a mystery foal!

All you have to do to enter is guess the following:

    1) What gender will the foal be?

2) What color will the foal be?

If you get just one of the two right, you will be entered once. If you get two right, you will be entered twice. A winner will be drawn from all qualifying entries.

What is the prize? Well.....my Ranch Boy makes the most amazing barnwood picture frames out of vintage barnwood taken from an old homestead. So yep, the lucky winner gets a handmade frame similar to the one below!

You've got to enter quick, there is not time to waste- Ruby could foal any day!



Oh- just for kicks, if you do a post telling others about this contest on your blog, please stop in and leave another comment letting me know you did, and I'll toss your name in for an extra entry!!

Thanks everyone, have fun!  I can't wait to start filling you in on all the fun going-ons in my life!

Ranch Girl