This afternoon I took a video of the water run off into George and Heather’s pasture. The water should be flowing straight into the woods where a drainage ditch that runs through it.
This is an example of farmer verses nature. I wanted to dig a trench to redirect the flow into the right direction. Instead there is about 6 inches of ice that is 5 foot long in my way. Oh well I will have to continue to be patient while everything melts.
People of often visited the farm and told me how quiet and peaceful it is. This video is shared so that y0u too may enjoy the silence.
As I have been plogging and complaining about… this has been a difficult winter and we keep saying spring is coming. So should I dare to say that winter is over? Will we have anymore major snow storms? Will the weather temperatures continue to rise? Looking at the trending weather forecasts I might say things are looking good. BUT you know what that means 12 + inches of snow needs to melt.
On Friday evening I got on Apple Jacks to test the riding ring. I wanted to know how the melt was coming along and if we could do lessons this weekend. Unfortunately the snow was too deep still, so once again the lessons were cancelled. He was a good boy though. A little hyper but that is to be expected in the ring. We cantered around for a bit till he got winded due to the extra effort he had to put out to get through the snow. That and we are both out of shape having taken the last month off due to the cold temps and snow.
So now we have mud. The snow is successfully melting and the ground is completely drenched and soaked. I have been making water channels for days to make sure the water flows away from the barn and out of the pastures.
Princess Isabelle is a big fan of the mud. In fact she likes to roll her body in every inch of it.
Nash on the other hand wanted to see what it was like to have a blaze.
He is so funny. I am not sure how he only got mud on his face.
We get back from vacation (in Hawaii) to this. I think we got like 26 inches. Most snow I have seen in PA. Most snow we have had at the farm. Then of course this past weekend it warms up. So we have melting and flooding worse we have seen yet. Every night last we we were out there moving snow using the skid steer (thanks bf!). Then making channels for water to flow away from the barn and into the drains/culvert pipes/drainage ditches. So not what we wanted to come home to, but things are finally flowing in the right direction.
This week we had about 8 more inches of snow. Sure it is pretty to look at and the horses love to play in it but it makes everything more difficult: Walking out to the barn, opening doors, gloved hands can’t do anything. Enough complaining, because it also make for some very pretty pictures.
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A couple of days after the snow storm we found ourselves in the the midst of Frozen Rain and slightly Warmer temperatures. A layer of ice coated everything. I had some fun with these pictures, as it is really quite beautiful.
Last weekend was great. It was in the 40’s (which now feels like a heat wave) and there was lots of activity on the farm. Starting with a trail ride with Cuervo and Nash at 10 am Saturday. Nash decided to be a freak and was bouncing around like a rabbit. Everything was scary when I was on him, but when I walked him things were fine. Cuervo enjoyed the ride and even had a spring to his step.
Then we had a lesson. My girls are troopers and have stuck with me the whole winter. It is fun riding in the snow bareback because the horse keeps you warmer.
Then the ferrier came to give everyone mani/pedi’s. While he was there the girl scouts came over to lend a hand for their volunteer hours. They cleaned all the cob webs out of the whole barn and goat house. Thanks Girl Scouts!
Finally the day ended with one more lesson with one of the Girl Scouts. Her mom even posed for a picture while I was photographing from a top of Nash. Yes Bareback to keep me warm.
On Sunday GSF’s favorite photographer Judy Reinford brought out her client for a photo shoot with Nash. Now my horse has been in more photo shoots than me! Again it was a great afternoon for it the weather was warm, but there was still snow on the ground for the picturesque winter couple photos.
While we were waiting on the wardrobe change we had role reversal and I snapped a shot of Nash and Judy.
Today I received a request for to answer some questions about this winter for a human interest story for PSU Extension Equine newsletter. So I figured I would share with you.
Name and location in state: Golden Spike Farm; Quakertown, PA
How many horses are you caring for? 10 horses and 2 mini donkeys
What challenges has the harsh winter conditions in January 2014 caused for you?
Frozen water buckets in the stalls
Frozen water hose
Barn doors frozen shut
So cold your hands and feet hurt so you minimize your time outside (horses not receiving as much attention)
Horses not being brushed as much so a wound was missed. I am now dealing with the abscess. Twice daily wound care plus antibiotics (topical, oral, intramuscular injection)
What changes have you had to make this year that are different from past years to manage and care your farm and/or horses?
Horses are in the barn more.
Barn is closed up at night.
Donkeys hang out in the aisle, because they don’t have a stall.
Boiling water in the stall water buckets every night.
Everything takes longer starting with getting ready to go outside. I usually can be found wearing 3 layers on the bottom and 5 layers on top, hat, gloves, and my Columbia cold weather boots. Luckily I have help; all my boarders share the work load. I am originally from Miami, so I have jumped into this the hard way but we are getting through it and I am looking forward to warmer temperatures this weekend.
It is not easy to leave the farm for 10 days, but the warm weather helped me with the break. I have a great crew of “Farm sisters” (as one of my boarders just called us) who took care of everything. What is everything you ask?
10 horses
2 donkeys
5 goats
2 dogs
4 cats
They even had major flooding in the barn from the warm weather and snow melt. Crisis was handled and they didn’t even call or text to bother me with something I couldn’t help with.
So I enjoyed my Christmas thaw with the family in sunny Florida. Hard to come back so I thought I would revisit and share some of the warm pics.
Before I left for vacation we had a farm family gathering. It was a great day where everyone brought a pot luck style dish and we all had some down time to enjoy each other’s company.
I got to the barn early and fed him his two cups of grain. He was such a good boy this morning. I told him the plan and about going in the trailer. He followed me right in to the trailer. He was definitely nervous and shaking a little, but is so trusting. When we got on the road the anxiety started and my stomach was in knots.
It took us about 2 hours to get to the hospital. Look at that face, he was so upset and confused. Poor guy.
After going to admissions someone meet us at the trailer and escorted Nash to his stall. He we so good; but very nervous and looking around, taking it all in and trying to figure it out. I led him into the stall that was filled with straw bedding. I guess he has not seen that before as he wasn’t sure about walking into it.
Then they put a muzzle on him due to this dietary restrictions (only a little bit of grain). He didn’t like that at all. And thought is was very unfair that there was hay in the hay rack and straw on the ground.
It was time to go and leave him there. I left feeling so bad for him, but knowing it is for the best and the surgery will give him a long life with no worries of the hernia getting bigger.
Dr Parente called me this afternoon. He had a look at him and said we are all set for surgery tomorrow. The hernia is of a good size and shape for the operation. He is going to have the ultrasound done to have a look at the margins and determine the procedure for anchoring the mesh. The surgery will be done tomorrow afternoon and he will call me after. So now we wait.
Thank you to all the Facebook friends who have already sent us positive thoughts, prayers and wished Nash good luck.
On Facebook I started a post a day about things I am thankful for during the month of Thanksgiving. this is today’s post.
#8 Today I am thankful that I have the facility and ability to share my horse world with others. My colleagues enjoy hearing my tales of farm life (from throwing bales of hay to rolling study horses over). My lesson kids and adults enjoy experiencing it first hand. I get the joy of watching them grown in strength and courage as they learn to trust and communicate with a 1000 lb beast.
How are your Pastures?
Hard to think about pastures when all I have is a soppy mess, but taking care of your horses pastures is like grown a crop of vegetables. I don’t have a green thumb but am trying to give the Farm horses the best quality grass. Here is where you start.
Golden Spike Farm's Plog 
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