Horsing Around

We were pretty close to having a mutiny on our hands yesterday morning.
We arrived at the barn as the sun was rising,
and instead of opening the gates to the front pasture for the horses to graze,
we, instead, threw down some hay for their breakfast.


"Hay?"  they said, stomping their feet and whinnying in protest.
And with that they all lined up at the pasture gate and staged a 
"stand-in" protest.


"It's hay or nothing this morning," said I.  "The farrier is coming at eight."

Seven "harrumph"s later, they set about consuming their breakfast...
whinnying an occasional complaint as they chewed.

The farrier arrived right on schedule, and we got down to business.
He trimmed feet.


I brushed manes and worked on shedding some of their voluminous winter coats.


Ollie helped me with clean up.
As I swept the fur off the stall floor,
he stood on the dust pan, trying his best to turn it over.



I am always amazed at just how much fur these equines grow in response to winter.
I have no doubt that they are never cold,
as they all wear fur coats that are enviable.

Unfortunately, however, they just don't shed it back out again quite fast enough
when spring arrives.
That's where I come in.
I use the shedding tools and eventually the clippers to get them back down to 
summer sleekness.
It's a little early for the clippers... as the nights are still rather chilly.


As you can see, any activity around the farm is a magnet for the turkeys.


They hung out in the front of the barn the entire time the farrier was there.


And then, as he finished and was ready to leave, they fell in love with
the reflections of themselves in his red truck's chrome bumpers.


Actually, they were a little angry that two more turkeys had suddenly appeared
before their eyes.


As the farrier headed down the lane to leave the farm,
the turkeys trotted after him, pecking at his bumpers.
"And don't come back again.  This is our farm," they gobbled.

Over the years, the donkeys have become quite good at standing still for the farrier.
I barely have to hold their lead rope as they stand and lift their feet
as directed.


Of course, as one is the center of attention,
the other has to stick her nose in as well.


By nine-thirty the farrier had finished everyone and the front gates were opened.
Seven happy equines trotted into the front pasture for a few hours of
grazing and playing.


Meanwhile, the guineas had somehow gotten into my garden
which is temporarily off limits.


I had to chase them out the door and re-lock it.
(Thank goodness there is no video tape of that mayhem!)

And last...
I found a little surprise outside the duck house yesterday morning.
Each morning I find two duck eggs inside...
but, yesterday morning I also found one guinea egg outside.
Surprise!

Comments

littlemancat said…
I can just see the disgruntled horses! And then how happy they were to get to pasture!
The turkeys are too funny. I wish you had a video of the guinea escapade - haha!
Mary
jaz@octoberfarm said…
those bad guineas! they know where the good stuff is. football schedule is out today....GULP!
This N That said…
All spruced up for Easter..Love those Turkeys..Have a nice Easter
A hard day's work for everyone!