You Can Lead A Horse...Or Not

There is at least one day each week that I don't go out for morning chores.  Saturday mornings we have off- Anna does the morning chores to give us a break each week.  And sometimes, when I have an activity off of the farm, Jack takes care of morning chores. (And vice-versa.)  I've got to tell you... when I don't have the opportunity to get out into the morning light, I miss it.

This is such a magical part of each day - especially in the autumn as the sun crosses the sky in a lower path.  The light is spectacular!  Autumn sunrises can be the very best, and I hate missing them.

Our mornings revolve around transporting horses to and from the upper pastures.  Grazing time has been foreshortened, as the grass in this area is so very rich and long.  

At this time of year we try to not let the horses out on this pasture for longer than two hours each morning.

They love being out here on this verdant smorgasbord.

As usual, Moonbeam takes himself to and from the pasture.

Although the trip to the pasture is a little faster than the trip back to the barn.

There's a spring in his step when he knows lush grass awaits him!

They all show their enthusiasm as the lead rope clip snaps off their halter - by kicking up their heels and galloping to the far side of the pasture.

It is such a joyous celebration to watch

 and fills my heart to see our equines so happy. 

Forrest follows them across the pasture - not chasing, but joining in the morning party.  He stops short of them and causes then no alarm.  He's learned that chasing is a "no-no!"

While the horses are out grazing, we finish up the remaining morning chores... feeding and watering the rest of the animals, and cleaning up droppings from the night before.

As for the donkey girls, they are on a bit of a diet... their meals consist of a measured amount of hay at this time. 

 They don't seem to mind not going out into the pasture.  They have lots of room to roam the entire dry lot.  As you can see, Forrest is just a little wary of them now. 

We head home for breakfast with just enough time before we head back out to bring the horses back to the dry lot.  Of course we have lots of help.

Forrest is learning to lead the littles back to the barn.

I think this is a job that he will be able to do quite well, eventually.  He still needs to learn that if he runs, so will the horses he is leading - 

which scares him and he immediately drops the lead.  Luckily, the littles don't take off when the lead is dropped, but stand there, lowering their heads back into the scrumptious grass.  Dessert!

Barn mystery solved by a couple nights worth of photos from a game camera.  Our own barn kitties spend a lot of time munching during the night.  The only visitor that we caught on camera was this plump, furry beauty.  He's a very light orange cat - "Creamsicle" we'll call him.

 Jack has seen him around during the daylight hours, but I have not.

We've moved the game camera to the hayloft to see who visits this part of the barn.  More on that to come.