An update ... at long last!

If any of you have followed the weather here in Texas this year, you will know that we have experienced heat like we've never seen.  The past 3 months has been over 100 degrees outside.  I think they said 68 days of 100+ degree temps, with 45 days in a row at one point.  Needless to say, we have basically been hibernating inside in the A/C.  I haven't worked the horses at all, and have been making sure they had electrolytes in their water, and plenty of feed/water to get them through the hot temps.

I haven't done any blog updates, because I really haven't done anything with the horses.  Now that I think on it though, I probably have a lot to say to get y'all up to date on things here.  In the name of a shorter blog, I'm going to hit a few bullets and say stuff about them.


More Land
This summer my in-laws bought 12 acres of land adjacent to mine.  As soon as it was purchased, I fenced it off, and my horses now have ~16 acres to graze on.  This could not have come at a better time.  The heat has stopped all my natural grasses from growing, and being able to open up 10 more acres of land to the horses was a God sent.  This enabled me to not have to purchase hay for a bit longer, which is always a good thing.  My in-laws will soon be moved up and will be my neighbors.  We're looking forward to having family around and all the fun that entails

Hay/Feed
Hay prices have gone through the roof.  I have never seen hay prices like they are now.  Before I needed hay, I remember hearing horrid tales that out west of Ft. Worth people were paying $120 for round bales.  I couldn't believe that.  When it came time to check on hay for myself, I found it going for $75.  It has continued to go up and up.  Not a good time to have to be on full time hay.  Luckily my best friend Bev and Mark and I have been working together to get hay for all our horses.  Thus far, nobody has gone hungry yet.  Hopefully we can keep that going. 

Besides hay, the heat has hampered the soybean crop, and so feed has gone up as well.  I normally buy a 12% protein pellet for around 7 bucks a bag.  Last time I bought it, it was at 10.  Suddenly my wallet is really feeling the horses we have!  I am very fortunate for Mark and Bev though.  Bev is an awesome woman with coupons galore and is finding great deals on feed.  I have to say that without her help, my horses would be much skinnier than they are.  I love you Bev!!!!



#9 Regular Gear Mower
That's right ... I found a mower.  I was trying to hold out for a #9 high gear, but decided I might as well get what I could.  Options aren't very good here in TX.  A friend of mine found this mower at a salvage yard.  Someone had brought it in.  The owner of the place was hesitant on melting down an antique like this, so he sold it to my friend for the price of scrap.  I got it and have begun working on it.  I have some pictures, and now that I think on it more, I think I'll do a separate blog post on the mower.  I'm real excited to get this thing going and be able to cut the grass in my own fields.

McCormick Deering/International Harvestor #9 Regular Gear

All parts are accounted for.  Time to get it working.

IH #9 Mower Page


Lily's Buckshot comes home
This one probably deserves it's own post as well.  I'll summarize here.  My beloved mare Lily, had a colt 3 1/2 years ago.  Lily's buckshot was his name, and if you look back through the blog, you can find posts on him.  I sold him at 5 months old to some awesome people.  I've stayed in touch throughout the years.  I received a call last week that times were rough, and their life had taken a turn for the worse.  They needed to find Buck a new home, and I was given the chance to get him.  I jumped at it, and got him home.  He looks so much like Lily.  As I brushed him and groomed him I felt a rare charge of emotion in the hole in my heart from the loss of Lily.  Buck is not Lily, but having him has made me feel good again.  Funny how the heart works like that.  (Added a page for Buck HERE)

Lily's Buckshot.  3 1/2 year old Belgian gelding.

He seems sweet.  We'll see how he works.

Today's work
Today the temps were down in the 80s.  I could not have a day like this and not work outside.  Needless to say, the first thing I did was pull each horse out of the pasture and groom them properly, including fly spray.  All the drafts were great for me.  I even had a friend help me catch Whinnie (my buckskin filly).  This is the second time she's been worked with a lead rope, and it was a fabulous day.  She got wormed, shots (including strangles), and brushed and groomed galore.  She let me pick her feet all out, and then we even worked on trailer loading.  After the 3rd approach, she was following me in the trailer without any hesitation.  Whinnie is an amazing girl.  She's completely docile and I just love her.  I think she's going to make a great saddle horse for my wife and Riley when she's old enough.  It was a great day, and wonderful to get my hands on the horses.