August Update

Time for a horse update, as I haven't posted about them much lately.

N's friend A rode Dixie while we were on vacation. I think she enjoyed it, it sure helped us out to keep her in shape leading up to the last couple of shows. A thinks she drops her shoulder, which makes a lot of sense, especially around the first barrel where she tends to float out on her hind side. S just doesn't understand all the intricacies of lifting the shoulder up and preventing the back end from drifting out. N has been working on it and got some good advice from both Tammy our normal trainer and Aaron who is training Gunner. A also noted that she has no rate. Last week N and S both rode her in our arena with poles and they seemed to connect well.

Catfish has been pushed to the number two spot on N's list and number one spot on mine. He is a 20 year old appendix (Thoroughbred/ Quarter Horse Cross) with a lot of attitude still left in him. He has become my trail horse and the backup speed horse for the girls. He reminds me a lot of Kelzon our horse who passed away in December. He puts up with us, and will try under saddle, but would just as soon be left alone.

Classy is still pregnant. I hope. She's become quite out of shape. Yesterday when I called them off the back pasture they all ran up and she was breathing hard when she got to the feed area. Poor dear. I haven't seen any hard evidence of heat, but she seemed a little more affectionate towards Catfish than I would have liked last week. In September she should get her 5 month shots, so I will have her checked then.

Gunner is completing his second month of training. He is fast loping the pattern and is doing as I would have hoped. Yesterday when N rode there was a young colt tied in the barn thrashing around and he acted as if he was used to that every day. It was his first time riding indoors at the facility and he took it all in stride. The trainer had her working on roll backs and ways to get him to move his feet when warming him up to make him soft and supple before asking for any real work.

It's been raining a lot her in central Wisconsin which truly is a blessing. We have had a drought these past few years and the water table in our county is quite low. We were not going to do a third cutting of hay, but with the recent rain it looks like we will get it after all. As in other parts of the country hay has continued to increase over the last few years. Just four or five years ago we were paying $1.50 a bale for 40lb bales of alfalfa/grass mix hay. Last year I paid $2 a bale and this year I have heard upwards towards $3.00. Again, I must say I am blessed here on my farm to have green pastures (swamp if you will) for the horses to graze from April until mid November. I only need about 300 to 400 squares a year to feed my herd. I supplement with round bales in late December and through January. My heart goes out to you who are struggling this year.

No time for pictures right now, sorry, our vet is here to look at the cattle, so I must go put no my ranch hand hat!