Everything Equine : 03/27/13

Few Good Pictures

While we were at the Stable yesterday I got a couple of pictures that don't necessarily 'fit' in with other posts, but I do want to save for later viewing. Here they are:

Bald Eagle we spotting in the tree at the Stable

Playful Horse, resting his head on fence post

Pretty Sunset, picture doesn't do it justice

HUGE Orange Moon, picture doesn't do it justice

Moving Ella to the other paddock took a little bit of preparation. We blocked a few area's off, moved a water tub into the paddock and a tire for hay. Hung her 2 hay nets, 1 in the shelter the other off the fence post. We moved the tub containing a salt lick and mineral lick and then hung her oats 'feeder' bucket off the fence. Once all of that was done and the tire was filled with Hay and Jesse had taken Eli into the Arena I put her halter on and brought her to the paddock.

At first she was a bit skiddish and jumpy. Once I un-clipped the lead line from the halter she went around doing a thorough inspection. At one point she was cantering around a bit and when the pasture herd came over to check things out she lifted her head high, put her tail straight up, flared her nostrils and snorted as she trotted towards them. This sent the two geldings into a gallop as they pushed the rest of the herd (3 other mares) back into pasture around the other side of the barn. I didn't see them the rest of the evening and Ella continued to investigate her new surroundings. I walked around with her for a bit, then sat on the fence while she ate some hay.

After some time I went away, into the barn, back to the car, over to see Eli (who was now in Ella's old paddock) etc. I would come back periodically and check on her ~ she'd found some grass in random spots she was nibbling on. Then I fed her and Eli their mash and stuck around for just a little bit longer. The barn owner is going to keep an eye on her as well as the barn hand who lives on the property. We'll head back out tomorrow. In the wild there are always, threats and changes, part of horses being here 'still' after 100's of years is their ability to adapt to changing environments. Soon we'll move Eli in to the exterior part of the paddock so they can, once again, be 'NEIGH'bor's'

Barber Bergeron

I was told it runs in the family and I have seen a picture of a cat getting a hair cut while sitting in a barbers chair. This, however isn't a surprise to me ~ Jesse's proven in the past that he's quite capable of trimming Charlie's (our first dog) hair as well as clipping all pets nails etc. They don't seem to mind and are surprisingly patient.

Sooo, after some ground work and while grooming Eli, Jesse decided it might be fun to style his forelock (bangs). I was lucky enough to catch some of it on camera - whether it was fun for them or not it certainly was for me - quite entertained by both. I will say though that I was really happy to see Jesse having fun with Eli and Eli so calm and relaxed that he was yawning, eyes closed and nearly sleeping at times.

Enjoying grooming

Hmm, what can we do with this?

Lets see..

Nope, not quite

Move this here a bit..

VOILA!!

Jesse's smiling, Eli looks content

Gorgeous!!

Jesse & Eli

Entertaining:

Ha Ha, yesterday's Stable visit ones one of the best. Not that I don't enjoy all visits but because I got to witness someone and a horse really enjoying each others time.

We went to the Stable after work so that we could finish up a few things and move Ella into another paddock, this ones a bit bigger, offers more privacy and has a better shelter for her should she need it. We also moved Eli into Ella's old paddock so that he had a bit bigger paddock himself that wasn't flooded as the one he was in starting gathering pools of water as the snow melted.

While we were there and I was busy doing chores, hanging the hay nets, moving the feed buckets from paddocks and filling the water tubs etc. Jesse took Eli into the Barn and then the Arena to do some ground work (he's been doing this every time we visit lately - which I am glad to see) and as it's spring now with nicer weather all the horses are starting to shedding.