I updated Buena and KT’s West Nile virus vaccinations just last week. If you haven’t done so, please do! Make sure your horse(s) is(are) current!
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My barefoot trimmer Pat Wagner posted this great article on her blog recently. Wylie is one of my favorite Western singers, as many of you might know already.
I finally managed to talk Alayne into doing a blog for Horses For Clean Water. Green Horsekeeping Chronicles will be yet another extension for Alayne and the rest of the HCW staff to interact with horse people around the world. Please visit the blog and also the latest issue of The Green Horse. This looks to be a great new venue to spread the “green” horsekeeping message.
Oh, and it was my birthday, too. I didn’t ride my horse, but I did ride.
Photo courtesy of Paddock Boy
Flood relief available for Dozens of horses displaced by flood. If you are in need of help or if you would like to donate, please visit Flake Sale.
This sums up most of my opinion as well:
Weather response must be grounded in science
The volatility of Pacific Northwest weather in recent years demands the scientific community set the record straight about its changes and causes, argues University of Washington meteorology Cliff Mass. Too often, public officials, the media and others are quick to blame global climate change, though its effects require more research. Better the region redouble its efforts for weather observation and response to extreme weather events.
If anyone needs respite from the flooding in the south King or north Pierce county area we are higher and drier than the flood plain areas for the most part. We can offer a sloppy round pen or we can put up temporary corral panel pens. Contact me if you need help.
This morning:
Five days ago:
Hay cost, bad economy put squeeze on horses
High hay prices and the dour economy are being blamed for a growing number of horse owners who are giving up and abandoning or neglecting their animals in Idaho and other Western states.
I have lots I want to say on this subject. I will come back and add commentary later.
The wind and snow have started! The horses and goats are all bedded into the barn. Drifts are starting to build on the western side of the buildings. The snow from earlier is blowing away and fresh new snow is coming down hard.
Dangerous Winter Storm to Hit Western Washington
Radar Map of Western Washington
Enumclaw area Wunderground Station
Update:
Click on the image to view the QuickTime video.
TOO COLD!
One Wunderground station near us recorded a low temp of 9.5°F last night! That’s just too cold!
The horses, goats and dog now all have heated water buckets in the barn. Already had a stock tank heater outside, but since the run-in shed is no more, the horses get brought in at night and if the wind is blowing. The goats have a new straw bale condo set up. And the barn cats huddle en masse either in the barn or out in the hay shed somewhere. I have seen them venturing out and about in the sun today since there is no wind. Also, I spotted a little mouse in the barn last night when we were installing the heated buckets. Barn kitties must not be doing their jobs very well! Mouse looked cold scurrying around on the rubber mats int he stall.
My husband came in this morning around sunrise to inform me that the run-in shed flipped over in the wind and that the horses were fine but were out running around. I dressed to go outside and help him put the horses in the round pen and then collect items before they blew away. Once that was done, then we grabbed a quick bite of breakfast and headed back out to the barn to reorganize the straw and hay bales to get the goats, barn cats, dog and horses all settled in. Took a couple of hours, but everyone is now cozy in the barn out of the wind.
Here is what it looked like before:
Exactly 5 years ago today (November 21, 2003). We don’t have any snow today, and there isn’t enough in the mountain yet to go skiing either. The little old trailer had long since been sold down the road. And you can see what used to be some of the old falling down and dangerous fencing that we have removed.
A bowline is a horse owner’s best friend! And I admit I didn’t learn it until a few years ago. I always used the infamous quick release knot. Once a horse happens to pull back on that knot, it is anything but a “quick release,” usually resulting in broken hardware or having to cut the rope!
I tie with the bowline in all instances. To the trailer, on a tie post, on a high line and in the trailer. And always have a knife handy because you can’t get the bowline undone when there is a large load of a panicking horse pulling back!
I have a great book on knots, but for the life of me, I still can’t figure out to tie many of them, and I have yet to successfully tie my own rope halters!
I found a great site with animated instructions on how to tie useful knots. This is great for the visual learners out there! Karen Chaton posted a link to this site on her blog and I found the information so fantastic I also had to pass it along!
Here are some other great books for knots and making your own tack/gear:
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