Farm updates

Things are going well here! I haven't really had time to sit down at a computer but now that we've unpacked the laptop I can write while Kaylee plays or watches TV.

I started trying to wean Arwen off Saffron, but I neglected to take into account the weather. It got interrupted by a few days of severe thunderstorms. There's no shelter other than a tree in the pasture I'd be keeping Gwyn and Arwen and I really don't want them out in an open field during a storm. (When thunder roars, go indoors!)  It's a hold over from working at a hunter jumper barn in Florida where horses plain did NOT go out if it was storming. When Gwyn was on 24/7 turn out in Florida she at least had shelter she could choose to use.  I give them the choice as well, but usually entice with a few flakes of hay and early dinner so they stay in the barn but can leave if they choose. Given how miserable the donkeys look any time it pours, they stuck inside.

My big concern at the moment is that I need a buddy for Saffron if I'm buddying Arwen and Gwyn. Unfortunately, township rules state that I am limited to 3 equines on the property. Eric has tentatively said an alpaca or goat would be okay. I do have a friend who wants alpaca wool so the animal would at least have a purpose, but I'm not sure if I'm that ready to commit to such an animal, especially since we'll have a ranch addition in April next year that will be sure to occupy a lot of my time!

And honestly, I'm not even sure if weaning will work. Arwen does try and nurse, but Saffron doesn't really give her a firm "NO" signal. I've also seen Saffron trying to mount Arwen and I just have no idea what that means.

Arwen is getting better at leading and I'm able to lead her and Gwyn together, which is good. One skill she will need to develop is gate manners. Right now she crowds the gate and tries to get to anyone coming in and that's unacceptable. I need to remember that being firm is not being abusive and she will be okay.

In non animal news, I've been getting the gardens ready for winter and  I found a small greenhouse for 70% off! I'll have a great place to start seeds next spring for the garden.

Good times at Firefly Ranch

Things are going well with all the critters. Arwen and Saffron continue to be more friendly and approachable. They all come to the fence to see if I have treats when I see them. Gwyn, of course, vocally greets me, either with a whinny or a hungry whicker and nicker. She will cross the pasture to see if I have anything, and seems content when all I've got to offer is a nose rub.

We've added to the orchard that's just north of the house. I purchased a pear tree and got that planted last week. So now we've got pears and several varieties of apples!  I also uprooted a dying Japanese maple from the garden in the center of the driveway circle. I put in a sugar maple there! My hope is to one day make my own maple sugar. I do have a silver maple in one of the pastures that I can tap next season, but the sugar maple we will have to wait and let grow big and strong!

We've added two solar powered floodlights to the arena and tonight I hopped on bareback to see how well the space is lit. Tonight was either full moon or pretty darn close so things were lit nicely anyway. The football field across the street was also in full swing for a game and of course the floodlight from the barn helped. I'm going to test again on a cloudy or new moon night. We may purchase a few more lights for optimum night riding!

Pic Spam

Gwyn likes to nuzzle the farrier when she gets her toes trimmed

Saffron was a really good, Arwen was a bit more of a firecracker

I had the door open for airflow. Gwyn decided this meant the buffet was open for business

I'm making my own standards!! I had to cut each foot twice because my saw didn't go all the way through the board. 

But I made sure to wear proper PPE

Propped feet.

I will have two pairs when I'm done!

Not completely finished, but it gives you an idea of what it will look like. I still need to assemble, drill holes and paint.

I discovered 2 garter snakes living under the front left pasture water trough. I lifted it to dump and scrub and they scattered. One went over my foot. However, I am not afraid. I just watched. They were pretty! I also saw a skin shed in the grass as well. I bet the eating is good if they like frogs.

Sunset last night. It had just downpoured and the sky was gorgeous.

A baby mourning dove in the back pasture.

I got three hammocks through a kickstarter and I tried t his out to see if it would fit in my horse trailer for endurance rides and camping. Sure enough... ! Sitting in it is like  being in a recliner. Pretty comfy.

I'd probably hook it up on the non horse side when I do put it to use.

Farrier Day!

The farrier who had previously been working on Arwen and Saffron came out today to trim all 3 critters. He did Gwyn first, she was the easiest. It had been 8 weeks since he last trimmed Gwyn and aside from what little I do with a rasp, she was long, but not terrible! Her feet are probably in the best shape since I've had her. The wetness of living in Washington did not do her hooves any favors. I could probably be more aggressive in my trimming in between farrier appointments and she'd still be fine.

Next up was Arwen, who was starting to have some curve to her hoof. You can see where the new hoof started growing from when I got her. Her nutrition has improved and the farrier commented that he was so glad to see how nice they looked. That made me feel good. Arwen was spicy with her feet, but she did settle and everything was trimmed.

Saffron was much more reserved. She knew the drill more than Arwen did.She did get spicy toward the end, but all said and done no one was hurt and their feet looked much better! I released them into the pasture again with a pat each and paid the farrier. I really like him, he's a nice guy and does a good job. We're booked for October 1st again in the evening since I have lights in the barn and can guarantee my presence in the evening (I'm still working out school for Kaylee)

Better Critter Pictures

Keeping cool

Saffron. She looks awesome. A lot of that scraggly fur came off and she's pretty sleek right now. I'm pleased with the change.

The donkeys LOVE LOVE LOVE the arena. They just go up and lie down in the sand. They are desert creatures, so it makes sense, it's just funny to me.

Goober Pony in her super light stage of summer where she looks dun-ish

The Koi. The black and white one is Captain Barnacles

Peso the Pleco

Updates on the Ranch!

We have hay for winter!

Huzzah! My Washington friends are going to choke on this, but I paid $4/bale, which includes delivery. 201 bales are stacked in my barn now and I'm pretty sure I'll be good through the winter.

I'm loving this house and property. Gwyn was grazing nearby while Kaylee played on the swing set. I'm pretty sure Gwyn was keeping an eye on  us. She still seems surprised when she sees me at the house and I call to her. I get enthusiastically greeted and it's everything I hoped it would be.

I spent more time working on Arwen's matted fur and got cow kicked like crazy. I know she's a baby and it will just take time, but man was that frustrating and discouraging. They are getting more approachable in the pasture in general, which is encouraging. Hopefully by next year I'll be able to look back and see our progress. 

Gwyn is getting tubby from not enough work and 24/7 turnout. So we're going to be working more and on turn out less. Everyone is confined to the dry lot tonight and will be every evening for now.

Momma Saffron is doing well. I was able to brush her last night and I put Fly-Spot on both of them. They're extremely reactive to fly spray so I used the drip stuff that you put in a line down their back. It lasts longer and isn't scary. 

Kaylee and I found a toad in the barn tonight! It looks like the toad's left arm got mangled. It's all Dumbledore cursed and dry/dessicated. Otherwise the toad was healthy. We pet it for a while then released back in the 'stream' (which is no longer flowing since it's been a while since we've had rain)

Hard to see so I'll get a better picture tomorrow with my waterproof camera... but we have 4 Koi and a Plecostomus now for the water tank. I also snagged a floating cork bark so they'll have predator protection. No names yet, but since Kaylee's been watching a ton of Octonauts I'm leaning toward that for a name source.

Peso the Pleco
Barnacles, Shellington, Quasi and Tweak for the Koi

The bugs are already gone, so no more mosquito breeding! Yay!

Arwen

Arwen is on the left

Both of these donkeys came to me caked in mud, looking in need of a good grooming and bath. Thankfully, one of the first nights they were all together we had a rainstorm and they effectively got soaked and washed clean of most of the mud. Momma, Saffron, appeared pretty good, if shy. I've been working on just being present and occasionally brushing her. I honestly don't expect to make much progress with Momma, she seems very set in her ways, but she does lead decently well. I just want her to know I'm not something to be scared of.

Arwen I see as more of a clean slate. She's been somewhat handled but is just as shy as Momma, despite what her previous owners claimed. She is a little more social, but takes her cues from Saffron and will run away from me more often than not. She shields herself behind Saffron a lot and I suspect that she was never properly weaned. Or else they're just SUPER herd bound.

While training wise she's a cleaner slate, coat wise she is a MESS. Her whole coat is a mat of fur that's dreadlocked itself into a solid piece. Even her soft white belly fur is super dreadlocked. It makes her look terrible and it makes it really hard for me to evaluate her health and weight. My original thought was to clip her but given her handling, I didn't think a buzzing thing would go over well.

Instead, I found sheep shears at my local TSC.  The first session I had both donkeys in one stall that had tie rings. Mom was tied up and given hay and Arwen was opposite her. It worked -okay- and I was able to get most of the matted stuff off her back, as you can see in the below picture. 

After that session, however, she was very hesitant to let me near her. I had scuffed her a bit and was truly remorseful but it's slow going with them and they remember....I'd also gotten kicked for my effort. No bruise, but I wasn't eager to repeat the experience. I wanted the next session to be shorter and more positive, less progress, maybe on the coat, but more trust.

This time, since I had cross tie rings finally installed, I brought her into the grooming stall. I figured out a new method for getting the worst of the matting on her side belly and alternated with brushes if her little tail started to swish madly (her warning sign).

I gave myself a time limit of 20 minutes (I had to leave anyway to pick up Kaylee from gymnastics camp) and did what I could in that time. I talked to her the whole time and I didn't get kicked, but one side of her belly looks significantly better! I can't wait to uncover the rest of her. She's really sweet and seems to get along well with Gwyn.

That matted coat is about an inch thick. Poor thing never got groomed or even properly shed out, I think. Her undercoat is beautiful black and shiny.