Vacation day 10: The sun returns after frost

[altivo]

Tess went straight out to the pasture this morning, first time this year. (She has to get used to the new grass gradually over a couple of weeks so she doesn't overeat.) I checked several times and she was indeed taking breaks from eating, came to greet me at the fence each time, and was eager to come back in with me in the evening, so I guess that's fixed for the summer.

The frost warning proved accurate for a change. It was 28 F. when I took her out, and the ground was white with hoarfrost. She didn't seem to mind, and getting her hooves wet is good for her. The morning stayed chilly, but by noon it was 50 F. and a little before sunset we had reached 76 F. Quite a range for one day.

Took a spinning wheel out onto the deck this afternoon to work on some dyed Polwarth wool I need to finish up. I know what I want to do with it, but I need to get all of it spun first. Photo of the skeins soon, I hope. More spinning after supper while we watched the extras in the Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit DVD. Five years to make a film, like in the old days of Disney. I was amazed.

Oh and the call from work finally came. I knew they wouldn't get through two weeks without calling at least once. At least it's not an emergency. We have a breakfast meeting on Friday to celebrate a birthday, and I was going to pick up last week's check then anyway. This is a minor thing I can probably take care of in 60 seconds or so.

Comments

[darkhorseman.livejournal.com]

Its pretty cold here in the ozarks too. Freaky. Ohh well the old plant lady was right to not plant yet there would be another frost.. when she told me this I had the AC unit runing.. now the furnace is on.

Im trying to get a mare of mine prone to founder useto the grass again. Just let her out an hour longer every day but I must say at night I feel more confy when she is here by the house with me

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Fortunately for me, Haffies are pretty durable. I'm really an amateur compared to you when it comes to horse care. But in six years, no serious problems yet. Farrier thought that Tess may have foundered slightly at some time in the past, though, so I'm cautious with her. An hour or two a day for a week, always in the afternoon when the day's growing rush is done. Then for the next week, she gets most of the afternoon. Now I'm sure she can be out all day without trouble, except that means starting with the flymask and spray soon, not her favorite thing. (I rather like the way she runs to me and begs to have the mask taken off, though. The flies torment her without it once their numbers are up, so I do make her wear it.)

I know what you mean about having them close at night. People think we're strange for not leaving them all in the pasture overnight, but we only do that when the weather gets intolerably hot. The barns are close in, the pastures are far enough out that I can't see or hear them from the house. There's a woodlot between barns and fields with about a 700 foot path connecting them.

[darkhorseman.livejournal.com]

Believe me I can look out my front and back door and see all my pastures but she is special. I just kindof like having her close. I can almost feel her presence and she will accually let me know if somthing elsewhere is wrong if not by crying she will open the door come in and wake me up. She is house trained but only likes being in short times. I wouldnt care and would probibly sleep better if she slept beside the bed but thats her decision she is more happy outside

Our main problem is not with flys but with ticks. All the horses have learned what tick patrol is and pretty much line up for it. My mare begs me every time I come home she is waiting by the car and she wants me to pick off the ticks under her tail and on her udder. The others we try to check every time we have a few free minutes and even the new ones once they learn "hey this feels good" they willingly and somtimes agressivly demand we get the ticks off sensitive areas. Hell I know I would be going up the wall if I had a tick on my balls and couldnt get it off. With the older ones who have gone through it enough times I accually feel safe enough I can lay on my back under them and pick off the ticks with my forecepts. I do use heartz tick and flea spray (its for dogs but will work on horses according to the vet) just spray it on a rag and wipe their legs down. This has cut back the problem by about 90% The main help will be when our chickens are old enough to roam. When we had our last batch of chickens here (I think a 2 legged preditor walked off with em) they kept the tick population pretty much controled.

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

I know exactly where you are coming from.

Our girls and boys often have bugs where they cannot reach, although Pons (Shetland Pony-mini cross mare) is quite good at reaching almost everywhere. Lifts hindlegs like a dog to reach down under there and only has bad bug bites alonside her neck where she cannot reach.

Our kids are doing ok, although Tonka has a bareskin spot about the size of an old silver dollar right centered on his forehead star probably playfighting with Thunder. Put some Corona on it (Bear did while I held the ultimate pest(tm) Thunder with loving scritches) because it was kinda dry and might get sunburned (pink flesh not bleeding just stripped down to the inner skin type scrape). We try to take care of our horses in spite they keep figuring out ways to hurt themselves.

Heh.
Steed

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Wow, that developed quick. He didn't have it when I was petting him on Sunday. I'd keep a close eye on it, and I hope it clears up quickly.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I worried about ticks when we first moved here, especially since we have lots of woods and shrubs and deer around. But in seven years we have yet to find one on horse, dog, or ourselves. Mosquitoes are bad some years (too dry last summer) and biting flies of all sizes are a real pest. The big horseflies are scarce, despite having lots of horses in the area, but those little black ones that bite the horses (and me) on the ankle sometimes arrive in swarms.

Ordinary house flies are the problem around eyes and nostrils I think, and I use a "natural" repellent spray made of scented herbs that works pretty well while it lasts. We also use that stuff that rolls on like deodorant around their eyes, ears, and nose, but there's nothing as effective as a simple old flymask. The boys don't mind them at all any more, and since they often get a carrot or something for letting us put them on, they cooperate. Tess doesn't fight it, but she shakes her head a lot when one is on, and when I go to get her in the pasture after a day with it on, she runs right up to me and rubs her head on me, wanting it removed NOW! So far she hasn't managed to remove it herself, and I can't find any signs that it actually irritates her skin, so I keep using one when the flies are really bad.

[darkhorseman.livejournal.com]

Ive seen these fly masks made for arabians ironically enough that look like the beaded veils that bellydancers wear.. OHHH GOD they look good... seductive even. It was right next to the "sleezy sleepwear" for horses at the pet supply place... yes serously look it up

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I've seen the sleazy sleepwear before, and those colors would sure keep me awake. Good thing horses have different color perception.

The beaded flymasks are cute but I'm not sure they are all that effective. We use the ones made by Farnam that have a coarse black mesh that covers the upper part of the face. They fit comfortably if you are careful, and give some protection from bright sun too. Sort of like sunglasses.

[darkhorseman.livejournal.com]

Seen em

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

Wow, no frost even here. You're cold. :-)
Well, actually it did dip below freezing on Monday morning but I didn't see any actual frost forming.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Probably you didn't have as much humidity in the air as we did. The frost was heavy here. But it didn't repeat last night, and we made it to 70 F. again today, though it's dropping off quickly now that the sun is going down.

Explain to the cat

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Half the Abrams family is into horses, and by that I mean they actually have them and have properties to keep them.

I'm however in the other half of the family which is more urban in its lifestyle so no horsies.

Now I that I've established I know very little about equines, what is "foundering"? Kitty curiosity is piqued.

Re: Explain to the cat

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Founder is a peculiar problem of equines, most commonly horses (the donkeys and zebras are much less prone to it, probably smarter about eating.)

In spite of being known for centuries, we still don't understand the whole mechanism of it. But essentially it is brought on by consuming too many carbohydrates in a short time. A big overdose of grain, too much sugar of any sort (horses love molasses,) or new growing grass (which is quite sweet) can bring it on. The blood vessels in the legs swell up and of course, inside the hoof, they have nowhere to go. Untreated or in severe cases, this causes major damage to the hoof structure and the horse becomes permanently lame. Sometimes it kills the horse outright, since if they can no longer stand and walk they can't eat.

Milder cases can cause permanent hoof deformities and other conformation problems. Horses that are prone to the problem, which is also called laminitis because it is an inflammation of the lamina--the layers of tissue that bind the hoof to the foot, are likely to get it again and again unless their diet is carefully monitored.

My horses are Haflingers, a breed noted for fewer problems with nutrition, founder, or colic than the more common types, but they can still have problems.

Re: Explain to the cat

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Taah, now I'll know a bit more, so when my cousin who looks after beautiful show jumpers (not that I like the sport but some of the horses are magnificent)visits I'll have something to talk to her about.

Re: Explain to the cat

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It's a real argument for the Atkins diet: go off your diet and your feet fall off. ;P

Re: Explain to the cat

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*falls off his chair laughing*

Re: Explain to the cat

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

Untreated or in severe cases, this causes major damage to the hoof structure and the horse becomes permanently lame

Not a bad example to offer against the idiocy of "intelligent design", I'd say. The way lifeforms have come about is quite astonishing, but there's hardly a dearth of examples where one would be hard pressed to conclude the design was intelligent.

And WaG:CotWR was worth every minute of its creation, and viewing. ^_^ So many wonderful little background gags, several homages to famous films, and loads of cute playful bunnies. What more could you want? =:)

Re: Explain to the cat

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I really like Nick Park's humor.

Laminitis has been used as an example of non-intelligent design, but it's really easy to dispute. Horses evolved for a certain natural environment. Founder would not be a problem there, and I believe it is never seen in wild mustangs here in the US, which is really where horses originally evolved.

Instead it is a product of human tampering with the horse's living conditions and diet. In the wild they'd have no opportunity to make the dietary errors that lead to founder.

(Note that I do not agree with ID theory, I think it's hogwash at best. But you need to be aware of the immediate counter if you try this argument.)

[pioneer11.livejournal.com]

Speaking of spinning wheels, I've had this small urge to do some
craftwork. No, not like witches and sundry crap, but like making
stuff. I'm rather fond of useful things so bowls and cups and...

Hmm...spinning wheel.

Besides, I think that archeoacoustics includes yarns.

*listens to your conversation as you spin from your sweater*

XD

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Actually I think this wool will become a shawl. It's very soft and shades of blue and green.

So you're into wood turning? A spinning wheel is an ambitious project but it certainly can be done. One of my two favorites is handmade that way.

[kamodragon.livejournal.com]

We are supposed to hit over 100F this coming week. Last year we topped out at nearly 120F... I hope we don't have a repeat of that!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

We haven't had temperature extremes here much in the last couple of years. But that does suggest some kind of warming all the same, since our winters have been way warmer than usual and the whole year much too dry.