Monday 13 April 2020

I Can Make This Work

Given all the uncertainty in life right now, the small wins really feel great!

Happy ponies.
This past weekend, I moved Sophie and Bridget down to their summer field. The weather has been absolutely perfect, and the grass is already looking pretty lush. It gives me peace of mind knowing that they don't need feeding while they're down there and that we're that much further separated from the other boarder and the owner's spaces. Although I'm certain feeding my horses and picking paddocks counts as an essential trip, should things change or if there were any confusion, in a worst case they'd be just fine missing a few meals and with the property owner keeping an eye on them and filling waters.

This about sums up day one - Bridget: "Nom nom nom nom"  Sophie: "Ahhh there is a stick on my head! Look at me!"

Currently, my only outing is to the barn once a day at dinner. My tack and hay lives separately from the other boarder and I have my own tools, my own buckets, my "own" water tap and hose at my paddock.. The only shared place the three of us use is the main gate at the entrance, and we've been leaving that open in the day to minimize risk. I think we've got a good system.


I tried keeping the horses exercised using the trails near the barn, but they're VERY busy right now and I'm uncomfortable with that, so I'm ruling out trail riding (or walking) there for now. As far as I know, the equestrian club grounds I normally use are closed. I've been hacking Bridget around the neighbourhood, which works ok but Sophie gets left at home as it's not overly safe to pony a second horse on that route.

Utilizing the round pen near the barn pre ride. Sadly there's no ring on site.

I was chatting (at a distance!) with the farm owner yesterday, and she said she's not going to use any of the bottom fields this year, so I'm free to rotate mine through them. That's such good news! If we have good weather, I can make those fields last until fall if I'm smart about it. Last year I was a bit too busy with work, so I ended up erring on the side of caution and keeping the grass to a small amount and supplementing with hay (because ponies!) This year, I've got time to properly manage the fields and pony grass intake,  so that's a win.

My current grooming and tacking up area is this tree :)

Helping

To help with the exercise issue, the fields are all fenced into approximately riding ring sized or bigger squares, and as long as the ground holds up, I've got permission to use them as such. There are 4 total so I'm hoping I can rotate 1 to work in, 1 for the ponies to be in, and 2 in various stages of regrowth. I'm not going to ride Sophie, but I think longeing and long lining are low risk activities. To keep it interesting, the ground is of course not perfectly level and there are ditches and trees here and there, but I'm pretty sure we'll be able to make it work - I'm not ruling out eventing with her, after all.

Sophie showing us there are ditches to jump



But it's usable, I think
Sophie: "Are you sure?"

I know I'm very lucky. I know a lot of you aren't able to be at the barn right now, and that could very well happen here eventually too. For now, I will continue to make the best of things, try to keep the ponies (safely) exercised, and enjoy every small win.

So far, so good!

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14 comments

  1. Thanks for the check in. I am jealous of how much grass you have already. even though spring is technically early here.

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    1. April so far has been gorgeous, more like fall than spring so the grass is coming in like crazy. I feel like we're still due for a rain and mud season though!

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  2. Sounds like a good system for you and the mares!! I like the idea of being able to work them in a field with a ditch/logs etc! Way more interesting and opportunities to throw in some terrain that you don't get going around in a groomed ring all day!

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    1. It's funny exactly how little amenities I'm finding I really need. A fenced in area, a water tap, and a tree or two and we're good to go, apparently!

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  3. Looks like a good set-up and they look so happy in their field. Gorgeous photos!

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    1. After months of winter paddocks, I'm sure this is their favorite time of year!

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  4. That's AWESOME about getting those pastures to yourself to rotate this year.

    Sophie is really looking more adult these days!

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    1. It's going to be a game changer, for sure. With hay at $675 a ton and impossible to find I'm pretty excited to make grazing a big part of their diet for a while :)

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  5. They definitely look happy in their summer field!

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    1. I swear every time I drive in Bridget is eating or sleeping and Sophie is running around and playing - about sums up both of their happy places!

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  6. That cedar tree! It's been so long since I've seen a cedar. I know they're messy and I shouldn't want one of my own but they are such a symbol of home to me.

    Bridget has a gorgeous topline, and she's so fit.

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    1. I'm a fan of cedar trees too...we have a whole row of them in our back yard that take up way to much space but I keep and happily rake up after.

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  7. Sophie looks great (Bridget always looks great) So happy things are working out okay for you there for now!!

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    1. I could feed Bridget sticks and rocks and let her sleep all day and she'd probably still look amazing ;) Sophie is more of a work in progress.

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