T's Construction Co

 I feel like this summer has been way more pony property improvement focused than any fantastic riding updates. It's so, so exciting that we're getting two new additions, but also because I am ending up with 6 month old colts, it means I've created a bit of work myself. They need their own spaces 24/7, safe from the the likes of Sophie.

There have been a few fun clinic and riding adventure opportunities it would have been nice to attend, so while I wouldn't say I have outright regrets about our little property taking over my life the past few months, I do feel a little like I'm missing out. Our little local club goes through a lot of highs and lows but there's definitely great people organizing a lot of fun plans at the moment.  Someone more organized and less prone to being overwhelmed than me could probably block out time in the calendar to get out to more things but when I try I end up feeling stressed about not getting the things I 'need' to do done and it takes away from the fun too much. No matter how I slice it, trailering over to the club grounds, riding, and trailering home and parking the trailer again seems to be a 3 hour outing. I'm just trying to be happy with making that happen once a week after work and popping on Sophie a couple of times a week in the backyard.

Sorry Sophie, work is calling

 Backyard ring status still equals gravel base so it's a mostly walking over poles type of thing. (Another thing for my blogging to do list - a home arena update. I do have some lighting solutions identified and installed and footing finally chosen...no ETA on that at the moment though) In the meantime, Sophie has a new pair of scoot boots to try so I can feel less guilty about trotting and cantering in there. Lest you think I am anti shoeing, no, you do you and what suits your horse, we just have a farrier shortage locally and I am lucky to have ponies who are mostly good with trims and bare feet. So, boots make sense in my situation...especially when someone is already feeling silly about the cooler weather and some harder work would likely help keep the actual crazy at bay a little longer.

Tough feet only

The priority remains housing for both ponies and myself (oh, is the house ever still a work in progress! It's also due an update of it's own but we're hoping to finally move in Nov 1st. We likely won't have a kitchen right away, but we'll survive).

Barn kitty picture for tax. She's still here. I think she's living under my horse trailer so I need to start thinking of a way to make her a safe winter space in the barn where she feels welcome. There are other stray cats not to mention raccoons and bears so I need ideas that allow her but not them.

A new pony house update for this week: After partly framing the roof in G convinced me it should be taller so the space is more usable. I then decided it had to have a window and basically a whole day was spent rebuilding and remeasuring everything Roof. I am NOT a fan of heights and climbing up and down off that roof so this all felt a little much. But I think I'm going to like the end result. Fingers crossed the roof is actually on next weekend. For someone who claims to be on a deadline and has minimal spare time, I have sure spent a lot of hours fussing over this little building.

Because adding the details to match our 1920's house isn't time consuming at all. Welcome to the Pony Cottage ;) Anyway, roofline on Saturday, I think it was about 3' at centre

and as of last night, 5' at centre. I will actually be able to use that storage space now.

Inside. Not an open ceiling anymore, but the added joists and raised roof mean I can have a little loft space

Trying to set it up so if in futures I want to use it for a garden shed or studio it's situated in a useful place from the house. I can close in the other two walls and it's set up for floor joists. For now, it's gravel and rubber mats (and ponies!).

I should probably also write a post about the bears this year...it's been ridiculous. I need to up my electric fence ante in a big way. They've broken quite a few fence boards and are generally being a bit of a nuisance. There's been a few aggressive ones in the area (someone very sadly died this summer) so I've been feeling a bit more on edge about them continuing to wander through, even though the ones that frequent our yard seem to be well mannered and just passing by. I pick all our fruit but much of the neighborhood is fruit and nut farms which obviously they love to invade this time of year! The horses aren't bothered by them at all but I did time the arrival of the little guys to coincide with the bears moving on to the backcountry...just in case!