Busy July

As we finish out July and reflect on where the time went we realize what a special month it was for us. We managed to get the rest of the first cut hay in the barns, were blessed with a surprise new colt born, and visits from lots of family from New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. The peals of laughter and squeals of delight were heard around the farm from the pond, pastures, and barn as grandchildren helped with chores, groomed horses, petted the babies, rode our older gelding (Boots), played in the sand on the beach, swam in the pond, caught tadpoles and frogs, and played with the dogs, hiked in the woods, ran around the hay field, helped in the vegetable and fruit gardens picking peas, squash, lettuce, spinach, blueberries, and raspberries, riding in the golf cart and Ranger, and having dinners in the gazebo at the pond. With the hot weather, the pond saw plenty of activity. The horses were quite intrigued with the increased noise level and little critters running around and adjusted very quickly. We started working with our two year old horses, reviewing all of their ground work, desensitizing, working first with the surcingle, then the saddle, and at the end of this week were leading them around with someone sitting on their backs and using reins attached to their halters. We will continue with and build on that this coming week. Our other horses are also being ridden, some twice daily, both in the arena and out on the trail. Mares and babies are all doing well with their daily routine of being led into and out of the barn to pasture. A couple of our frost free hydrants were leaking, so we dug them up this week and made the necessary repairs. Also repaired one of the older shelters and have two or three more to repair. Winter and horses take their toll around here. Went for a nice long ride today with Able, my stallion. The weather was perfect.