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Tuesday, February 22, 2011
 Who needs a cup of coffee, when you look out the window and see your horses running off?
Yes, this morning we replaced the usual caffeine rush with an adrenalin rush.
My dog noticed them first. (Thank you, Mars) He saw something was not right and barked. I jumped up in time to see them heading into the woods.
Ha!
One by one, they advanced 10, 20, 30 feet into the deep, crusty snow. Then, they seemed to say in unison: “Screw This!” And they about-faced.
Then they tried the lawn and 30 feet later reached the same consensus and hit the same reverse gear. 
Then they headed down the driveway. It is an icy, treacherous driveway. Aren’t most Maine driveways in this condition now?
By now, I was out near the barn, with grain bucket in hand.
Thankfully, they decided breakfast would be better than skating.
So, at least this time, the tough winter conditions worked in my favor!
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Monday, February 14, 2011
Punxsutawney Phil Ain't Got Nothin' on these Mares
My sure indication that spring’s coming is shavings on their backs in the morning.
My horses don’t generally lie down at night in the winter. I think they’re just too cold and working hard to stay warm.
I’ll see them lying out in the sun on cold winter days, taking in the rays. But overnight, there is no indication they get horizontal.
Not so last night!
As temperatures crept toward 30 (thirty!), at least one of the girls hit the hay.
So when I went out to give them hay and grain this morning, there were shavings on their backs.
We’ll be connecting our garden hoses and storing the heated buckets before you know it!
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Thursday, February 10, 2011
 It was one of those radio moments where you sit in your parked car because you can't stop listening, can't stop savoring the moment of connection and inspiration.
The Kitchen Sisters produced a short program for National Public Radio on girls' fascination with Horses, Dolphins, and Unicorns.
As a girl, I gravitated to horses. Just like my mom. Just like her mom.
This piece brought it all together.
CLICK HERE to read the promotion and download the podcast.
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Monday, February 07, 2011
 Mine is not an arena roof.
And my horses are never closed in.
But I still got a little nervous seeing three feet of snow on my shed roof. The images and reports of roof cave-ins, horse rescues and euthanasia because of injuries crept from the back to the front of my mind. [Click here for collapsed Connecticut barn rescue]
So my son and I joined the legions of Northeasterners and scampered up the roof to strip it of its not-so-light-and-fluffy burden.
It's a funny task isn't it? Pushing snow to the ground, where it would just end up eventually?
It was hard, perhaps pointless work. White collar folks would call it an exercise in risk management.
Still, I feel better now.
And heck, I'd never seen the view from up high.
In the waning sunlight, it was superb.
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Thursday, February 03, 2011
 I was picking up 100 bales of hay last week.
I had to pull into a pasture with my truck and trailer to get to the box trailer where the hay was stored.
My friend, Steve, had his few dozen cows there. They were eating from a round bail feeder, but got real interested in my truck while we loaded hay.
They licked it clean.
I know.
Ew.
But nothing could deter them.
I'm sure it was the road salt they were diggin'.
 It brought to mind winter nutrition and wellness.
My horses love warm mashes.
Heck, they even love warm water. When I come out with a bucket of it late at night, it's like I'm bringing them mugs of hot cocoa with whipped cream. Yummy!
Dr. Rachel Flaherty has a few pointers for us.
CLICK HERE
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