| Getting Started |
February 1, 2008
by Bonnie Davis
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I've never written a Blog before. Not really sure what a blog is. So before I could write (and thinking maybe someone else didn't know what a blog is either), figured I should do some research. Found out a blog is like a diary, a daily journal. One just writes about what they did that day. Or I guess you could write about the last few days if your day was boring.
So with that thought in mine and during winter months, my days seem to be about the same thing over at the barn. Keeping the horses dry and warm.
We don't get snow. But have been getting a lot of rain. When it rains, I dig ditches to try and keep paddocks half way drained so the horses don't sink completely out of sight. Maybe just up to their knees and hocks for a few days.
Actually I've gotten pretty good at ditch digging. Getting the water to drain out through the ditch is the real problem.
Water has a mind of its own. It will stop at the slightest protrusion -- a rock, a piece of straw, a road apple. Which means when the water stops flowing out of a paddock I have to walk the ditch bank, look for the protrusion and remove it from the channel flow.
Then again on some days water just ain't going to go where I want it to flow! So to solve that problem, I just dig more ditches. If I have a big enough ditch that's deep enough with enough water flowing through it -- I can even get water to flow up hill!! That comes from experience.
I have noticed though that while I'm out digging ditches (about 50% of the time when it IS raining), the blanketed horses are standing in their dry, warm, bedded stalls watching me. Sometimes one of them will place a hoof on the paddock surface to check water depth but usually they just stand there looking at me.
With shovel in hand I'm buzy digging ditches and usually wishing I had worn my other rain gear so the water doesn't run down my neck. Today, as I stood there in the pouring rain watching water flow by, Nic gave out a soft nicker. Turning to look at him, Nic looked at me. I could have sworn that horse got a grin on his face with the look "keep digging, my hoof still gets wet in the paddock".
Till next week, keep your back to the rain.......
Bonnie
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| Looking forward to more blogs.. In my neck of the woods we deal with snow measured by the inches and feet. While you dig ditches we shovel snow and lots of it!! Shovel out the gates, and drag hay via ice shanty sled down a hill and back nearly every day. Temps some times as low as 20 below with the wind chill. It is enough to literally take your breath away!
I for one, am waiting impatiently for spring and then horse camping. I horse camped for my first time last summer. It was fun and a little scary at the same time. We were both novice to horse camping but not trail riding. I am looking forward to some good advise and lots of camping. I am glad to see that there are folks out there that only trail ride and recongnize the importance of keeping out trails open.
Thanks for the blog |
| Posted by Debbie |
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