Winter Barn Visits

It's winter and access to the barns has been dicey with snow and ice and then mud for a while. But we've had some nice weather for a few days and I have been able to get out and see my girl.

 Thursday we were having 40 mph winds, and it was cold, so instead of visiting with Abby at the gate or out in the field, I called her into the old barn. (Which wasn't hard - she knows my car and usually comes up as soon as she sees me driving down the lane.)

Sheltering in an old wooden barn in the winter when it's warm and full of the smell of hay and horses is a relaxing experience. I could have spent the rest of the afternoon there!

Abby's not cribbing here - she's licking the rails. It's something she does when I finish with her treats. I never see her do it otherwise, so I don't worry about it. (Abby's a slobbery girl; I think she is wiping up the remnants of apples, carrots, and peppermints that got drooled onto the rails.)

Yesterday the winds had died down, so we chatted outside. Again, Abby saw my car arrive and met me at the gate, nickering softly as she walked up. That always makes me smile.

I always check her over during our visits. She's wintering well thus far - she's got a nice, thick coat of hair, her feet are in good shape, and she hasn't dropped any weight.

The weather forecast for the next week is for more of the same - cold temperatures but no snow or ice, so I should be able to see her daily. She'll like that, and so will I!

Ornament from Belle Meade

Sarah and her family visited Cole and his family in Nashville this fall. One of the things they did was to visit Belle Meade Plantation, a very old (established in 1807) horse farm.

They brought me back a Christmas ornament as a souvenir.

Holiday Decor

My family members may not be horse lovers, but they love me and are willing to indulge my passion for horses. Gifts from them are often horsey.

Like these holiday salt and pepper shakers that Sarah got me for Christmas this year!

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful!

I never minded snowy weather when I was younger. I remember walking down icy concrete steps into the wooded ravine where our horses' paddock was every morning to feed and water them. I fell a few times, but teenagers and young adults are resilient and it was no biggie.

It sure is now. While I wouldn't call myself old, I am older. More importantly, though, are the joint issues I have from arthritis. Both my knees have been replaced, one hip as well, and I've had three ankle surgeries and a spinal fusion. I now have to be very careful about where I walk and not falling. (I would never tackle those icy steps now!)

So, when we get snow or ice, it is very hard to visit Abby. Both barns have long lanes leading out to them, and while Tim does a terrific job managing the property, it is still difficult for me to visit Abby when there is snow on the ground.

One solution is "drive by" visits - in the winter the herd hangs out a lot at the old barn, and it is close enough to a country road that I can often drive by slowly and do a visual check of my girl. It's certainly not ideal, but at least I can see her. (And I know Tim checks the herd daily when he feeds, so I don't have to worry about her having an unnoticed injury.)

Compound that with the shortened days of winter, and sometimes when I leave work it is already too dark to be able to do a drive by. Those are the most frustrating days of all.

We have had a layer of ice over snow for nearly two weeks now and I am missing my Abby time.

But the forecast is looking to be unseasonably warmer for a while so things should be thawing and I'll be able to get out to see her.  While I am sad that we won't have a white Chrismas, I am thrilled I'll be able to get to visit Abby!

Black Beauty - a Gift

Today a student approached me with with a gift bag, asking me to open it. "It's a classic connection!" he said with a big smile.

He was right!

A Black Beauty ornament!

My students read a children's classic book every semester, then write a paper and do a project which they then present to the class. We have two presentations every Friday morning. Black Beauty is well-loved by the kids - they are very aware that Anna Sewell changed the way animals are treated by her book. It is an excellent example of the power of the pen.

I'll display my new ornament at school until winter break begins and then bring it home and hang it on the horse-themed tree in my horse room. 

It will be a wonderful reminder of things I love - horses, classic books, and my students. 

The Lafayette Christmas Parade

Lafayette's Christmas parade has been going on since the 1940s and maybe even longer than that. When I was in high school, I rode Cee in it along with my high school band as part of the mounted dragoons. (So. Much. Fun!)

I'm sick, so I did not go yesterday, but my sister, Leslie, sure did. She even got to ride in the parade!

 The Farm at Prophetstown brought a buckboard and Clydesdales!

 Leslie with Barney pre-parade.

 The wagon was beautifully decorated.

 Hitching up Barney and Mike.

The parade was held at night and led to the town's tree lighting ceremony on the other side of the Wabash River.

Loose Horse!

I was visiting with Abby up by the old barn this afternoon, and like usual, counted noses. Snickerdoodle wasn't around. I scanned the pastures for him, and caught sight of him over by the new barn, all by himself.

I couldn't tell for sure because I was so far away, but it looked like he was loose. He was right next to the small paddock, but was he in it or on the other side of the fence?

I hopped into my car and drove around the property to the new barn to find out.

Yep! He was outside of the fence, all right!

I keep Abby's halter and lead rope in my trunk, so I popped the lid and grabbed them and my leather gloves. I also unwrapped and pocketed several peppermints - I'd never given Snickerdoodle a treat before, but I wanted to have something to entice him, just in case.

As I walked over to him, it was clear he knew what I intended, and he turned away from me. I paused, and so did he. Speaking in a gentle tone, I held out my hand and offered him the treat. He took a couple of hesitant steps toward me, but as soon as he heard the chain on my lead rope jingle, he backed off again.

At this point, Karen, who lives in the new house on the property, came up behind me. She had seen Snickers was loose from her windows and had come out to help. Turns out Snickers had been out overnight, too! She'd caught him this morning and then walked the fence, but couldn't see where he'd gotten through. So she'd put him back in with the other horses and had been keeping an eye out the window, just in case.

Together we herded the little escapee back through the gate of the small paddock and then into the main pasture with the other horses. We then added some rope between the posts of the fence where we suspected he was pushing through.

Tim is out of town and due back tonight. Karen is going to keep an eye out her windows and call me if she needs help rounding up Snickerdoodle again.

I would not be surprised if I get a phone call.