Spring 2010
I can't believe it’s springtime already, where did the last few months go? We are busy now with foaling season. Abbey had her foal two weeks early, a cute little filly. Now we are waiting on Indy to have hers. As of today she is 17 days late! We've all been taking shifts in the barn at night to keep an eye on her as she often needs help with the process. A late note as I never seem to get these newsletters completed in one setting, she had a little stud colt at 12:45 AM on the 25th of April. He is a very good looking and moving little man. He was born jet black which means he will be gray like his Mom.
We decided to join the Farmers Market again this year, so Jennifer has been busy getting the gardens ready and has one all planted. The Hardin County Farmers Market opened May 1st this season, about three weeks earlier than normal. With the spring weather being warmer than normal, the farmers are ahead of schedule with their plantings. They will be offering lettuce, spinach, radish, onions and more already. Come check our new building; we were assigned our booth space at last weeks meeting, no more setting up a tent every Saturday.
We would like to wish Aaron and Lee Anna Hardy our best. We will miss them being around the stables, their laughter and tall tales.They recently moved their horses home to their own property. This opened up two spots but they filled back up quickly. We have two new borders arriving soon.
The first arrived May sixteenth and brought her mare True, to join our family. Please join me in welcoming Prairie and Sean Conlon. We are sure they are going to be a real good fit at the stables. Prairie went to college on a full ride scholarship for barrel racing. Her mare is a super fast five year old quarter horse that she uses competitively. Shawn is an elite member of the United States Army Special Forces. Please give them a hardy welcome when you see them.
The rains came late but come they did. We have had a hard time keeping up with the pastures and fence rows. You all know my aversion to using chemicals of any kind but I may have to resort to applying some in a spot spray manner. This will keep the usage down. All things cycle and this year it is some kind of yellow flower and yarrow which is a very invasive weed that will take over if I do not control it. I will not spray the fields totally but will spot spray each weed. This is time consuming but better for the environment. The riding arena is in super shape for the beginning of the season. I will try to keep it that way. You guys get out and use it.
All of the horses are doing fine. Dar is too fat and has been cut back. Again! Pal is doing super for a horse that had cancer and couldn't walk when he got here over two and one half years ago. Indy looks emaciated after foaling but I will get her back where she was. Sam's little orphan filly, Peanut, is going to make a super horse. I just love her to death. She is just like her mother was before her accident last year. Jackie is the Alpha queen of the back lot and Big Shot and Pepi are her students. Big Shot is still in training and is learning. Our horses are fat, lazy and happy that way. Abbey is, well Abbey. A little hormonal most of the time but she has her moments.
It is fly season. Every May through September we use different fly controls in an attempt to lessen their torment of the horses. It is twenty dollars per month for those interested. We use garlic powder, war paint and sprays rotationally to try to throw them off. Contact me if you want to participate this year. June is annual shot month. Dr. Brockman will be here Monday and I will price the shots this year and contact you to see if you want me to give them. All other prices are the same this year, Ground work/round pen exercise is $25.00 per hour and grooming is $5.00 each time
Our family if doing great. Jennifer is finished with school until August and is very busy with soap making, gardening and keeping me healthy. Matt's Junior year is wrapping up. He is going to have both knees operated on this summer two weeks apart. Hopefully this will solve the problem he has been experiencing. Donna Holley's daughter Kelsey (friends that overnight board with us a couple of times a year) had the same condition. She had the surgery and loves the results. Maybe, they are sent to us with a message by God. After all, I still believe that there is no such thing as coincidence, it is just Gods way of staying anonymous.
Thank you for trusting us with your horses. It allows us to do the things we enjoy doing. We like being good stewards of God's creatures. Come and see us often and enjoy your horses. If nothing else, come and brush them and just have a good conversation with them. They listen well. Most do anyway, Annie just falls asleep. But that is okay, it is the closeness that counts.
Richard, Jennifer and Matt