I Think the Goat Won This Round

Its been an eventful weekend. As they've eaten down almost all of their fenced in area, things have certainly gotten interesting. I'm glad I've read so much on COTH about goats!  Yesterday was jsut te beginning. One goat decided she really liked getting her head stuck in the fence.  6 times in 2 days.  And she wasn't very cooperative with our efforts to free her.

This morning as I went back to feed the horses, I found the gate between their pasture and the goats was wide open.  I'm sure I sprouted several new gray hairs when I saw that open gate and couldn't see the goats until I got down to the fence. Amazingly, all the goats were still where they belonged, down in one corner of the woods. Horses were up by the barn but there was clear evidence that they'd been down in the woods 'visiting'.  Owners came out this morning and said they'll probably move the fencing tomorrow or Tuesday.

Then, around 5:30 I go out the throw the horses some hay - goats are all yelling down in the woods - and I notice a bunch of them are on the WRONG side of the fence. Total 3 ring circus trying to round them up and get them back where they belong.  A few of them made the mistake of going into the horse's paddock and Inky literally tried to kill them.  I now realize that we have a very nasty, territorial horse with other animals.  I guess we won't be getting any goats as horse companions.  Get everyone safely back where they belong, reinforce fence, call goat owners to let them know what's up and reassure them all goats are accounted for and safe. (Where IS that sweating bullets icon?)

Owners come back out, say yup, they've run out of fun things to eat and are ready to start getting into trouble, so we decide to drop a few small trees to keep them occuped. 2 husbands, and 3 teenage boys playing Paul Bunyon while Cindy and I watch laughing our heads off and enjoy the spectacle of boys AND men being boys. I sure was missing my video camera!
Dumb and dumber are locked in their stalls tonight just to be on the safe side.

And of course, I now have poison ivy.

Land Clearing the Green Way.

I'll admit to being something of a closet hippie amd am a firm believer in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  I try very hard to keep the environment in mind in my daily life and am very conscious of the fact that the earth has a finite amount of natural resources.  I compost.  I don't dump 1/2 full water glasses or old water bowls from the pets down the drain, I dump them in my plants instead. 

I desperately wanted to get the 'back 40' cleaned up and usable.  Its almost an acre of land that is a wasteland of downed trees, deadfall, poison ivy, briars, and weeds.   We tried several years ago to have a contractor clean it up, but the results were short lived for the expense and aggravation of having the heavy machinery  brought in.

Then I learned about goats!   Amazingly, Dave agreed it was a great idea.  We found a local farmer who rents their herd of goats for land clearing.  They put up the fencing and check on the goats daily.  We get the weeds and undergrowth knocked back so that we can get in there and clean up without having to wear armour.  We put money back into our local agricultural economy.   The goats are fun and entertaining, eating to their hearts content, and our land is cleared without heavy machinery.  Although the horses took a little bit to accept that they weren't the dreaded 'horse eating goats' eventually they also decided that they're kinda cool.

All in all, a win/win, I think.  And did I mention how cute and entertaining they are!  

 

Finally - Weather Relief & A Healthy Horse

The ridiculous heat wave of the past few weeks has finally broken and I might finally be able to ride Rico again tomorrow.  90+ and even triple digit temps combined with a stable cough have made riding him the past few weeks an idea that was quickly dismissed. 

Yes, I baby my horse. But really, its not like we're training for the Olympics.  But the weather has broken, and the vet has given him a clean bill of health, so tomorrow morning its go time, and I am so looking forward to being on my boy again.
 
Unless, of course, its raining.

We Finally Hung the Sign!

Since the man was adamantly opposed to hanging the sign on the mailbox (he still insists were NOT a farm), the sign is now proudly displayed on the barn between the loft access door and the peak of the roof.

It was quite a comical scene of me, my parents, and my uncle (all in their late 70's)  trying to figure out the best way to hang the sign as well as manipulate a 20' ladder to get it up there!  I'll post pics tonight!

Witherun Farm in Pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76077084@N02/sets/72157629577715013/

Spook, Buck, Bolt, Crash! NOT This Time!

The weenie rider is slowly growing into her big girl panties!  The woman who was afraid to canter a year ago sat through one of Rico's classic *spook*buck*bolt* episodes without losing her seat, courage, or balance. Then put him right back to work.   I don't know who was more shocked that it didn't work for him this time, me or him! 

Those brutally challenging Thursday morning lessons are getting the job done.  Thank you Catherine for knowing exactly when and how to push me out of my comfort zone.

A Program Worth Supporting

http://worktoride.net/

This is something I've always dreamed of doing.  Using the power of horses to change young lives!  Thank you Lezlie Hiner for your hard work and dedication!

And yes, I did put my money where my mouth is in the name of the horseman who generously gave me my start at the age of 11.