Winter brings new challenges down on the ranch, the horses go through a process of metamorphis, gone are the sleek shiny horses that trot out to the pastures, swishing tails tossing heads and attitude...lots of attitude. In the summer, getting the horses ready to go out is like a fast food process, head collar on, food, head collar on, food till all our 4 are done then its 2 by 2 out and there they stay till almost Sunset. Winter is a whole different ball game, still like a conveyor belt but head collar on, night blanket off waterproof outdoor blanket on...then food. Hay needs to go out to the pastures, ice needs to be broken in frozen water troughs and water is moved with 5 gallon containers to make sure fresh water is available. Horses stand motionless butts turned to the wind and rain, they look miserable standing in frozen puddles, blankets wet and heavy. In the evening, the horses are waiting impatiently at the gate, the sheep and goats gather in a big clump of wet hair and demand to be brought in from the cold. Dripping wet blankets are put to dry around the barn, steaming and smelly its become part of the barn smell. The horses also change, sweet little old gray mare Destiny is turning into a fur ball, soft and fluffy beautiful dark eyes peep out from under her blanket which keeps her snug and warm from the tip of her tiny ears to the tip of her tail. The shires are changing too, they are turning into woolly mammoths, their huge bodies look even bigger when they grow their winter coats. Everyone suddenly wants to roll, everyone wants to roll in the biggest wettest muddiest puddle they can find. Destiny covers every part of her that isn't covered by a blanket, sticky nasty mud....and she so enjoys those rolls !! The big horses look like hippos, grunting groaning and rolling their huge bulk in a lovely deep puddle they have created in their pasture. Yes, Winter is a challenge, someone once said that we could take it easy in the Winter.....NO !!! it's just a different season. Time to go, cuckoo clock has cuckood, Greg and Bran are moving. Take care, M
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