Today, I sat in a chair and read a book while BG did a little grazing. I’m still not feeling 100%. In fact, right now, I feel a bit of a sore throat again. So, I’m taking it easy. I guess this is a good time to be somewhat sick because we are all stuck at home anyway…
I started in a chair by some really lush grass. She actually stayed here and grazed around me for about an hour!
GRASS!
The grass is so fresh and green, I hate to weed whack it when a horse could have some enjoyment. The problem is that there are no fences around the house – where all these volumes of grass grow – and the horses can become rambunctious.
They don’t behave like they did in Grass Valley when I let them loose. I think because they have so much grass inside their paddocks in Grass Valley, that letting them out wasn’t that special. But here, all the grass is already gone, so getting out is FUN!
That’s why I have to hand graze them. I have to be there, holding on, so they don’t do anything crazy. Also, our house is on a hill so if they start running anywhere, they create divits everywhere.
HERE WE GO!
Here we are at the front of the house. I like to give the horses a choice in where we go. I love watching them make decisions… Of course, they cannot step on me, crowd me or pull on me, but I do let them decide the pace of our graze and where we go.
BG is shedding out. Her undercoat is a beautiful chocolate brown – until the sun fades it. BG is a very independent mare. But, she does check in with her nose to me about every 5 minutes.
This is her favorite thing to do… raid the orange tree. BG is the horse with the most eclectic taste buds. She will always like the odd greenery or odd herb. And, she loves whole oranges. Today, there were only a few, left-over oranges.
She found one! And she ate it whole.
I added this pic because it is so bizarre. You can see the digital image of her muzzle eating an orange, schmeared, and floating in the center of the shot. Then you see her real head with the orange in her mouth.
She took us back out to the front of the house, but at this point, she was grassed-out, so we went back into her paddock for a groom. You can see that she has grass hanging out of her mouth, not even chewing. That’s when they are done. (Usually takes about 60 to 90 minutes.) We make sure not to eat much green grass in a day – we hate laminitis and founder. But on the other hand, green grass solves a lot of underlying issues – good for horse in measured doses.
STAY WELL!
Dear Dawn,
I am so very sorry you have this trial as well. Well, at least you and the horses get to go home to the grass. RIP Dodger.
Thank you for this
Dawn, I am so sorry to hear of this – a tremendous loss for you! In fact this year has not been kind to you – all.. From what you have written – I’m sure Dodger was the lucky one to have you love and care for him, and he knew it! He may be closer than we know, frolicking with his horse friends and loving every minute of it. When a person is caring and nurturing as you are, good-byes are painful and you remain here because your good works are not yet done. Be kind to yourself it will help you stay well.
With love, Chris