Trail Ride Photo

Mushrooms and Slugs

No, I am not going to write about a new Rap group, or a new way to get "high"!! All we have had this summer is rain! If it doesn't rain during the day, it rains at night. There haven't even been enough dry days to cut hay. Normally it takes 3 good, dry days to hay. Unfortunately, everything is so wet, and the grass has grown so long, if the hay is cut, its taking longer to dry, so we really need at least 4 consecutive dry days to hay. I've started checking the horses regularly for "rain rot" . I noticed mushrooms growing around the bottom of the barn walls the other day. Of course I looked-up the type to be sure they weren't poisonous. Zanita has a rubber feed tub that she likes to tip over. When I went to put grain in it one day, it was full of slugs. Slugs make me crazy. You can't touch them because you get that slimy stuff on your fingers, and it takes a blow-torch to get it off. I tried banging the bucket on a rock, but they have those suction cup like bellies. I finally used a stick and pried them off. Now I am careful to pick up the feed bucket after she eats.
Well I suppose if worse comes to worse, and we never get haying done, I can feed everyone mushrooms and slugs!

"Zanita" means "God's Gift"

Our rescued TB mare's Jockey Club name is Passion Caper. She raced in PA at age 2 and 4 winning $14,000. She's lucky she didn't get sent for a one way ride to Canada, with winnings like that!! Fortunately for her, she was bought or given to someone who retrained her as a polo horse. We may never know what happened between age 4 and now. I have emailed all of the polo clubs in the states surrounding PA. Haven't heard from anyone, not that I am surprised. She has been in quarantine for 2 weeks, and is doing very well. She is nervous with any sudden movement near her head. We have taught her about horse treats, and are using them to encourage her to trust us. She now will come to us at feeding time. Once she is haltered she is a perfect lady, standing to be brushed and have her hooves picked. Mark rode her for the first time, yesterday. No saddle or bridle. Just a halter. She definately has had some training, as he only needed his leg to turn her, and at a canter she did "flying" lead changes.
She seemed happy to be working, and Mark looks forward to riding her again. Our hope is to get her into shape and bring her to some games. It will feel good to say "See this wonderful polo mare? She was going to be slaughtered for human consumption!

Fencing

I don't know about anyone else, but we are always repairing or putting up fencing. We have 7 acres of land, plus the use of a field across the street from our farm. Now that the horse population is exploding on our property, we are building more paddock and turnout areas. We have the land across the street divided into 3 areas. Each is surrounded by electric fence. We use aluminum wire, T-posts, and step-in posts. When we were getting the quarantine area ready for Zanita, Mark went to the Hardwick Farmers Exchange and bought the best solar power fence charger they sell. Its the one that will stop an elephant, even if a tree has fallen on the wire! Tom and I spent an entire day clearing brush, pounding-in fence posts, attaching insulators, stringing wire, attaching flags, and t-post toppers. We hook-up the fancy new fence charger, and try the fence tester. As always happens with us, the fence wasn't getting any current. We recheck everything, and still the tester showed no current. Now, my favorite part. I ask Tom to touch the wire. He balks a few times, and finally gives in and touches the wire. ZING!!!! It works!! Guess the fence tester wasn't working!! And guess what? Not only will the new charger produce enough power to stop an elephant, it will also knock it to the ground!!!

What an Experience!

A horse auction is held in New Holland,PA every Monday. It is known as the biggest horse auction east of the Mississippi,especially if your are a "kill-buyer" and deal in horse meat. They buy the horses cheap, and when they have double-decker trailer load, ship them to Canada for slaughter. The meat is shipped to Europe and Asia where it is considered a delicay. The horses are mostly young-who wants old tough meat, and most are healthy-who wants meat from a sick animal! How sad to see weanlings in the pens that sold for $50, or the gelding whose mane had been braided. Guess his previous owner thought he would be bought by someone that would provide a loving home. Instead, he was bought for meat! Minis, donkeys, ponies, drafts, Standardbreds, paints, QHs, TBs, Warmbloods, Arabs, and the list goes on. Because of the economy, no ones buying horses but the "kill buyer". Why do people keep breeding so many horses? Well enough of this for now. I had found out about a TB polo mare that was in a kill-buyers pen. The KB was waiting to acquire enough horses to ship a load to Canada. Another Chance 4 Horses had pictures of her, and a very short video of her trotting, on their website. Tom and I decided to drive to PA and rescue her from her nightmare. Turns out she is registered, only 9 years old and as sweet as sugar. Her mane was roached, top of her tail shaved in what I call "polo" fashion, and had recently had her feet done, as there was no new growth on her hooves. It looks like they took her from the polo field to the auction! She was stocked up a bit in her hind legs, but that has gone down now that she is home and can move around freely. Shes about 100 lbs underweight. Why, why, why? What did she do to deserve this? Was she too slow? Didn't turn fast enough? Why was she thrown away like yesterdays newspaper? Was it too much trouble to find her a home? If nothing else, have a vet humanely euthanize her. Whats that cost, about $200? Was her previous owner so desperite for the $150 he got from the KB? Well she is safe now. Our plan is to rehab her, and find her a loving home. We hope this works-out, and we can rescue more polo horses. I heard today that a bunch of them had just been dumped at New Holland for next weeks auction. Wish I had more land and money!!!

On a Mission

Sorry I haven't posted in over 2 weeks. I am currently in PA on a rescue mission. Picking-up a bay TB polo horse. She was spotted in a Kill-Pen at the New Holland Horse Auction. Has a "lovely" USDA inspection sticker on her rump. Shame on whoever sent her to this HELL. Will tell you the entire story when I return to my regular computer, instead of my laptop!!!