Filed under: May 2021 | Tags: barn design, Barn renovation, draft foal, native hardwood, Suffolk Punch Horse
May 15, 2021
My work on our horse barn continues. The new hay mow doors are on and finally weather tight! The large door is made that way on purpose to allow for putting big round bales in there. A labor saving job, that requires only our skid steer and one other guy.
The renovation work is almost complete. The steel work for window guards and doors should be installed in the coming days.
Each new box stall will have its own window for light and air movement. Native hardwood planks ensure safety and durability for the stalls.
Stall doors with a width of four feet, will accommodate our wide bodied horses as well as a wheelbarrow. I look forward to the ease of use this new renovation will allow.
Spring work is getting started again after some wet, cold rainy weather. It has been good to have this job to work on while we waited. I am ready for the spring field days and our planting season. Farm life stays busy, but the rewards are wonderful.
Our new filly is growing fast. She is fun to watch. Soon, her mom will return to the workforce, but for now they are enjoying the fresh grass and the warm sun.
We really like these two!
Filed under: May 2021 | Tags: draft foal, Draft Horse Babies, foal, Pasture Breeding, Suffolk horse, Suffolk Horses, Suffolk Punch draft horse
May 3, 2021
Orchard Hill Red Blaze, the Suffolk stallion pictured above is the daddy of our newest addition Riceland Meadows Amazing Grace. He is a chunky boy with a great disposition and he helped make a beautiful filly. We leased him again for Amee.
Amee was delighted to see him again. It looks as if we should have another “Red” baby on the ground next year.
You can see from the photo, mom Amee, watching over the sleeping Grace while Red snoozes, as they all soak up the warm April sun.
The little family grazes in the pasture. Amazing Grace runs circles around both dad and mom. She gains strength and power daily thanks to mom’s milk. It is delightful to watch the baby girl run and play.
“Red”, is part of our breeding program because his foals are not related to our stallion Hank. As we build a solid breeding program for working Suffolk horses, it is imperative that we focus on DNA in this critically rare breed. We want to expand the gene pool, while breeding for the punchy, solid, powerhouse found in these horses. In other words, I want to breed true, following the like minded breeders of the last four centuries, not changing the breed, only enhancing it.
They are truly beautiful!
RicelandMeadows 