RicelandMeadows

January 22, 2025

We are experiencing some of the coldest weather in years. The cold temps are even being felt way south of us. Snow is covering parts of Florida and even New Orleans! It makes it hard on things, but here it is welcomed. I like winter and am hoping this kills a few bugs!

These last few days, I have worked a little inside, but spend much of the day doing outside chores and tending animals. They take the cold fine, but it is good to feed a little extra and keep water fresh and thawed. These things are important every day, but even more so when they need calories to stay warm. (That’s my excuse too!)

Last week, I hauled home a new set of shoeing stocks. This thing restrains a horse, safely and comfortably, for shoeing, trimming or medical procedures. The main point is safety. It is safe for the horse and safe for the man as well.

We had a set years ago that I had bought from a farm auction. Those were well used and had seen better days. We finally wore them out and just now got around to replacing them. I am pleased with the purchase.

Horses enter from the rear and are secured by a chain across their rear ends. The breast bar in front will open if needed, but we train ours to enter and then back out to leave. Loose fitting chains, encased in plastic pipe, go under the horse’s belly and over their backs. The horses halter is also fastened to keep them from swinging their heads around. So, they are essentially just standing up waiting to be worked on.

Next, large dog collars are fastened around each pastern (ankle) with a long lead rope attached to it. The foot then can be easily picked up and secured in place to be attended to for trimming or shoeing. This is a back saver for the man and quite comfortable and stress free for the horse.

I will be making a few more changes here come spring. One of those changes will be to make a permanent place for the stocks in a well lit open area, in close proximity to the horse barn. This will allow us to bring the blacksmith to the horses, instead of dragging trailer loads of horses to him. This should save us time and money.

These will also allow for easier dental work and other medical care jobs when needed. Just like mittens on a cold day, they work very well when needed and provide an option when necessary. The older I get, the more options I like!