RicelandMeadows

April 22, 2025

Amee, our Suffolk mare is almost ready to foal. Her baby is due any time after the 24th, of this month. We are keeping a close eye on her. Today she got a haircut, along with a mane and tail thinning. I brushed her for a very long time, partly because she needed it and partly because it felt so good to her that she almost fell asleep.

I worked on all the horses today. They are shedding their winter coats in gobs. I try to stay ahead of it, but man does it come off. Today I thinned all the manes and tails. That job got ahead of me a bit after being sick all of February. It feels good to be caught up again. The youngest horses, two of them, need theirs done yet. I will work on them later this week. They both are new to the electric clippers. I go very slow as they get used to the unfamiliar noise.

I don’t use a twitch or clamp on their nose. They learn to stand for me quietly. This takes a bit of patience. They learn to trust me. They know that I won’t hurt them. A kind voice and slow movements make it go quite well. I let them be a bit fearful as they gain confidence. I run the clippers on them, often without clipping hair. They get used to the noise and vibration and realize that everything is alright when I am near.

Hank, our stallion, watches from outside. I guess he approved. He took a turn too getting all spiffed up. He is an old pro. He stood behind the mares and fillies, quietly waiting for me to work on him. He lowered his head for the haircut as I trimmed his bridle path. He too dozed while I brushed him out. I think everybody feels better after a good spa day!