Filed under: March 2018 | Tags: horses, maple sap, maple season, purple martins, shedding, Spring
March 12, 2018
So far this year we have seen the sap run, robins, buzzards and red winged blackbirds. I have seen purple martin scout birds checking out the martin house, but for me a true sign of spring is the horses shedding their winter coats. Saturday, this yearly event started in full swing!
I spent quite a bit of time brushing their coats and thinning manes and tails. They almost shake their feet like a dog. The brush must feel real good as it helps to rid the itchy hairs. One of my horses is usually late to shed his coat, but this year he too, is losing the old hair in gobs.
We are hoping for at least one more good maple sap run. The weatherman says we may get it this coming weekend. The weathermen are often wrong, but the horses and other wildlife are predictable. I believe that spring is just about to bust wide open. The sap will have us running, while birds flock to the grasses peeking through the snow. Ill try to keep up spitting horse hair as I go!
Filed under: May 2016 | Tags: draft horses, eye candy, nesting birds, shedding, Small Farming
May 4, 2016
This pile of hair is from tonight’s brushing session. Knight has finally started to shed his winter coat. The other horses are well on their way to their summer “do”. They are shedding a little, but this guy is dropping gobs, much to the delight of nest building birds.
I am glad to see him finally getting rid of his winter coat. He gets pretty hot on work days. This will sure help that problem. The daily brushing gets easier for me too. The short hair is much easier to keep get and keep clean. I like seeing the horse’s hair coat shine. They are beautiful animals. The shine just adds to the “eye candy”.
Tomorrow we will be working again, but tonight is time for rest!
Filed under: March 2015 | Tags: curry comb, firewood, maple season, shedding, wood
wood shed showing our slow year
March 19, 2015
Today we got a nice run of maple sap. We gathered over 600 gallons, finishing just before dark. The days ahead look good. Even though our season is later than usual, it is finally starting to kick into gear! The wood shed is starting to go down and will need filling by seasons end, but it’s holding out well for now.
The horses are a little soft from our extreme winter and lack of hard work. They are taking it in stride so far. I give them plenty of breaks and extra feed. I worry some about the first big maple sap run on a warm day. They still have their winter coats on. No shedding in sight. I suppose it will be like the sap, slow at first then “bam” off it comes.
Those warm hairy days of spring are coming. I eat plenty, spit out as much as possible and curry comb till my arms hurt. It’s worth it. The horses are grateful and bonding comes easy during that time. Now, I mostly just clean manure and mud from their coats, but soon all that dead hair will be falling out….yep spring!
