Hot Summer Evenings at the Barn

I thought I would share for non horse owners

what a typical evening after work is

at the barn.  I go out

at least 3 days a week.  I drive straight

from work.  It's a 30 min drive.

I board her at a private stable in the country.

My dream was always

to have horses at my home, but there are

also advantages to boarding. 

First off ~~ it is ALOT of

work caring for these big animals and

when you work full time so you can afford them its

nice to basically pay someone to

clean up, feed and care for where your

horse lives.  That way I can come out and

spend quality time with my horse.   I can also go on vacation

and not have to find someone I trust

to do that for me.

As I drive out I notice

the neighbor has baled his

alfalfa for his cows.

This is the beautiful driveway

to the barn.

This is the owner's pretty historical home.

They had it moved here from another location.

I change out of work shoes to my barn boots.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before I get her, I go refill her supplements.

I measure out her supplements into plastic containers

with a tiny bit of oats to keep them from clumping.

The barn care taker then can just take

one of my containers and add it to her morning

grain. It's easy and there are no mix ups on what

she gets everyday.

Horses basically eat Hay or fresh

grass and Grain- Horse food

resembles Rabbit pellets.

~~~~~~~~~~~

  Then I go get her outside.

Oh and in case you don't know that thing on

her face is...it's a fly mask.  She can see through

it like sun glasses but it keeps the flies

and mosquitoes off her eyes and ears.

She is hot, grimy and sweaty.

I always put her in her stall and give her a treat,

but here she is being a bad girl trying to

help herself.   She always has to pee when she comes in.

Don't ask me why but she doesn't

like to pee outside.

She looks a mess so I take her braids out.

It is too hot to ride. Her coat is

sweaty and crusty from sweat and dirt

mixing.

  I lead  her out to hose

all the grime away and

cool her off.

I have to spray constantly to keep the

flies off.   The bugs are terrible.  Hottie

has super sensitive skin.  I feed her garlic

supplements to help keep the biting bugs

away and she gets doused in 

a good fly spray.

I do have a fly sheet I put on

as a last resort if its really bad.

It's just when it's hot as heck

would you want to wear

a giant sheet over your back??

I then squeegee off the water

and take her back in.

  

I put her in cross ties so she will stand still

while I braid up her mane to keep

her cool tomorrow.  I spray her down good with

fly spray from neck to hooves.

All done!  She is totally antsy

and wants to get in her stall

to eat her dinner like all

 the other horses are doing.

When I put her in her stall I notice her buckets

aren't as clean as I liked so I scrub

and dump and refill them.

All Clean!

We have a small indoor riding arena at this barn

which comes in handy when it's raining or

with Michigan winters.

Hottie's stall is the front left stall

on this isle.

She is happily munching dinner all

clean and cool in her stall.

As her fan  blows on high, I

am happy she is comfortable.

She does live a pampered

horse life but she has given me

so much more.  I can't even

remember my life before I owned her

or what I did with all the extra

time I must have had.

I am so grateful for my Blessings.

I head home at 6:30
relaxed and thankful knowing
that my husband, 

Matt has taken care of all

animals at home while I was

here with Miss Hottie.

~~~Natascha~~