Catching up on the last two weeks

Over two weeks without a post. Some of that time was spent in Florida celebrating my parents' 50th anniversary. Had to get the horse care and the dog care squared away prior to departure. The dogs were able to stay in the house rather than go to the kennel, thanks to the assistance of a couple good friends. The ponies were tended by the usual barn folk, and Dude's neighbor's owner picked out their feet daily. All weathered our absence just fine. By Day 3 in Florida, I stopped asking Kris, "Any messages from the barn?"

A couple of days after our return, Dude and Bestie had a farrier appointment, which was good because their feet were looking a little beat up. While I was gone, Dude had somehow managed to pull the top layer off his back right hind hoof, about a half inch up almost all the way around the hoof. With the trim, it's a lot more narrow, but still noticeable, kind of like the top layer peeled off. Very strange looking, but no ill effects. Bestie just had a bunch of little chinks and rough spots on her feet. So now they are shipshape.

I lunged her tonight and she seemed a little stiff, but then again, I haven't had time to do much with them over the last two weeks and it has been cold. They were in for a couple of days right after we got back; the fields and walkway to the fields had gotten icy. We've had snow this week and are expecting more, which is good. The fields look so clean with the new snow, and it seems the horses are eating more hay out there because it lays on top of the snow and doesn't get ground into the mud.

I increased Dude's grain to a full scoop twice a day. He was getting a half a scoop but has started looking ribby in the last few weeks. I think part of it is that he doesn't get hay before going out, and when they go out the thrown hay is shared by all the horses in the field, so it's hard to know how much he's getting. Plus they're outside all day burning calories in the cold. Hopefully the extra senior feed will do the trick. I'll have to watch him and see how he does. And we might be able to cut him back once the fields get some grass in the spring/summer.

Bestie's been wearing her new midweight from Smith Brothers; it's an Open Range blanket and I love the way it fits her. It's navy with silver webbing and she just looks so darn cute in it. And that's what's important, right?! I've been doing a lot of blanket and turnout sheet washing since we got back. For some reason everything had gotten really messy and I just couldn't stand it. It's a logistical challenge washing stuff and trying to have enough at the barn to keep them warm and dry.

Hoping to ride Dude tomorrow. Would be nice to ride outside since it's not too cold, but will have to see how much snow is falling. We're supposed to get 3-5 inches tomorrow!