The very first big snow fall of the season is upon us. The wind has gotten colder and the mountains appear to be moving in on the ranch. They forecast predicts up to two feet here, i sure hope that we see far less than that. I finished the loafing shed roof today just in time for the storm, and i am working on re-walling both walls of one of the shelters.
Gambler came in today, big day for him, he is going to be completely weaned from momma and ready to start learning what life is like on a halter real soon. I have been working him on halter for a few weeks now, he is coming along real nice and behaves better than some of the bigger colts. All of the mares are putting on a nice coat for the winter, while some of the geldings have chosen to "tough" it out, i think they know i will cave when it dips below 10 degrees and put the blankets on. Well the girls will be nice and warm. This morning i woke up to one of the geldings Maverick standing out by the barn, where he's not supposed to be.
Usually when he gets up to the barn it means there is a problem with the fence, he will "alert" me when i need to fix the fences so that the youngsters he is pastured with don't follow suit. And sure enough, there was a line down on the far side of the pasture where the elk had come through.
Speaking of the elk, we had a very large herd come through here this weekend, and our neighbor came over and asked if he could get one of them. So i agreed and watched the 2 hour shuffle out to the elk, so that they wouldn't spook them. He eventually got one and sure enough they ran right through the fence trying to escape their uncertain fate of the hunters. At least they won't be coming back and destroying the fences for a while. I think the whole ordeal scared them off and over to the ranches on the other side of the valley for the time being.
For now i will be stoking the fires and throwing more hay as this snow comes in and settles the reality that winter is here. Goodbye to the summer days, where all i need to do chores was to get up and walk down to the barn. Now it's jackets and coveralls, snow boots, and ski goggles, shovels, and sleds, tractors and plows just to get down there and dig out the hay
Gambler came in today, big day for him, he is going to be completely weaned from momma and ready to start learning what life is like on a halter real soon. I have been working him on halter for a few weeks now, he is coming along real nice and behaves better than some of the bigger colts. All of the mares are putting on a nice coat for the winter, while some of the geldings have chosen to "tough" it out, i think they know i will cave when it dips below 10 degrees and put the blankets on. Well the girls will be nice and warm. This morning i woke up to one of the geldings Maverick standing out by the barn, where he's not supposed to be.
Usually when he gets up to the barn it means there is a problem with the fence, he will "alert" me when i need to fix the fences so that the youngsters he is pastured with don't follow suit. And sure enough, there was a line down on the far side of the pasture where the elk had come through.
Speaking of the elk, we had a very large herd come through here this weekend, and our neighbor came over and asked if he could get one of them. So i agreed and watched the 2 hour shuffle out to the elk, so that they wouldn't spook them. He eventually got one and sure enough they ran right through the fence trying to escape their uncertain fate of the hunters. At least they won't be coming back and destroying the fences for a while. I think the whole ordeal scared them off and over to the ranches on the other side of the valley for the time being.
For now i will be stoking the fires and throwing more hay as this snow comes in and settles the reality that winter is here. Goodbye to the summer days, where all i need to do chores was to get up and walk down to the barn. Now it's jackets and coveralls, snow boots, and ski goggles, shovels, and sleds, tractors and plows just to get down there and dig out the hay