Haaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

There is just such a satisfying feeling know you're going to have enough hay for the entire winter well before winter sets in. Our second load, alfalfa/grass mix, 

all from the same grower in Naches, Washington.

We pay $8.25 per bale plus $1 per bale for fuel. We leave home at 8am & get home at about 5pm. About 300 miles round trip.

There will be 1 final trip next weekend for a total of about 250 total bales.  I've already been feeding it, have no idea how many bales but if I have 220 left and feed 1 per day, I'll have enough hay to last until May 7 of next year. That's plenty of hay.

Harness & Cart

I spent a lot of time on the road yesterday, first over to Vashon Island to drop off computer parts for my son.

Then I drove 1.5 hours to Port Townsend and waited an hour for the ferry, rode it for 40 minutes, drove across Whitbey Island & then waited another hour for Beth. 

Beth sold me this mini driving cart, to use with Gus.

I paid $350 for the harness & cart.

The cart had surface rust, the vinyl is in OK condition, 1 tire is flat. Its going to need a few parts and maybe a few alterations.

The hubs need a good servicing & Lan can do that.

This is the suspension. I've been told its better with an upgrade.

And here is the only photo I have of the harness so far. I'll be taking a LOT more.

Finished Halters

I got the www.haltertags.com name plates in the mail, couldn't wait to get them onto the halters. 

Definitely need to oil the halters too.

Here is Gus with his new halter & doesn't he look SMASHING? 

Here is Joey

They spelled his name wrong, just like the guys in Kentucky did with his halter 20 years ago. 

I'm OK with it this time.

This halter was $5 at a barn sale & had RED on its old plate.

And Wifi.

She was more concerned about getting to her dinner than showing off her new halter plate.

I chose the Chicago Screws to attach them instead of rivets so that I can use them on other halters in the future. Wifi's halter is the crappy old one that wasn't stolen when my others were (and that's why I'm pretty fucking sure it was Sarah Goathouse who stole all my stuff).

I'd really like to get each of them new halters made of soft leather that's also strong, triple stitched, like the ones I had before. Maybe I need to make a trip to Kentucky to pick some up myself. I don't particularly care for the throatlatch snaps & all of these halters have them. They  more a grooming aid than anything else. I'd rather use the crownpiece to buckle it on and off than by slipping it over their ears and using the snap.

We've been putting Joey & Wifi in the stable comfort stalls every night and in the mornings both have looked like they aren't in pain. Wifi's shoulders/withers, where she took a tumble or something in spring 2017. Each horse also has their outside run available to them & sometimes they actually go out there to poop.

And this cart is for sale in Enumclaw, $250. Tuesday is my payday & I'm hoping the person who has it will sell it to me. I'm not even sure it will fit Gus but maybe, if it doesn't, it can be adjusted/altered.

Puyallup Fair 2018

We had Joey, Wifi & Gus spend the nights in their stalls last night with the use of their runs for the first time. They all did well.

Mack spent the night in the arena because he is big enough that the others can all see him and not freak out that they can't see any other horses. So he knocked down this board and drug these blankets into the dirt. 

Then I went to the Puyallup Fair with my pal, Tina.

This ISN'T Tina.

We ate huge corn dogs.

I watched how this guy braided tails, now I want to try it with Gus.

Then I watched this gal braid Franks mane. I think I could do it with Gus's mane.

Old time poster.

The Walking Dead bobble heads

I bought scones and ate a lot of scones. Then I gave Wayne & Linda some, because he fell down & got hurt. I helped him get back up.

This is Frank, the dark blur on the left. He was a stinker.

Taking a tractor ride just to rest our feet.

Hand painted ceramic, won BLUE.

Bumper Cars!!  These were so much fun.

In The Stalls

This hay elevator looks like a roller coaster

Also known as haylivator

This is inside Joeys stall this evening. He's got 2 buckets of fresh water, a big bag of hay and tomorrows hay hanging on his door. Lan said they will all eat through their doors but I don't think they will get much.

This is what it looks like outside his door. Wifi's hay is next door

And here is Gus's door with his grass hanging on it

A little electricity to lighten things up

Lan removed the heavy duty pallets, this is all the chafe from 4 years. There were 2 big dead rats and another live one. It was bright green alfalfa, not this nasty brown color.

Barn looks nice without the chicken coop in front

This was last week, I've put some of these items away and cleaned a few times since this was taken

Life in the barn

Gary came out to trim hooves

Gus was a ROCKSTAR!!

It certainly pays off to work on picking up hooves

Joey was good too. I kept wondering why he was so perky, it was a Unicorn balloon in front of him

I paid $5 for this halter at a sale, its a really nice one. The other night I ordered halter tags for my horses, RED will be going on the wayside

I took this right after I had to get after Wifi for nibbling on my shirt. Shes never done that before.

She's still pouting

Gary likes her feet, its been 8 weeks and they still look fantastic. One reason is genetics, one is that shes never had shoes on before, one is that I try to keep them on a good schedule for trims. I started her trims when she was a month old, never too young to learn about the farrier

Mack was a turd, pulling back, leaning on Gary, pulling his hoof away. Sigh.

I ordered him a halter name plate also, just going to put it on his halter,, not going to tell Meghan till she comes out to see him.

I ordered Gus a new leather halter and found this at Stateline Tack for less than $12, its REAL NICE and adjust able so fits him well. I'm pretty happy with it and his name tag will look good on it.

TRIATHLON NEWS:

I have signed up for the December 30, 2018 Yukon Do It half marathon so I better get my ass out there and run, at least walk. I'm so fat right now so I'm dieting and walking every day. Have lost a few pounds, mostly food I haven't eaten so I'm not full of poop. We shall see how I'm doing in a week. I plan on getting out to walk every single day and start running soon.

Tomorrow is the VERY LAST  Tri Turtle Tri and since we won't be racing, Lan & I volunteered to help with parking. Neither of us want to be out there all day so I made sure to let her know we need to come home at noon. 

It rained last night so there is a bit lest dust, I hope it doesn't rain on the race. 

I Rode

I need to spend more time doing this.

Wifi had a halo that day.

Gus trying on his new driving harness. The surcingle was much to small and the back strap (?) was much too long. This is its shortest & it went way over his butt, supposed to sit up on his hips. 

He was wonderful, just stood there & let me put this contraption all over him, he didn't mind. I need a hot poker to make more, shorter holes and I need someone to show me where everything goes & what its for. I'm sure this cheap harness isn't complete & its already proven that its not sized correctly. 

He is now letting me pick his hooves up & clean them, doesn't try to kick or anything. Gary should be impressed with this next week when he comes to do hooves.