Post by Zala on Nov 25, 2021 7:38:09 GMT -3
Will the rain ever stop?! Around this part of the state, most likely not. Or not anytime soon that's for sure. We're in for another wet sloppy Autumn around the farm. The pastures around the gates are already turning into a muddy quagmire, the paths to the outer pastures are swampy and mucky; requiring rubber boots and good footing when the horses do get to venture out of their stalls. Lately though, most of the horses have been grounded to their stalls do to all the rain. The local weather forecast is calling for severe river flooding and even more rain fall for the following week. The barn staff all let out a resounding 'UGH' as they watched the weather report from the main barn office.
"Will this stinken rain ever let up?" JT asked with a groan.
"Probably not until July of next year." I shook my head, "What did we do to deserve all this crappy weather?"
With the Holidays coming up it was hard to keep our spirits up when the horses were so upset at being stuck in their stalls due to the weather. We were doing what we could to let them out either in the round pen, the covered arena, or even our old rickety covered hot walker. It just wasn't enough, the horses were getting cabin fever and badly!!
Finally one day the weather seemed to break. There were still nasty clouds in the distance, but the wind seemed to be sending them in the opposite direction much to our surprise! We all hurriedly sent the broodmares, foals and stallions out into their pastures for a little outside time before another rain storm blew in. Everyone was in a more lighthearted mood with the change of weather, the sun even made an appearance for awhile to warm the horses hides, sending the mares and foals into a galloping fury across the pasture. It made my heart sing to see my beautiful mares and their babies so happy and full of energy after such horrible weather the last month or so. I had a feeling this winter was going to be a rather nasty one with all the predictions, Mother Nature just loves to throw you surprise weather at every turn before you know it! I was hoping to get a few more blankets bought for the new foals and for some of the other horses. We had quite a few blanket destroyers last winter which cut down our supply. I tried my best to make sure most all the horses had blankets before the end of Summer, but I knew I would be forgetting some of them. We had a shipment coming in the following week luckily, I just hoped that would be enough until Spring!
After putting some of the show horses out in the drier pastures close to the barn, I went back in the barn to start preparing the evening feed. We decided to not let everyone out just in case the weather turned bad again. To stay on the safe side our newest recruit Ronnie had set up a chair near the broodmares pasture to keep an eye on the clouds. I was just finishing up the grain rations for the mares and foals when I heard Ronnie calling from the yard that another storm was brewing. The wind was already whipping like crazy, so we made haste to the pastures and started bringing in the mares and foals first. We worked for a good hour bringing in all the horses, and as the last few horses were led into the barn, the sky let loose once more with a torrential down pour. I couldn't believe my eyes as the ground was quickly saturated in rain water once more, puddles formed everywhere and then the thunder and lightning started. I shook my head in utter disbelief at this insane Washington weather once again showing its ugly face. Sometimes I REALLY hate living here, this is one of the main reasons why. *eyes rolling*
"Will this stinken rain ever let up?" JT asked with a groan.
"Probably not until July of next year." I shook my head, "What did we do to deserve all this crappy weather?"
With the Holidays coming up it was hard to keep our spirits up when the horses were so upset at being stuck in their stalls due to the weather. We were doing what we could to let them out either in the round pen, the covered arena, or even our old rickety covered hot walker. It just wasn't enough, the horses were getting cabin fever and badly!!
Finally one day the weather seemed to break. There were still nasty clouds in the distance, but the wind seemed to be sending them in the opposite direction much to our surprise! We all hurriedly sent the broodmares, foals and stallions out into their pastures for a little outside time before another rain storm blew in. Everyone was in a more lighthearted mood with the change of weather, the sun even made an appearance for awhile to warm the horses hides, sending the mares and foals into a galloping fury across the pasture. It made my heart sing to see my beautiful mares and their babies so happy and full of energy after such horrible weather the last month or so. I had a feeling this winter was going to be a rather nasty one with all the predictions, Mother Nature just loves to throw you surprise weather at every turn before you know it! I was hoping to get a few more blankets bought for the new foals and for some of the other horses. We had quite a few blanket destroyers last winter which cut down our supply. I tried my best to make sure most all the horses had blankets before the end of Summer, but I knew I would be forgetting some of them. We had a shipment coming in the following week luckily, I just hoped that would be enough until Spring!
After putting some of the show horses out in the drier pastures close to the barn, I went back in the barn to start preparing the evening feed. We decided to not let everyone out just in case the weather turned bad again. To stay on the safe side our newest recruit Ronnie had set up a chair near the broodmares pasture to keep an eye on the clouds. I was just finishing up the grain rations for the mares and foals when I heard Ronnie calling from the yard that another storm was brewing. The wind was already whipping like crazy, so we made haste to the pastures and started bringing in the mares and foals first. We worked for a good hour bringing in all the horses, and as the last few horses were led into the barn, the sky let loose once more with a torrential down pour. I couldn't believe my eyes as the ground was quickly saturated in rain water once more, puddles formed everywhere and then the thunder and lightning started. I shook my head in utter disbelief at this insane Washington weather once again showing its ugly face. Sometimes I REALLY hate living here, this is one of the main reasons why. *eyes rolling*
