Spring Weather Jobs

Tractor training...Is that a scary monster??

No, OK then, probably not a scary monster after all!

This week there have been lots of hints of spring about - at last the leaves on the trees are starting to appear, the ground has dried up, the Jackdaws are collecting fur from Tufty (by landing on her back to collect it - sorry but no photo of that yet!) and today our first swallows were sighted.

It's meant that we've been busy getting some of the bigger jobs done...last week Sara and Hazel-Ann helped to distribute the pea gravel in the yard...with Ted operating the tractor to save us from having to wheelbarrow it.  The pea gravel helps in 2 ways - firstly it's a "conformable surface" that's good for hooves - keeping them in good condition, and it's also nice and comfy/supportive for the ponies to stand on...secondly the ponies seem to think it's a good peeing area, which helps to keep the bedding costs down!

Sara helps with shovelling the pea gravel

Ted delivers the gravel to the entrance of the barn

The sun was out at the weekend, which was a good opportunity to rearrange the fencing in the main field.  It's time to restrict grazing before the grass gets too lush, so all the electric fencing needed rearranging and reinforcing to make sure there's a strong current running through it.  The older boys would stay in a set patch even if the electricity was off...but Frodo has a variety of techniques for escaping, so a lot of hard work has to go into sorting out the fencing and keeping a strong current running through it.

Ted did a super job of rolling the fields with the tractor, making it a lot easier for us to move about without having to negotiate all the hoof ruts.  It looks very smart too! The ponies' winter field will be shut off very shortly.  The terrible weather meant that it became impossible to poo-pick the winter field.  Now it will be chain harrowed and the sheep will graze on the pasture.  The good thing about the sheep is they will "cleanse" the pasture of horse worms.

Faye working with Topsy

Faye's been working more with Topsy again, and things are progressing nicely.  Tufty's definitely feeling well again and back to her normal self.  Her worm count test came back as 500epg which isn't too bad but she's been having wormer this week - the Verm-X will help her to boost her immune system as well as sorting out any worms.

With both Hazel-Ann and Graham volunteering today, we managed a 3 pony excursion.  We met quite a few tractors and a crop sprayer, but the ponies coped very well with them all.  Some pony grooming was also in order - summer coats are emerging and there is A LOT of thick winter coat to shed!

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