Getting Readier
It’s December again! We all know what that means. Winter is coming!
Winter will be the reward for all the folks who fear the world will come to some spectacular end on December 21 this year. They will wake up on December 22 and the world will still be on, and it will be winter. Well, at least for those in the northern hemisphere. For those on the southern half of the planet, happy coming of summer to you.
I always find it difficult to reconcile the thought that people are experiencing the season of summer when we are in the depths of cold and dark.
We are going to celebrate the new month today by getting our very first quote on the job of installing new fencing and creating an arena. I don’t know if it is too late in the season to actually get fence installed, but this is one of the things we really would like to have in place before we bring horses to the property.
Cyndie contacted a local company and a representative is supposed to come out some time this morning. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we will be able to afford fencing that is robust, low maintenance, good looking, and has a long life expectancy. We want to have enough money left over to install an all season, on-demand watering system for the horses. Add to that, a hay shed, and we will be getting dang close to horse-ready.
You might have thought the cats were going to be a source of tales to be told here, but they’ll have nothing on the horses. Unless they finally catch a mouse. If they turn out to be good hunters, I’ll make sure to get them a fair share of “air-time.” When horses arrive, it will be hard for me not to post and write about the most essential of reasons we are here.
Relative Something 
Yes! We talked fences today. Plus, we gained new perspective about how the land opportunities can open up for us if/when we remove some of the existing internal fencing that is left from previous operations. This will be a great place for horses!
johnwhays
December 1, 2012 at 7:06 pm
I expect you have considered the rationale behind the internal fencing – once it is gone, it is gone, of course. It is usually an advantage to have areas that you can section off whether for reasons of grazing or behavior ‘issues’ with the horses, such as when you want to integrate horses that need time to get to know each other, etc. Clearly, you are doing your thing and that is the way to go, but you might just ask the previous owners how it all worked. In some ways, each case is a case, isn’t it? And your property will have strong and not so strong aspects to work with. Nevertheless, these fun and fascinating features are immensely thrilling to work with and you are the man for them!
Ian Rowcliffe
December 2, 2012 at 7:03 am
Yes, and the small size of two of the “paddocks” they were using appear to make sense for the mini horses they were keeping. We will be creating an exercise arena and round pen, in addition to section-able grazing pastures, some free range, and a ‘sacrifice’ area near the barn where they will have the shelter of the overhang, but likely nibble the growth down to dirt. Thank you for your insights!
johnwhays
December 2, 2012 at 8:26 am
A good ‘feel’ to this post, John – the horses are coming!
Ian Rowcliffe
December 1, 2012 at 2:47 pm
No option for replies to replies, so I’ll fit it in here:-) Sounds like you are way ahead of me – great going! Your horses are going to be so pleased!
Ian Rowcliffe
December 2, 2012 at 9:59 am
I stumbled over that same oddity… no option for replying to a reply, and discovered that clicking the “Reply” link for the first reply will stack them in proper order. Or, that’s the way it appears to display for me!
Our fence contractor had plenty of experience in creating the containment, and separation we are expecting to need. He even promised a lead to a customer of his who is in the area and specializes in natural healing work with her horses. She insisted in an all natural fence (no chemically treated wood) and ended up with natural cedar posts and rope. He said it looked GREAT and he never would have believed it would work, but she convinced him to install it, and now he is sold on the solution.
johnwhays
December 2, 2012 at 4:54 pm