Relative Something

The most significant sign that we are making progress on breaking loose from the icy grip of winter is that I was able to wrench the large barn doors free and slide them open yesterday afternoon. That’s just in time for the next delivery of feed bags scheduled for today.

I bet I’ve taken this picture many times over the years, but it always fascinates me when the ground thaw process causes rocks to drop away from the surface. Later, when everything is equally thawed, the moss will be back to flush against the rocks.

I watch it happen every year, and I still don’t completely grasp how it works.

The footing is very treacherous in the woods where the blanket of leaves is thawing, causing each footstep to slide upon the slurry of mud on the still-frozen ground below. That layer between the leaves and frozen ground acts like ball bearings.

When I walk in the paddocks, I strive to place my boots where the surface looks like it will support my weight. If I make enough trips back and forth, I can pave a smooth path. At the same time, any ground that is thawed where a horse places a hoof becomes a deep crater. A 1,300-pound body can sink its feet more than half a foot into the soil.

However, if they decide to lie down, they can pack the surface smooth over a wide area. I found four spots where Mix had lain down and left behind a significant mat of shed hair. I gotta believe the other horses are doing the same, but their hair is harder to spot unless there’s a lot of it.

They are all taking advantage of rolling to scratch their itches as the winter coat is beginning to shed.

When the mud stays on their coat and clumps their hair together, we try to brush them out. Cyndie was able to do a cursory pass over three of them while they ate their morning feed, but Mix was very expressive about not wanting to be touched.

Cyndie leaves today for a couple of weeks to visit her mom in Florida, so grooming may not happen until she returns. I’ve never enjoyed much success in enlisting their cooperation when I’ve tried brushing them out. Luckily, Maddy will be here on Friday with the farrier, and I’ve seen her accomplish great things when brushing the mares.

Of course, there is a chance of rain on Friday, so any mud they’ve rolled in won’t be dry for brushing if that happens.

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