Relative Something

*this* John W. Hays' take on things and experiences

Posts Tagged ‘stalls

Horsing Around

with one comment

Last night Cyndie headed down to the barn to move the herd in from the cold for the night, and when she returned, she described how things went. First, I’ll explain that we have developed a routine where the horses are moved into the barn one at a time, most often with the aid of a lead rope simply draped around their neck for minimal guidance. When I am around, I usually man the gate so there is only one horse that Cyndie needs to be focused on for each trip into a stall.

She told me that by the time she got down there after dinner, Legacy was pressed up against the gate in eagerness to come inside and Dezirea was right beside him as if to say, “me, too!” The temperature was minus 10°(F) as Cyndie gladly obliged Legacy and then Dezirea. Since I wasn’t there, she just swung the gate behind her in the direction of closed, but didn’t secure it in any way.

With Dezi in her stall, Cyndie turned around to find Cayenne didn’t wait and had taken it upon herself to push open the gate and stroll into the barn calmly, walking straight to her stall and lightly stepping her way inside. She knows the drill.

Following behind was Hunter, with a much less light step. Cyndie said he clomped over to sniff at the truck that had been moved inside so it would be out of the way during plowing. He then walked past his stall to go all the way to the end to check out things by the back door where Legacy and Dezirea are housed. After sniffing at Legacy’s hay, he finally made his way back into his own space, with none of the grace shown by Cayenne.

Cyndie’s description is a perfect presentation of their respective personalities and frequent behaviors.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

Written by johnwhays

February 28, 2014 at 7:00 am

Sensing Familiar

with one comment

It is only August, but already, there are enough hints of the season ahead that I am noticing flashes of recognition for our experiences of one year ago, when we came to this place we are now calling, Wintervale. I am sensing that we have accomplished that first year of newness, and now will begin drawing on memories of the year before, as we navigate each new adventure that pops up for us here.

IMG_2578eThere are still daily incremental changes underway. Yesterday, when I got home from work, I resumed the project of putting up boards lining the stables in the barn. While the task seemed to breeze along easily for me on Sunday, last night I struggled with every step. If something could fall, it did. If I could drop a board or tool, I did. I finished the second stall, but without much in the way of joy for the accomplishment.

I had been diligent about not leaving behind a stray screw on the floor of the stalls that might poke the feet of the future tenants. As I stepped up on the ladder to mount the final board, the entire box of screws flipped off the ledge and dumped in a heap below. Oh, joy.

Time to clean up and stop fighting the trend.

The upgrade of two stalls is complete. That leaves two to go. We are making progress.

IMG_2584e

Written by johnwhays

August 21, 2013 at 7:00 am