The Seat of My Pants

“I did everything by the seat of my pants. That’s why I got hurt so much.”

Evel Knievel

I usually write these blog posts as they are due: live in time. However, my new life on the farm is interrupting that usual course of action. It is Saturday night, going on 9:00. I am headed out in the morning to go to our old house to do some packing. And I decided about an hour ago to take my daughter with me. It’s been hard on us to live so far away from family, so she’s coming to visit while I work.

So I had planned to sit down today and write a blog post a few days early since I’ll be gone when it is due.

But noooooo. My farm had other plans for me….

My “routine” is that I turn on the coffee maker, having set it up ready to go the night before, and take my three dogs outside. Then I grab a cup of coffee and head to feed the horses that live here. Here’s one of my favorite seats in the mornings.

Well, when I took the dogs out this morning, the sun was not yet up. I couldn’t see out into the yard.

They barked and barked and barked at something.

I got the dogs inside, wrapped up (it was in the 20’s) and headed out to see what the commotion was about.

Two horses were in my yard; they had escaped their pasture and were grazing in my frosty garden.

(Four horses, 2 mares and their 2 colts, lived on our farm when we purchased it. They belong to a neighbor who has become a friend. One of the little colts is now ours. The two escapees were our little colt and his mom. His mom is the one with the white on her face and a light colored mane. She is a Haflinger.)

What to do, what to do. The colts are totally untrained; they have been “mountain raised” so far. How in the world would we get those hores back in their pasture??? The mother is the boss mare of the herd. Scares the living daylights out of me. She’s pushy. I guess she is my boss too.

Well, this was easier done than said.

I opened the gate and put out some hay. They went right back in. How cool is that?

Did I mention that this was before my first cup of coffee?

Next.

I had to find out where they got out.

Their pasture is huge. Vastly huge. I set out with my husband to climb the mountain pasture to find the spot they got out. We found lots of things walking the line. Like a group of seven turkeys strutting their stuff (watch out, birds, Thanksgiving is right around the corner) . A pile of scat that we think belongs to one in of a pack of coyotes (they come into our pasture every night and howl beside the barn.) An old rusty crooked nail that had to be four inches long. Yet another spring, where earth’s water found a place in our pasture to sprout out of the ground and refresh and delight us. And finally, way up on top of the moutain, to a place I’d never walked before, we found the escape spot. There was pretty blonde mane hair on the barbed wire to prove it.

The spot was in a briar patch. Great. I slid under and climbed over and snatched my red hat back many times from the waving sticks of thorns. At one point, I was half way over a barbed wire fence (one leg on each side) and got my arm hooked on a ginormous thorn bush. I was doomed no matter what. It was either going to be the seat of my pants or my arm, or both if I was particularly unlucky. I decided my arm could take it easier. Arm sacrifice. You wouldn’t believe the spot on my arm where the large thorn went in. It looks horrible. My husband said that it must have hit a blood vessel. (However, I’ve noticed that I injure more easily as I age. Seems like I’m becoming more black and blue. Maybe it’s my age combined with moving to a farm?)

Okay, anyway. I got a new wire strung. Kinda,. I did the best I knew how. Which isn’t much. In fact…..it will be interesting to see if the horses escape tonight. Poor husband if they do, ’cause I’m leaving before sun up in the morning.

Speaking of horses. Here is the reason the rest of my day was so full.

I got a horse!

That’s the good news. I’ve been looking and looking and I found HIM, THE horse. Yes, this is not A horse, this is THE horse.

Here he is.

WHAT SHOULD I NAME HIM??? HELP ME!!!

This was pretty cute. I don’t think he knew what to do with this thing.

Of course, neither do I!

It’s not mine, btw. Another neighbor’s.

But I need to learn how to drive it! One day, after I find that money tree in the yard, I’m buying me a tractor.

 And here he is, with our Christmas trees in the background.

And here he is with my husband.

Picture hog.

He turned his head all of a sudden.

Do you love him as much as I do? He is so sweet and kind and gentle. Perfect for us.

But life is not perfect for him at our farm. The other horses are giving him a hard time.

 Do you know what these marks are?

HOOF MARKS!

They are kicking my horse, THE horse! Sweetie Pie!

So, I have separated him into a pasture across the driveway. Today, I brought over the nicest mare and her colt to visit with him. Things went better introducing just two of the present herd to him. There was no kicking.

After I get back in town, I’ll try the big boss mare again with him. I’ll supervise more closely now that I know she’s a kicker.

We built him a stall the best that we could, so he’s safe at night from the rest of the herd. I’m just hoping everyone in my horse family will show some more southern hospitality to the newcomer.

Do we know how to take care of a horse? We are learning. Do we know how to ride a horse? We are learning. Do we know how to build a stall? We are learning. Do we know how to fix a fence? We are learning. Do we know how to round up horses? We are learning. Do we know how to muck out a stall? Pretty much like a giant kitty litter box, if you ask me, so I’ve got that one covered.

Yep I’m flying by the seat of my pants. I’m actually no stranger to that; it’s just that my pants are just dirtier than they used to be. So am I for that matter. Funny, I used to take shower every day, but probably didn’t really need to. It was a luxury. Now I take a shower every day AND NEED IT…SERIOUSLY NEED IT. It is a necessity.

I’m headed out to the “barn” to check on things. Don’t forget to help me name our new horse!

And Happy Thanksgiving, Dear Friends! I am thankful for each and every one of you!

Talk to me.

Until next time, Friends, savor the flavor of life!

Lots of love, The City Farmgirl, Rebekah

ps please forgive any type-o’s…no spell check on this program….