Let The Rain Begin......

My day started off wet, cold and having to deal with a grumpy horse. My farrier was scheduled to be at the farm between 9:00-9:30 yesterday morning. I always bring my horses out early, to groom them up really well, and make sure their hooves are clean. I believe in having the horses ready by the time my farrier arrives. I have always been responsible and on time when it comes to everyone else's schedule, and I know how frustrating it is to have to wait for someone. My farrier thanks me all the time for being ready for him.

When I first woke up, I looked out my window to see what the weather was like. It had rained pretty hard the night before and I was hoping it would hold off until after the shoeing appointment. It actually didn't look too bad. Some clouds and the sun was trying to peek through. Good! So I bundle up and head out to get the girls. I always catch Fritzy first. I have to bring the horses down to the house one at a time, and even though Fritzy is impatient, I can leave her tied without worrying about her freaking out, while I go back for Brandy. I don't leave Brandy unattended when she is tied, especially if she is away from the other horses. She can panic and pull back. Once I get both horses down to the house, I get them all cleaned up. As soon as I got the last hoof picked out, the rain started falling and falling and falling. When I say falling, I mean a torrential down pour! Darn it! Where Fritzy was tied, the rain runoff from the roof was coming down good. It was dripping down her face and neck. I was standing under the tractor shed with Brandy, who could only fit half her body under cover. Fritzy was getting really grouchy, and when Fritzy gets grouchy, all hell can break loose. I have a rubber mat where she is tied, but she can back up and to the side, to paw a huge hole in the ground. She was slinging mud everywhere. So much for clean legs and hooves! I could tell she was getting really agitated, but there was nothing I could do. She also started to try to untie herself. But I am smarter than her and know better then to tie her loosely. Also in irritation, she grabs the wood rail, bites into it and rips chunks of wood out. She is not a cribber. She only does this when she has to stand tied for awhile, after her impatience kicks in. I was just hoping the rain would let off enough when the farrier got here. Since he gave me a time range of half an hour, we had to wait quite awhile. It kept raining, hard. Fritzy became more agitated. Just what I need. Fritzy already can be a pain in the butt when it comes to having her legs/hooves handled, and I just knew this was going to cause problems for my farrier. Than right before my eyes, the rain started to let up a little. Seriously? Or was my mind playing tricks on me? My farrier pulls into my driveway. The rain had slowed down to a heavy sprinkle. Thank goodness! I told my farrier when he got out of his truck, that Fritzy was going to be grouchy, just so he would be prepared. But you know what? She actually calmed down once he started pulling her shoes. She did better than I thought she would, considering the wet circumstances. Thank you Fritzy!

I handed my farrier $220.00. He handed me $20.00 back, I say "What are you doing?" He says "Well, now with the economy, and the gas prices aren't as high as they were last year, I am going to lower my rates back down". You see, about a year and a half ago, my farrier raised his rates, quite a bit. I can understand, especially with how high gas prices got last year. But I wasn't expecting him to lower them back down. I was kind of in shock. I thanked him and told him I really appreciated it. $20.00 isn't a lot of money, but it is to me, who doesn't have a job, who is having a hard time finding a job and where every penny counts in this household. (Just in case inquiring minds want to know, my farrier charges $110.00 per horse just for front shoes and a trim.)

After they got their new shoes, I took Brandy back to the pasture first. She always does this little prance on her way back to the pasture, it's like she knows she got a pedicure, and she is showing off. I think it's cute. It reminds me of racehorses prancing along to the starting gate. I set Brandy free, I thought she was going to run off and kick up her heels, like usual, but nope, she just walked off. I go back to get Fritzy. Sometimes in the cooler weather, she will also prance, and she has even gone off bucking a couple times as I am leading her. I watched her closely as we walked by the dog kennel, this is where she will buck. She did look over that direction and perked up, but I jerked on the lead rope and made her go forward. I wasn't in the mood for any silly antics. Remember, I am cold, wet and miserable. I get her to the pasture. I was also expecting Fritzy to take off running, once I set her free. I took her halter off, backed up a couple feet, she spun around like a reining horse (my trainer used to secretly want to turn Fritzy into a reining horse), and kicked up her heels, slinging mud all over me. I was able to close my eyes just in time. But I did get covered in brown goo, from head to toe. Great. Just add a little more wet to my morning, why don't you, Fritz! I definitely needed a shower after the morning I had. Soaking wet, cold, covered in mud, and I am so not enjoying myself at the moment.

The weather was really strange the rest of the day. It rained, then the sun came out, then the wind picks up, then rain, then sun, you get my point. So this evening I happened to look out the window to see what the horses were up too, and all I could see is piles of steam coming off of my horses. Photo opp! I grab the camera and Aussie's and head out the door.

Fritzy basking in the sun, what is left of it anyways.......



Can you believe that Brandy was actually white this morning? I am glad my Mustang is not white. I haven't had a dark colored horse, since I was 12. I know they still get dirty, but it won't be quite as noticable as this......



Muddy hoof season has arrived......



Steam rolling off the back.....



Fritzy slurping rainwater out of the grain bucket. Yes, she was really slurping......



Brandy, wondering what all that slurping was about......



A grumpy Appaloosa.......Sorry sis, I never said I was any good at photography......



A very wet, dirty, spotted butt.......



This is what we get to look forward to, from now until June.......



The rays of the evening sun, after a long, wet, miserable day......



Did I ever tell you, that summer is my absolute favorite season?