Over the Fence

 It occurred to me that I don’t thank people enough so here goes:

Thanks go to Jamie for putting the grooming tools away.  I needed my gps to find them in the orange cupboard but they were not on the barn floor or in the hay. Yay!

To Emmitt for fixing Min’s gatelatch and teaching me about pilot holes;

To Kristy for finding Julia’s gloves and making our feed chart readable.

To Tom for fixing the gator—–again!

To Olivia and Hannah for recognizing a bad bale and keeping it in the wheelbarrow.

To me for washing all the grooming tools in my kitchen sink.  Yuck! Does anyone know how to unclog a drain full of horse hair?

Everybody’s shedding and there are large amounts of horse hair rolling around on the barn floor.  Most folk can’t wait for their horse’s winter coat to disappear and the sleek glossy summer one to appear, but this time of year birds are seeking nesting material and horse hair is ideal. 

 Walking past the freshly trimmed apple tree, I found a tiny nest wrapped round and round with strands of horse hair.  It probably blew down before it was finished but some little bird found a use for something we threw away.  Which brings me to a point; if you are finished with some piece of horse equipment and no longer need it, I suggest you donate it to the barn that burned recently.  I am sure they need lots of stuff.  I found two pony halters in the tack room which I intend to take over.  Let JJ know if you find anything they could use.

It seems that even our cozy little farm is affected by everything going on in the outside world (hard as that is to believe!) Over the past few months, we have lost several members of our barn family due to economic reasons. Since horseback riding is considered a luxury, it’s often one of the first things to be cut out of a budget when money gets tight. We are definately feeling the pinch at the farm, overtly due to the loss of income, but primarily in losing good friends and even better horseman.
The Mounting Block only exists because of the hardworking individuals who believe in it. The support these people have provided, our students, parents, boarders, and volunteers, have kept us going when things seemed the bleakest. So for those who have needed to cut back, to reestablish priorities during these tough times, you are not forgotten. Whether it be a few weeks or a few years, we hope in time you will return. Until then, know that we will always be grateful for the effort you put in to keeping our beloved farm going and making it possible for us to share our love for horses with others.
We are forever in your debt.