Im not quite sure why Iam feeling that today was anything out of the norm ... its just like most of the days here ... wake up, muck out, feed up, feed humans etc etc etc. Perhaps because it was unusally busy for a Monday... and today being the day that we were to wean Jimmy from Sweetie and Libby.
Yes, I do mean from the 2 mares ( the happy family is pictured! ).... both of them are in foal and Sweetie has a real laid back approach to motherhood (so much so that she would let Libby look after Jimmy when she was "busy" doing things that pregnant mothers do... like eat and swim and eat. Libby was very happy to be "Auntie Libby" but drew the line on the suckling bit (thank goodness). So, when it was time to do the actual deed and separate the family.... I proceeded with Evan (with much trepidation!).
My Job: Move Billy and Max into crush yard with hay so that yard and stable are free. Make sure Eric and Joey were busy sharing their hay in the yard next door. Prepare weaning barn, water bowls, put on crash helmet etc etc. Iam the Weaning Barn Door Manager when Sweetie and Jim were led into the stable by Evan and Sweetie was let out and Jimmy was kept inside. He was not a happy chappie.
Evan's Job: Go and collect Sweetie and Jimmy (a task easier said than done because a) Libby didnt want to be separated from Sweetie and Jim and b) Jimmy was too busy paying social visits to the horses on the way up to the top yards).
To my horror (but not surprised ...) Jimmy showed shades of Lenny when he was weaned; totally upset by the whole matter. All three of them.... (Auntie Libbby included) called out to each other all afternoon, only stopping when Sweetie was eating.
Ok, with Jimmy safely inside the weaning barn, it was time to let out his new mates from the crush paddock. One, Two, Three... open the gate and did they do the bolt around to Jimmy or what, only to find out that on first contact, it might not be such a good idea to get too close to this fella just now.
Billy and Max abruptly about turned and ran away from Jimmy and went back outside into their paddock. However, by feedtime, all 3 boys had become accustomed to each other and Billy and Max were glad to show Jimmy the ropes at feeding time.
Its now 10pm and Sweetie and Libby have stopped their calling to Jimmy.... Jimmy calls out spasmodically but mum and Auntie have moved on. Jimmy is quickly becoming attached to his new buddies Maxwell and William. Hopefully tomorrow sees a further progression with the relationship of the three little boys, with a formidable partnership to be made in the very near future.
All of this was followed with surgery rounds (change Eric's poultice and bathe his face, clean Bob's cut and dress it, put some antibiotic powder on Cindy's leg). Not to mention the feeding caper at the end of the day.
*sigh* 6.00pm rolls around like it comes straight after 12 noon. Our next door neighbour joins us on the front verandah for a cold alcoholic beverage (well deserved I might add) - what a way to end the day.
Seems like it was just another day at the office!
Helen.
Yes, I do mean from the 2 mares ( the happy family is pictured! ).... both of them are in foal and Sweetie has a real laid back approach to motherhood (so much so that she would let Libby look after Jimmy when she was "busy" doing things that pregnant mothers do... like eat and swim and eat. Libby was very happy to be "Auntie Libby" but drew the line on the suckling bit (thank goodness). So, when it was time to do the actual deed and separate the family.... I proceeded with Evan (with much trepidation!).
My Job: Move Billy and Max into crush yard with hay so that yard and stable are free. Make sure Eric and Joey were busy sharing their hay in the yard next door. Prepare weaning barn, water bowls, put on crash helmet etc etc. Iam the Weaning Barn Door Manager when Sweetie and Jim were led into the stable by Evan and Sweetie was let out and Jimmy was kept inside. He was not a happy chappie.
Evan's Job: Go and collect Sweetie and Jimmy (a task easier said than done because a) Libby didnt want to be separated from Sweetie and Jim and b) Jimmy was too busy paying social visits to the horses on the way up to the top yards).
To my horror (but not surprised ...) Jimmy showed shades of Lenny when he was weaned; totally upset by the whole matter. All three of them.... (Auntie Libbby included) called out to each other all afternoon, only stopping when Sweetie was eating.
Ok, with Jimmy safely inside the weaning barn, it was time to let out his new mates from the crush paddock. One, Two, Three... open the gate and did they do the bolt around to Jimmy or what, only to find out that on first contact, it might not be such a good idea to get too close to this fella just now.
Billy and Max abruptly about turned and ran away from Jimmy and went back outside into their paddock. However, by feedtime, all 3 boys had become accustomed to each other and Billy and Max were glad to show Jimmy the ropes at feeding time.
Its now 10pm and Sweetie and Libby have stopped their calling to Jimmy.... Jimmy calls out spasmodically but mum and Auntie have moved on. Jimmy is quickly becoming attached to his new buddies Maxwell and William. Hopefully tomorrow sees a further progression with the relationship of the three little boys, with a formidable partnership to be made in the very near future.
All of this was followed with surgery rounds (change Eric's poultice and bathe his face, clean Bob's cut and dress it, put some antibiotic powder on Cindy's leg). Not to mention the feeding caper at the end of the day.
*sigh* 6.00pm rolls around like it comes straight after 12 noon. Our next door neighbour joins us on the front verandah for a cold alcoholic beverage (well deserved I might add) - what a way to end the day.
Seems like it was just another day at the office!
Helen.
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