Spring Blizzards and Fiesty Foals!

Hank is such a tough little guy!  And, SO playful!  He is what we would call "pony playdough!"  :)  He is very social and friendly and loving his first week of life!...and looking handsome in his green scarf! haha



We've been weaning the yearlings from their Momma's (nearby in the corral).  Sonny (left) has decided he wants to stick around and tend the babies.  :) 



Today was a beautiful sunny day, but VERY cold!  It was 15 degrees this morning...and I think a high of 38 deg ...brrr!  Still nice to be outside!



This is Hank's stance just before he decides to race around the corral!  So cute!



It's supposed to be 50 degrees tomorrow...crossing fingers!   :)

At Last...the (first) Baby Horse is Born!

Yesterday was our usual "momma watch" that we do at some point during the day to witness baby kicks and make sure the girls are doing ok while we take a break from projects. 

Lilly was being VERY restless yesterday and exhibiting some other tell-tale signs of foaling-soon-to-be...so we made sure to keep a close eye on the expecting momma.

After diligent watches, every 15-30 minutes, through the afternoon, evening and night, we watched her continue to pace and lie down and pace.  Then, a few minutes before midnight during a corral check, I saw a little head and front legs wiggling around as Lilly was laying in the round corral...the baby was being born!  In about 10-15 minutes, she was able to finish birthing and under a night full of infinite stars, the baby red dun stud colt was born!

Momma was pretty tired after the delivery, so we rubbed him dry with a towel (it was quite cold last night!) and laughed and smiled as he made his little baby horse whinnys and grunts, talking to his mommy.  In no time, Hank was moving around and able to stand on his own, and momma tended to him.  It was a long night, but we were glad  everything turned out ok without complications!


So, we introduce to you the newest addition to the Diamond D Ranch...

Baby Hank!






As with most babies, they eat, sleep, potty, play, repeat!  :)  He is so cute!  So friendly, but also fiesty.  He is a very sweet and curious little boy!




There was a 6.25% chance that Hank would be a red dun!  It was a fun surprise to see his colors...very flashy!  (Hank's full brother, Miles, is a bay roan; their daddy was a Red Dun)




He sure is a long-legged little guy! 







He's very interested in us...we've been able to pet and rub him often and he comes up to give us kisses, too...until Lilly decides "That's Enough!"  :)




Today Hank played a game called "Hide in the round pen, then run out to the corral, look at us, then run back to the round pen".  :)  So cute!




After-milk nap.  :)










Momma and Baby both catching some rest after a busy night. 
Welcome to the world, Hank!  :)

Waking up to Winter...!?!

Went to bed with the sound of rain of the tin roof of the bunkhouse...only to wake to the silence of big fluffy snow falling upon the landscape!?!  Apparently, Winter demands an encore...






There were some wet and hungry ponies this morning!  The babies, usually shying from the crowd that gathers at the pickup truck while we load the hay, were VERY determined to sneak a pre-breakfast bite with the big horses!









The Maternity Ward is always excited for meal time!







It was peaceful for us to sit with our cups of coffee as we watched the momma's eat breakfast, looking for baby kicks and enjoying the scenery surrounding us.

The sounds of Spring mingled with the presence of Winter as birds chirped in the snow-dusted trees.  The heavy flakes of snow would fall in such a rhythm as if the sky would hold its breath, slowing the falling snow for just a moment, and then appear to exhale and release its whiteness, obscuring our view of the mountain ridges.  The air was crisp this morning, just above freezing, but we were warm in our layers and hot coffee in our grasp.  Weather varying as pauses in the storm would allow melting to begin before Winter would take over again, as if Mother Nature was being indecisive on which season she preferred.

Though we're ready for Spring, it's always beautiful to see the snow fall in the mountains. 

Race Against the Rain!...

Good time to finish up the recently-planted pasture and corrugate while the thunder clouds form above us! 




It's probably a little silly that we have so much fun, even farming! (haha)





Heading through the gate to start the ~3 hour process...



Nothing makes farming more fun then booming the tractor speakers with a rock 'n roll hits cassette tape from the 60s! :)



Dana starts in the middle to survey the slope of the pasture to determine the direction of the corrugates so the field will evenly soak during flood irrigation.  (Much like one would look at the layout of a putting green before hitting the ball.)








Our jobs are never complete without Logan, our Supervisor!  :)







We got done just in time...5 minutes after getting the tractor back to the Ranch it started to rain!...and it hasn't stopped since!?! 



Wet ponies coming up for a salt lick...

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This winter's experience has reiterated that it really is the simple things in life that matter the most!!  :)

Horseback Riding and Field Planting...

We were fortunate to have some beautiful weather over the Easter weekend and the first few days of April, so we decided to take advantage of the warm, sunny days and go horseback riding!
















Amazingly, Lilly STILL has not had her baby yet...she's clinging on to her foal stubbornly!?!

So, with no new little baby foal to watch jump and play in the corral, and a thunderstorm system approaching later today, we decided it was a good time to fire up the JohnDeere50 tractor, hook up the seeder and get the pasture planted! 






Using certified pasture seed and cracked corn, we mix these two together (ratio of 2:1 pasture vs. corn) by hand with a flat shovel then re-bag our mix that is then seeder-ready!







With our seed mixed now to proper proportions and our equipment ready, we head over to Mayfield to plant the pasture, which will help feed the horses during riding days this summer.



We'll start with filling the seeder bins with  a few bags at first to make sure everything goes well...







...And we're off!  :)  I'll stay back here to make sure the seeder chutes are dropping the seed mix at a good rate and evenly...not too fast, not too slow... but, definitely dusty!







Dana finishing up a section of the field..storm clouds above promising a good drink of rain for the seed (hopefully AFTER we're done!).




Logan is a great supervisor and loves to keep us company!  He will follow this tractor for EVERY pass!  Silly pup!  :)


Above is a picture of the "chutes" below the seeder that spit the seeds out into the soil.  This apparatus is ran by a chain, like a bicycle wheel would spin when you pedal.  The discs move when the tractor pulls the seeder and then moves a chain that moves cogs in the seeder that drop the seed mix at a dialed rate (adjusters are above, not shown in this pic).  So, the seed drops from the container bins above, then past the cogs as they turn, then down the accordian-looking pipes then out the end of the metal fingers that dig a little path for the seeds to help establish the planting.


Here is another view, where you can see the seeds dropping out below into the ground...a chain is hooked to the back in a "u" that helps bury the seeds with dirt as we travel. The wooden platform is where someone can stand so they can monitor this process and keep on eye on when more seed bags are needed to fill the bins above.  (Of course, how much seed one needs is determined on how much acreage one has, etc)




Finishing up the seeding...



Here the cogs are visible at the bottom of the bins, so no more seed left to fall down the chutes into the ground...and we're all done before it rained!  :)



A good day to get dirty and get some projects completed!