When I'm riding Blue two or three times a week, he hardly needs his hooves trimmed at all. In fact, only the two front ones where they tend to grow long in one spot need attention, and Cliff can usually handle that. For the past few months, though, I haven't been on my horse often enough to wear his feet down. So Randy, my farrier, came to visit yesterday. I'm so glad I stopped having shoes put on my horse: It saves a lot of money and hassle to keep him barefoot. $35 for a trim, as opposed to $85 for shoeing. 
After an afternoon of rain (another half-inch in the rain gauge), I noticed the sun was shining brightly outside yesterday and figured there might be a rainbow to the east. So I grabbed my camera and headed out.
Indeed there was, a nice, full one, a rainbow too big for me to capture in one photo.
Notice how the coffee tree is illuminated by the setting sun. Even though I know rainbows are a natural phenomenon, I still get a feeling I'm seeing something magical when I witness one.
For any farmer-type people who might read this blog, here's the business end of my recently-acquired Jersey heifer, Bonnie. Although she isn't real heavy with calf, when I look at her backside and udder, I wonder if she'll really wait until late June to have her calf.
Cliff rigged it up so the ladies can get in this pen where they can bed down in the stall without horses bothering them. They opt to spend most nights in there. It's their choice.
Meet Bonnie.
She's two years old. She should calve in late June, or thereabouts. She is a registered Jersey, and is bred to a registered Jersey bull.
She's about the same size as Secret, although her conformation is much better.Thanks to Craigslist, I now have a heifer that can give me a calf, and consequently, some milk and cream. Here's hoping everything goes well with her.
She's fairly gentle, having been handled by her former owners. It won't take much to make her a total pet. I'll keep her in the small pen until the horses get acquainted with her; otherwise they'd chase her.
CLICK HERE.With any luck, she'll be gone soon so I can quit worrying about it.If the link doesn't work, that's good; it's a sign she's sold.
*editing this to add: I mentioned on Facebook that I'd like the money to buy a cow, and at least two people sent me cows for MyFarm.
ROFLOL!
I'm going to be lazy and just post the link to an entry on my other journal, for anyone who is interested in our trip to the FASCINATING state of Kansas. Or for those who love rusty tractors.
Oh, by the way: tomorrow we'll go get my baby Jersey heifer, Secret, and bring her to her new home.
I can't wait. Stay tuned for pictures.
I used to have a small herd of registered Jersey cows. I loved them so much, and I've missed them terribly for the past dozen or so years I've spent without them. It looks like, good Lord willing, this baby will be mine in a little over a week. I'll bottle-feed her, halter-break her, and make a total pet of her.
Her name is going to be Secret.
She is tiny; I doubt that her mother weighs more than 500 pounds. But I've always preferred my Jerseys small.
When I'm riding Blue two or three times a week, he hardly needs his hooves trimmed at all. In fact, only the two front ones where they tend to grow long in one spot need attention, and Cliff can usually handle that. For the past few months, though, I haven't been on my horse often enough to wear his feet down. So Randy, my farrier, came to visit yesterday. I'm so glad I stopped having shoes put on my horse: It saves a lot of money and hassle to keep him barefoot. $35 for a trim, as opposed to $85 for shoeing. 
After an afternoon of rain (another half-inch in the rain gauge), I noticed the sun was shining brightly outside yesterday and figured there might be a rainbow to the east. So I grabbed my camera and headed out.
Indeed there was, a nice, full one, a rainbow too big for me to capture in one photo.
Notice how the coffee tree is illuminated by the setting sun. Even though I know rainbows are a natural phenomenon, I still get a feeling I'm seeing something magical when I witness one.
For any farmer-type people who might read this blog, here's the business end of my recently-acquired Jersey heifer, Bonnie. Although she isn't real heavy with calf, when I look at her backside and udder, I wonder if she'll really wait until late June to have her calf.
Cliff rigged it up so the ladies can get in this pen where they can bed down in the stall without horses bothering them. They opt to spend most nights in there. It's their choice.
