Foals and friends day

 We are having summer like weather here. A few days ago, we still had snow in the shaded areas, then -whammo!- we get 30 C weather! So of course that meant getting a lot of the outside work done. Clean up from winter's mess, trim tree branches that were rubbing on the garage roof, take that big pile of debris to the burn pit that was such an eyesore when I looked at Beamer's pen from the house.... etc. etc. We are also preparing an area for my raised bed/container garden. 

We took a day yesterday for visiting- Ted to go see his dad, and me to go see Shayla and help with the foals. And visiting our friends where we used to have our horses, the ones who gave me Velvet. It was a great day! Except for the end, but we'll get to that. First- foal pics!

Zipper is adorable, very friendly and easy to catch. Shayla did a little work with teaching him to give to pressure (I think this is only his 3rd time being haltered) and he did very well. Smart little fellow!

Working with Bear was a little different. He hadn't been haltered before, and it was definitely a two person job. However, once he was haltered and got loved up on, he figured out that this was a good thing! I didn't get any photos of the process as I was busy helping, but did get some from after. 

He was much happier being handled after the halter lesson. 

We also visited the draft mare herd, there are two foals there. This one is a filly. Her sire is full Percheron and her dam is part Percheron with Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred in the mix. 

She's very cute! Not named yet as far as I know. 

Then there is this fellow, the mares had moved into the shade of the trees and he was just chillin' out having a nap. 

The cows are calving there too. We kept an eye on this new born for a bit until we were sure it had it's first drink- important on such a hot day. 

Jayne, Belle and Dolly are all close to foaling. With the full moon on Friday, I'm betting at least 2 of them will foal out. Belle may take a little longer as she doesn't seem as ready as Jayne and Dolly. This may be the first time in a long time that she doesn't foal out on a full moon!

Got in a visit with Gussie and Boe too, they are turned out with some others on a separate pasture. Gussie isn't due until late July. 

At 20 years old now, she's looking good! Boe is growing a lot too, and was his usual friendly handsome self. 

Still has his winter scruffies going on!

It sure was great to play with the foals, I'm having withdrawals seeing everyone else with their foals! Ah well, I got my fix. 

And about that "except for the end" bit....

When Ted came to pick me up in the early afternoon, I could smell smoke. There are wildfires an hour or so west of there, so we figured it was probably that. However, when we got home I got a text from Shayla about a new fire right close to them. Like within a couple of miles. They got an emergency alert on the cell phones. Having to make possible evacuation plans when you have that many animals to look after is stressful! Fortunately they have enough land that is fire proof to keep most of them and places to put others. Including here. Fortunately, there has been no further notice to get out, so the crews that worked all night must have been effective at controlling it. 

Ted and I discussed our own plans in case of fire. We are surrounded by all those spruce trees and we have an asphalt shingle roof on this house. The house would probably be a loss. We do have the river close enough to pump water and we have plenty of pasture, but it has dead grass that would be a fire magnet, so we would load the two older horses and either pony or ride Ruby out of here to a nearby plowed field. 

With the high and hot dry winds, prairie fire is a constant concern. There is a complete fire ban in this part of the Province. Two more days of this before we have rain in the forecast. We sure need it, not just for the fire threat, but for those who have put their crops in, the rain is needed to get the seed growing.