So far in Session One...

A HUGE thank you to all the volunteers and the Strum family for the great facilities.  It was great to see a crowd at Wednesday Workday, and we started this year off with less on our To Do list than ever. 

By the numbers for Week 1:

Shedding version... we lost count, but the ponies are less furry! :0)

•   36 volunteers signed in (we know there were more, there was a missing sign in sheet at least part of   a day)
•   3 trailer trips to move horses back (and Rosie was SO happy to see her barn again!)
•   17 horses/ponies were dewormed
•   27 clients served (normally we'll have more, so if a vol felt left out, keep coming, we will need you!)
•   40 hooves trimmed
•   11 bridlepaths/manes clipped
•   LOTS (piles!) of fur was shed, brushed, or pulled off (hey, sometimes it's just easier to use your hands on all that loose fur)
•   12 muck buckets dumped 
•   2 harnesses cleaned
•   6 carts/carriages moved
•   8 saddles cleaned
•   1.5 round bales of hay were eaten in the last 2 weeks.
•   2 bags of Senior feed for Alex
•   2.5 escapees--Jen forgot to check the pony gate latch--Peanut only made it 1/2 way out, then decided to back himself into the pen (the What, I've been inside the whole time! act).  Dandy and Spunky sampled a few bites of hay before parking themselves back in the pony pen.  I do love our minis--saved me chasing them in the rain at night!

For the start of Week 2:

• Dani taught a volunteer the Shetland Shuffle
• Thanks Tues. vols for the safe, smooth night!  It's great to see cars parked in the vol parking when I'm running late from work!
• VEISHA is coming, will there be enough vols on Sat.?
• Peanut has recovered from his tummy troubles and is back to his Nutty self.
• Thanks to my mucking buddies, we raked all the manure out from under the eaves. 
  
• And 4 minis are spending some quality time in the nice, dry arena.  After last week, I decided that it was easier to chore than for all of us to attempt to clean the soggy little mud balls.  It's hard to stay clean when your belly is inches away from the mud (that's why Kris calls them the Pasture Squeegees). So dry, fluffy ponies for the Mini Power class tomorrow!  So far it seems like they have had lots of fun playing with the hula hoops-- they were scattered around in the back of the arena tonight.  And yes, Kris, I moved the banner! : )
• And the Story City Girl Scouts made a few new arena toys--they will brighten things up! 

Me and My Shadow

Sunday was a fun day at the barn.  Lots of cleaning and some horse work.   Two new ponies came on trial.  Rodey is a 14 year old mare who has had lots of kid miles.  Sorry I don't have her picture yet.  I was too captivated by Alex and his new little buddy, another new donation, Prancer.  Alex is 22 and Prancer is 5.  They really seemed to hit it off!

Don't forget to contact Kris for your vol shift.  Check out the calender on this website for shift times

 

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First load of horses to the new location



Peanut and Miracle.  Miracle is happy to be out of his
stall - or mini "time out" since he was slipping through the fence
for the greener grass.

Today Buddy, Alex, Dandy, Miracle and Peanut cruised to Roland in ol' blue.  They loved the new pasture with a run-in shed and lots of posts to scratch on.  Their neighbors, the Strum's horses, across the drive were delighted to have visitors.  Our gang settled right in.  Then they saw the calves.  Our "cow pony", Buddy snorted the most.  The minis pretty much checked them out and then forgot about them.  The calves were still staring at our herd when we drove away. 

Dani, Jen and I spent a few minutes digging through the moved boxes, tubs, crates, and barrels and started setting up.  Jen and I plan to spend some time there tomorrow if anyone would like to join us. 

We had to compliment the owners on their wonderful design.  The facilities are so easy to work in, so clean, and so spacious.

Vols - start checking in.  I have shifts set up.  I will get them on the calender soon.  Can't wait to ride! Kris

Alex and Buddy at the new location - the other horses are thinking this is a play date!

This is yesterday - Peanut and 22 year old Alex "rarin' to go" to the new barn!   I hope you are just as ready!

TOMORROW,  SATURDAY, MARCH 26 is the big day.  Meet at Stagecoach at 9 AM.   We will disassemble the ramp and lift, load carts, carriages, stuff, misc. and etc. and head off to the new barn.  When that stuff is moved, a crew will be dispatched to the Lager house to get the saddles, harnesses and other goodies for the trip to Roland.    Remeber your gloves, friends, trucks, and trailers.  Also, it looks like we will need our Iowa "spring" weather gear.  

Tomorrow will be our day to find out where the closest pizza is to the new place :):):)
Truck on!  Kris