tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post4898910480672557664..comments2024-03-08T16:13:12.521-05:00Comments on Journal of Ravenseyrie: A ReprieveLynne Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16107340619393934366noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-50502614006194720582009-01-21T15:05:00.000-05:002009-01-21T15:05:00.000-05:00Eva asked: "Do you feel you need to eat more in t...Eva asked: "Do you feel you need to eat more in this cold as well,like your equines?"<BR/><BR/>Yes, and I need more sleep too.<BR/><BR/>"And how many pounds of hay per equine do yo haul out. Do you notice the increased consumption?"<BR/><BR/>This is something Jean has asked of me, too, and I feel a awkward answering because we've never weighed hay portions or kept track of feedings in this way. Here is how I explained to Jean in an email how we determine what amount of hay to feed to meet the needs of the horses: "I observe each horse's (or mule's) state of being each time I am with them. What is his mood? How does it feel to touch him? How does he respond to my presence? How does she comport herself while I am preparing the meals? How long does it take her to finish what I've put out to eat? What type of weather do we have this morning? What type of weather is predicted for later in the day? What is tomorrow supposed to be like? Is it windy? Cold? Damp? Snow? Rain?" and also this: "One fail-safe measure of the horses' needs is Mistral. When he wants food, he paces at the gate. He never paces at the gate after hay times, instead will either take up a dozing position or move off to forage."<BR/><BR/>Having said this we have been feeding much more heavily due to the lower temperatures. This morning, however, it was +21°F when we fed breakfast, and we put out the same as when it was -37°F a few days ago. The horses left the hay after about an hour and a half and went out to paw through the snow for grass, then went over to the Cedar trees to nibble on them, and then took in some playtime followed by a nap. They were just coming back to their hay when I left for work just before 11am. We had fed them at 6:30am.<BR/><BR/>Eva wrote: "We have the opposite extreme this winter her in california that after a two week period of constant rain everything has dried up and temps are in the 7o's. The poor horses are stressing in heir long fur coats, and the even poorer ones that wear blankets 24/7 are unable to dissipate the heat. I see Shadow's hair all curled up from the sweating during the day. I think he would do very well in a colder environment."<BR/><BR/>It is much more difficult for horses to handle the heat (especially when blanketed or still in winter hair) than to cope with the cold. Hopefully your temperatures will moderate, if not...we have room for Shadow here. :-)<BR/><BR/><BR/>Judy Martin wrote: "What a beautiful blog you have made here with photos of your horses and environs. Congratulations."<BR/><BR/>Judy, how nice of you to stop by to peruse the Journal of Ravenseyrie. Being a Manitoulin gal, maybe some day you will stop by and visit the horses in person, consider this an open invitation.Lynne Gerardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16107340619393934366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-9440325719947353522009-01-20T00:58:00.000-05:002009-01-20T00:58:00.000-05:00Hello LynneWhat a beautiful blog you have made her...Hello Lynne<BR/>What a beautiful blog you have made here with photos of your horses and environs. Congratulations.Judy Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00619951031502775381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-54667344172259691172009-01-18T20:39:00.000-05:002009-01-18T20:39:00.000-05:00Lynne,it makes me laugh to think that 11 degrees f...Lynne,<BR/><BR/>it makes me laugh to think that 11 degrees feels warm, but I believe it. Do you feel you need to eat more in this cold as well,like your equines? And how many pounds of hay per equine do yo haul out. Do you notice the increased consumption?<BR/><BR/>The food digestion is the engine that keeps the organism warm, and of course that fur is marvelous. The way it puffs up to create insulation. And people messing with what nature provided by putting rugs on their horses....always trying to improve on nature and messing things up.<BR/><BR/>We have the opposite extreme this winter her in california that after a two week period of constant rain everything has dried up and temps are in the 7o's. The poor horses are stressing in heir long fur coats, and the even poorer ones that wear blankets 24/7 are unable to dissipate the heat.<BR/><BR/>I see Shadow's hair all curled up from the sweating during the day. I think he would do very well in a colder environment.<BR/><BR/>Do you see signs of spring yet? Or is it too early to tell?evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352450297889697710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-81508002911409250522009-01-17T07:55:00.000-05:002009-01-17T07:55:00.000-05:00Kevin and I are just in from completing our breakf...Kevin and I are just in from completing our breakfast chores outdoors. We both are over-heated. We've been dressed the past three days for predawn temperatures that read in the -30°F. When I checked the thermometer just now it read +11°F. I never would have imagined this temperature to feel SO balmy. :-)<BR/><BR/>The herd can handle these deep freeze temperatures because they have the most exquisite hair coat to regulate their comfort and it works extremely well for them if they have a place to get out of any winds and have enough to eat. And no, they don't freeze to the ground while laying down. When I'm all bundled up, I often will sit on the snow covered ground with them and just don't feel the chill at all. They with their double-ply winter hair and me with my layers of wool, against the insulating effects of the snow find it to be quite comfortable to lay down for a rest. It would be an altogether different situation if I were sitting there with a bare bum! <BR/><BR/>When it is extremely cold, they certainly don't frolic about as normal, but still these past several days they have roamed all over their environment and even spent time in the areas with less snow, pawing through and grazing at the old grass lying underneath.<BR/><BR/>I now wear a rabbit fur lined "mad bomber" hat--which for a vegan is quite a compromise. (I have a particular personal meditation of thanksgiving for the rabbits which have become part this hat.) I have never before found such a superior warmth as animal fur. No matter how wickedly the winter wind blows, when I have all the fur flaps of this amazing hat lowered surrounding my face, all those finer hairs fluff out and disrupt the force of the wind, what filters through it minimal and warmed by the heat coming off my face. The horses have similar hair totally covering their faces, so their warmth is more comprehensive, I should think--it must be so, or how else could they stand out in -30°F temps and placidly munch hay?<BR/><BR/>In a word, they are: Inspiring<BR/><BR/>I also think, Eva, that one does become acclimated to extremes. I find it much easier to cope with the cold than the heat, for example. And I no longer feel that pain breathing in frigid air that I might have years ago. One extra thing I do when the air is exceptionally biting is liberally apply body lotion to my exposed skin, which provides added protection.<BR/><BR/>Kris asked:<BR/>"What was Animado's game with the leather thingy? Did he want you (or Fada) to pull it away from him? Was he just enjoying picking up and shaking it?"<BR/><BR/>Animado (and the other foals, too) are often "pests" when I am trying to have some one on one time with another herd member. I have found that if I drape my makeshift cordeo over his head, he amuses himself in trying to grab it with his mouth. Only one time did another foal engage in this game with him in a little tug of war.<BR/><BR/>If he manages to pull it off himself and it falls to the ground, it ceases to hold interest for him and I'm obliged to drape it over him again, where upon he is once again absorbed in lipping at it.<BR/><BR/>When we have opportunity to play in the manege, I should be able to develop this into a real game which will transform itself into many interesting training exercises, don't you think?Lynne Gerardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16107340619393934366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-79088703606962992522009-01-15T19:11:00.000-05:002009-01-15T19:11:00.000-05:00Lynne,I, too, am worried about you and your herd i...Lynne,<BR/>I, too, am worried about you and your herd in this deep freeze. Part of it is that i have never experienced temps below -10 F (that was in the midwest 20 years ago) and the house would not warm up above 45 F even though the ancient furnace was going non-stop. It hurt to breathe outside, and any skin exposed to the cold air would bite.<BR/><BR/>How the animals are managing to stay sane is beyond me. Lying down? Won't the freeze to the ground?<BR/><BR/>I really hope this will pass soon, and none of teh mares will be giving birth. I can see with how much joy and delight you all will greet the spring. May it come soon!evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352450297889697710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-21978362155017234222009-01-14T11:18:00.000-05:002009-01-14T11:18:00.000-05:00Hello Lynne,I expect by now your reprieve is over,...Hello Lynne,<BR/>I expect by now your reprieve is over, or almost over. We've got some bitter cold heading our way, so I imagine you've just had or are having it now, more intensely.<BR/><BR/>What was Animado's game with the leather thingy? Did he want you (or Fada) to pull it away from him? Was he just enjoying picking up and shaking it?<BR/><BR/>Jerry gives us all a lesson in patience, doesn't he?<BR/><BR/>Stay warm!Kris McCormackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06036615710219973460noreply@blogger.com