3equines
12-06-2009, 05:26 PM
It has been 35* with winds gusting 20-30mph, clear and cold. Unusual for this part of Washington, feels like weather from the other side of the mountains.
I bundled up and spent the morning putting up H-bracing and cross-wiring a fence I am building (it has been a long project, fencing in 25 acres) then got home and put my brain and brawn to the horse water problem I have.
My stock tank sprung a leak this summer, the bottom finally rusted out. My boyfriend is bringing me a new one next week, but with the cold snap I need one NOW!!!! I am tired of hauling hot water out to the ponies! Well, I discovered that the large metal box half-buried under an old hay mow in the pasture actually is a solid steel, upturned water tank.
Hallelujah! Uh, that is, until think about HOW to get it from point A to point B.
Well, never underestimate the power of a farm girl. I grabbed a couple peevee's from the barn (a type of pointy-tipped pole with a 'dog' on it used to move logs), some blocks of wood, and developed a fulcrum/lever/block jack to flip the tank over. I am not kidding you, this is solid steel and probably outweighs me three times over.
Well, I had about 60 yards to move it where I wanted it to be. There was too much slope/ fences in wrong spot to get my Toyota in and move it, and I don't have a singletree harness for the Haflingers, so I roped up the tank and hitched myself up..... I found I could move it about 1 foot at a time, walking backwards, using my quadriceps, gluteus maxims ;) and back to supply the power while I lifted the end nearest me just a bit, one tug at a time. By golly, I got that tank where I wanted it!
The next problem was the frozen hose. I don;t know how many of you have ever tried to thaw a frozen hose, but it is an experience that will either put you closer to GOD or drive you to the insane asylum. It took many, many, many kettles of hot water, poured in both ends numerous times, dribbled over the entire 50 feet of hose several times, plus super high pressure from the hose bib to try to force fresh water around the ice..... and about 45 minutes before the first little trickle began to run out the other end.
Now the water finally started running, so I had to FIND my tank heater amid all of the broken tack, unused veterinary supplies, abandoned riding helmets, baling twine, etc etc..... then FIND an extension cord buried among all the junk and tools in the barn..... then rig the heater up so it wouldn't get flipped out of the tank, which strategically involved the barn wall, some fencing staples, and engineering.....
FINALLY! WATER for the ponies!
Golly gee, I forgot to take PICTURES!
Will have some in the morning. Time for a nice stiff shot of brandy in my tea to make me forget my aching muscles!
I bundled up and spent the morning putting up H-bracing and cross-wiring a fence I am building (it has been a long project, fencing in 25 acres) then got home and put my brain and brawn to the horse water problem I have.
My stock tank sprung a leak this summer, the bottom finally rusted out. My boyfriend is bringing me a new one next week, but with the cold snap I need one NOW!!!! I am tired of hauling hot water out to the ponies! Well, I discovered that the large metal box half-buried under an old hay mow in the pasture actually is a solid steel, upturned water tank.
Hallelujah! Uh, that is, until think about HOW to get it from point A to point B.
Well, never underestimate the power of a farm girl. I grabbed a couple peevee's from the barn (a type of pointy-tipped pole with a 'dog' on it used to move logs), some blocks of wood, and developed a fulcrum/lever/block jack to flip the tank over. I am not kidding you, this is solid steel and probably outweighs me three times over.
Well, I had about 60 yards to move it where I wanted it to be. There was too much slope/ fences in wrong spot to get my Toyota in and move it, and I don't have a singletree harness for the Haflingers, so I roped up the tank and hitched myself up..... I found I could move it about 1 foot at a time, walking backwards, using my quadriceps, gluteus maxims ;) and back to supply the power while I lifted the end nearest me just a bit, one tug at a time. By golly, I got that tank where I wanted it!
The next problem was the frozen hose. I don;t know how many of you have ever tried to thaw a frozen hose, but it is an experience that will either put you closer to GOD or drive you to the insane asylum. It took many, many, many kettles of hot water, poured in both ends numerous times, dribbled over the entire 50 feet of hose several times, plus super high pressure from the hose bib to try to force fresh water around the ice..... and about 45 minutes before the first little trickle began to run out the other end.
Now the water finally started running, so I had to FIND my tank heater amid all of the broken tack, unused veterinary supplies, abandoned riding helmets, baling twine, etc etc..... then FIND an extension cord buried among all the junk and tools in the barn..... then rig the heater up so it wouldn't get flipped out of the tank, which strategically involved the barn wall, some fencing staples, and engineering.....
FINALLY! WATER for the ponies!
Golly gee, I forgot to take PICTURES!
Will have some in the morning. Time for a nice stiff shot of brandy in my tea to make me forget my aching muscles!