Pictures of the ponies in their new pasture :)

[Dakota Sunrise]

Thought I'd post some pictures I took of the horses today.:) It's FREEZING here at the moment, it was actually snowing this morning.:rolleyes: I had to dig their blankets out of my tack trunk (didn't think I'd be needing those again until November:doh:)! Poor Kota was shivering when I went out to feed this morning.:( But he was fine once I put his blankie on, and I decided to put them in their new pasture for a few hours today.:)
My main pastures are pathetic because they've been pastures for almost 12 years and have been eaten to death. So last summer I built a little, temporary "play pasture" for the horses to graze in for a few hours in the evening.
I'm using it again this summer but it's not enough and won't last that long with the horses going down there almost every night. So I saved up and bought some of the step-in plastic posts, a roll of wire, and pink (for Beauty;)) surveyors tape at TSC and made them another little pasture.:) It didn't take me long, just an hour or two and it was fun.:)

The horses were very happy about their new pasture.:D It's small but lots of grass which is all that matters to them!:p

They were laying down in their regular pasture when I went to get them. Kota saw me coming and was watching me but Beauty was completely oblivious to my approach (even though I called "hi" to them when I climbed over the gate to see them.) In this picture it looks like her eyes are open and she's looking right at me. Strangly enough though she didn't know I was there!:p

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture005.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture007.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture008.jpg

I didn't realize she was actually asleep until I got close to her and said "Beauty, are you comfy?" She jumped, tossed her head, and stood up fast, looking around like she'd been caught with her hand (hoof;)) in the cookie jar.:o:p I felt bad that I startled her, I thought she'd heard me and was just chilling out. They're used to me hanging out with them when they're laying down and don't usually get up when I come over so I didn't realize she was actually dozing.:innocent:
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture009.jpg


http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture011.jpg

The horses in their new play pasture:
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture015.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture020.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture022.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture036.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture045.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture047.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture050.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture094.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture057.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture058.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture061.jpg

"Whatcha doing, goat? Helllooooo? Kid!"
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture075.jpg

"Whatcha doing, horse?"
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture072.jpg

"Wait, where are you going? Helloooooo?"
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture082.jpg

"Kota, the new neighbors aren't very talkative."
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture081.jpg

"Fine, be that way."
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture083.jpg

"I have Kota, I don't need goat friends." :p
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture128.jpg

This is the next spot I'm going to pasture in once I save up a little cash to buy some more fence posts. I don't want to be feeding hay all summer and it seems stupid to not take advantage of good green grass.
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture131.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/new%20pasture/newpasture132.jpg

[farmers_wife]

They look so peaceful napping. That is what I used when I had temp pasture,was those white stepin things. They will love that new area. My horses love their green pasture.

[FatSpottedAppy]

I miss thee ponies! Love the pictures.. They're so cute.

[HeavensEast]

Beauty and Dakota are cuties are always. They look very content.
I saw some many horses with blankets on yesterday (it was a high of 45 and raining all day, plus some hail). I can't believe we are needing blankets in May. :rolleyes: Crazy weather!

[JackieB]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Even though it's small, do you think you should introduce them to that new pasture slowly. We would on our farm with grass that long. The BO starts at 20 minutes and slowly increases the time over the period of a few weeks.

[Steelhorserider]

What a nice horse mom you are to keep putting up new fences so your horses can get green grass. I have one little paddock that I am going to seed tomorrow so that my girls can snack two times a week or so just for fun.

[HorseStall]

Looks like they are enjoying the heat the ground soaked up and relishing the rays of the warm sun. To sleep like that they are definetely feling safe and comfortable.

[natisha]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Even though it's small, do you think you should introduce them to that new pasture slowly. We would on our farm with grass that long. The BO starts at 20 minutes and slowly increases the time over the period of a few weeks.That grass should be Ok for them. She's putting them in there in the evening which is when there are less sugars, as the weather is chilly now. Also the longer grass contains less sugar than the short. They have been munching grass as it's been growing so they are used to it.

Dakota, they look very happy. Whiskey has been shivering a few mornings too & she's in the barn. It seems the cold plus damp is what bothers her. Give them some extra hay as late at night as you can.
I'm sending you some $ for post caps-you can't say NO. Don't make me come out there!!!!:nono:

[Dakota Sunrise]

Thank you for all the nice comments, everyone!:)




Even though it's small, do you think you should introduce them to that new pasture slowly. We would on our farm with grass that long. The BO starts at 20 minutes and slowly increases the time over the period of a few weeks.

Thank you for your concern and you have a good point.:) But in this case I've been easing them onto the new grass slowly. Not in that pasture because I just built it, but in their other play pasture that I built last summer (which has a lot of grass too, very similar). Plus they're on pasture 24/7 so what little does grow in their normal fence they eat right away.
I started them at about half an hour and worked up to an hour, than two. Now they're up to 3 or 4, I'm not worried about them any more.

[Dakota Sunrise]

Looks like they are enjoying the heat the ground soaked up and relishing the rays of the warm sun. To sleep like that they are definetely feling safe and comfortable.

Thank you.:) My horses are pretty laid back, they're used to me hanging out with them when they're laying down.
http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1113&pictureid=15665

[Dakota Sunrise]

Dakota, they look very happy. Whiskey has been shivering a few mornings too & she's in the barn. It seems the cold plus damp is what bothers her. Give them some extra hay as late at night as you can.

I would but they won't eat it.:doh: They're spoiled now, they only want grass. I keep giving them hay and they just eat a few bites and ignore it. I had closed off a section of their regular pasture to let a little bit of grass grow. Nothing compared to their play pastures, but there's enough of in there to keep them munching for a few days. So that's where they've been spending all their time.

I'm sending you some $ for post caps-you can't say NO. Don't make me come out there!!!!:nono:

I can't say no? Oh okay, well in that case I won't.:p Are you sure though? you really don't have to do that. I mean you're talking a TON of caps, I have a lot of pasture space.
And actually, I would love for you to come up here!:p

[CaddoCinnamon]

Sweet pics Dakota. I love the ones with Beauty asleep.

[natisha]

Well, then you must decide where the high traffic areas are & place them there. I just read about a horse who died after tearing it's jugular vein open while scratching on a T post. A 50 cent cap could have prevented that.
Your horses will probably never get into trouble with them but it only takes 1 time, so it would make me :) to see caps in your pictures. Sorry, kiddo, but you're stuck with me ;)

[JackieB]

Your horses will probably never get into trouble with them but it only takes 1 time, so it would make me :) to see caps in your pictures. Sorry, kiddo, but you're stuck with me ;)

That's awfully nice of you, Natisha. Those uncapped posts have bothered me for a couple of years now, but Dakota said that her mom looked at her like she was crazy when Dakota suggested capping them. Nothing against Dakota's mom, of course. Plenty of non-horse people probably wouldn't understand.

When I meet you in person some day, I'll be sure to bring you a special gift (you know, like a framed photo of our president or something) for taking such good care of Dakota.

[WashingtonBay]

When I meet you in person some day, I'll be sure to bring you a special gift (you know, like a framed photo of our president or something) for taking such good care of Dakota.

No good deed goes unpunished, so they say :cheers:

Lovely new pasture space Dakota... I'm in a bit of culture shock seeing blanketed horses amid all that spring green... it looks warm :cool:, but I'll take your word for it.

[natisha]

When I meet you in person some day, I'll be sure to bring you a special gift (you know, like a framed photo of our president or something) for taking such good care of Dakota.If you give me a gift that has special meaning to you I will proudly accept it. And I can always use a new picture frame. ;)

[Dakota Sunrise]

Lovely new pasture space Dakota... I'm in a bit of culture shock seeing blanketed horses amid all that spring green... it looks warm :cool:, but I'll take your word for it.

I know, it did look odd.:p But it actually got down to 28* the one night, and was cold and rainy the next day. They weren't the only ones bundled up! I was wearing flannel jammie pants, a hoodie, my winter jacket, and a stocking cap while I was outside taking the pictures.:innocent:
The horses have their blankets on tonight too. It's suposed to get down to 32* or so and start raining tomorrow morning.:rolleyes:

[JackieB]

If you give me a gift that has special meaning to you I will proudly accept it. And I can always use a new picture frame. ;)

Awww, that's really sweet. :)

[Dakota Sunrise]

That's awfully nice of you, Natisha. Those uncapped posts have bothered me for a couple of years now, but Dakota said that her mom looked at her like she was crazy when Dakota suggested capping them. Nothing against Dakota's mom, of course. Plenty of non-horse people probably wouldn't understand.



More than just crazy.:crazy: She looked at me like I had just told her I was running away to join the traveling circus to become a trapeze artist. Which is like the last thing I would do because A.) I'm afraid of heights, B.) I'm not graceful at all and could never be a trapeze artist, and C.) I obviously wouldn't leave my family and my animals to join a circus.
So yeah, she thought it was crazy.:rolleyes: Especially when she found out that it's like $6.00 something for a bag of ten and I have a TON of t-posts which means it would end up costing a small fortune.:doh:


Oh, and I agree- Natisha is very nice.:D Thanks, Jeane.:)

[JackieB]

...running away to join the traveling circus to become a trapeze artist.....

"And high above us in ring three, ladies and gentlemen, we have the fantastically talented Dakota Sunrise!!!! So get your cotton candy and settle in for a terrific show as Miss Dakota gracefully soars through the air!!!"

Note: Our circus wouldn't have elephants or big cats, though. No animals that are unhappy in that type of environment.

[WP~Paint]

Your horses are so gorgeous! I love seeing updates on them! There new pasture looks pretty darn nice too, they will sure enjoy that grass ;)

[Dakota Sunrise]

Note: Our circus wouldn't have elephants or big cats, though. No animals that are unhappy in that type of environment.

You're right- absolutely no elephants or big cats, or bears, or any animal like that. That's not how we roll. :)

[Dakota Sunrise]

Your horses are so gorgeous! I love seeing updates on them! There new pasture looks pretty darn nice too, they will sure enjoy that grass ;)

Thank you.:)

[Petra]

Great pictures Lizzy! They seem pretty happy with the nice green grass. :)
I can't believe your weather! And I was complaining it's cold here! It was in 60s.

[Gliderider]

They look great..Love the but pic. lol

[GrungeEquestrian]

Dakota and Beauty are so cute. Love how Beauty was looking at the goats. They all look like happy campers.

[Gypsy Rose]

Looks like they were pretty comfy!

[Dakota Sunrise]

Thanks guys.:D

[natisha]

More than just crazy.:crazy: She looked at me like I had just told her I was running away to join the traveling circus to become a trapeze artist. Which is like the last thing I would do

Don't knock it til you try it :innocent:

[Dakota Sunrise]

Don't knock it til you try it :innocent:

Lol, I'm not knocking the circus and trapeze artists in general, just my own involvement in it.:p

[3equines]

Having many small pastures is actually the best way to manage an acreage.

Right now I turn my horses out for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening to graze, that is ALL they need and they are still FAT. They spend the rest of their lives in the sacrifice area.

I keep a couple bales of hay on hand for when I work late evening shifts, etc because otherwise I end up just turning them out around the clock and they get downright obese:innocent:.

[natisha]

Lol, I'm not knocking the circus and trapeze artists in general, just my own involvement in it.:p You've never partied with the sideshow :p