Carpe Diem

November is a time for projects at Fields Quarter Horses! We begin to think about breeding season, foaling season, and realize that there are numerous building projects which need finishing, fence which gets repaired or painted, stalls which need refurbishing. At a farm, those tasks seem never-ending.

Kentucky has been tremendously wet this year- great news for hay season, bad news for mud season. We've recorded 11.5 inches of rain in our personal rain gauge since September 1st. The past few days have been blessedly sunny and somewhat warmer and it has been motivating. Yesterday, Wayne, Amber and myself tackled a project which has loomed heavily over us for months- we began lining the indoor riding arena walls with new boards. This is not only an aesthetic application (yes, it looks really good), but also one of function. It will prevent a horse from piercing the metal shell of the arena (remember Wendy?) and injuring themselves. Since Amber's arrival, nary a day passes in which the arena has not been used.

Recently, we've adjusted stall mats on the floors to make sure everyone is standing on a well-cushioned, even surface- we wouldn't want any newborn feet to have trouble navigating a ripple in the stall floor! We also built a brand-spanking-new outdoor shavings bin. This allows our wood shavings which we use for bedding to be stored out of doors and frees up the previous area for more hay storage. Yummy.

In preparatoin for the arrival of our delicious Alfalfa from Wisconsin, we have been preparing the hay storage barns- making sure floors are even, cleaned, lined with wooden pallets so the hay doesn't sit on damp floors. We've also checked for leaks, added plastic on walls to possible breaches in the defense against getting the precious hay wet, and hauled debris which has collected during the past year to appropriate places.

Since our Spring is consumed with delivering foals and breeding mares, we do not often get the chance to Spring Clean. Fall is our opportunity to sieze the day!  Amber has found herself with a full line-up of horses who are bunkering in for training over the winter months and I have been organizing the foaling schedule for 2010. It's always important to make sure that we guesstimate correctly and have available foaling berths for our ladies in waiting.

We've been inspired by a little bit of sunshine-I suggest you do the same. Finish a project- or start one- today. Carpe Diem!