June 19th, 2021

It's never dull at the barn because there's always some interesting job to do, and you're almost always within sight of a horse or a donkey. I have to tell you, these donkeys are just adorable. I was mucking during our volunteer work day and when I went in to the mini's pen the donkeys were having a bit of a feast. Usually they follow me around wanting treats but today it was all about the feast! I had to take a picture of them because they are so cute. They make me wish I had the proper fencing to take a couple of them home with me. :-)

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Scooter and Hoback

Aside from my regular watering and gardening duties this week, I spent time helping put up shade tarps, holding a horse who got some hoof care, and doing other small chores. Quite a few of the horses were still on pasture, so I ventured out there to get some candid pics of the herd. I met up with Scooter and Hoback, two of the new arrivals, and they looked up when I said hi to them but really wanted to get back to eating the grass. I snapped this picture, which to me looks like paradise. Those beautiful horses with the beautiful mountains in the background is my idea of heaven.

We had a volunteer orientation just before the volunteer work day and it was really nice to meet one of the new volunteers, Jim, who pitched right in and helped Irmak and myself muck all the pens, which is a bit of a lengthy task as you have to drive the muck truck into every pen, making sure you secure the gates, and clean up all the manure in each pen. It really helps cut down on the fly population and keeps the horses (and humans) from being covered in flies. Irmak pointed out that mucking is a very contemplative activity and I had to agree. You just kind of shovel, walk around, talk to the horses and think about life.

Be sure to visit the barn sale on June 25 & 26, as we are part of the big Bitterroot 50-mile Garage Sale event. We are also having a tack sale those two days. The sale is from 8:30-4:30 both days. Come on down!

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