View from my front window at Little Paddocks

Just when you think you’ve seen it all…Old Man Winter flexes his muscles! I’ve been through some pretty tough January’s in my time here in the Snowbelt of Western Pennsylvania, but these past few days have had us “thinking inside the stall!” With temperature in the single digits, the horses were brought in, and left in for the first time this year.

I was starting to get concerned about Denver and Pirate. Normally, they spend as much time turned out as possible. They’re out during the day in cooler temps, and in when its hot. Makes perfect sense…until now. Neither of my guys wear blankets. Not that I have anything against blanketing horses, and have done so in the past for many years. However, Pirate, with his draft confirmation (Gypsy Vanner) and Denver, with his “sensitive” skin (American Saddlebred), blanketing is an exercise in futility. I was keeping the blanket manufactures and repair folks in business, so I finally gave up and left them to their (and nature’s) devices.

It was to my relief that I saw a Facebook notice pop up on my phone letting me know that the horses boarded at Ford Acres Stables, facility extraordinaire, would be kept in. Pirate and Denver have been “guests” at Ford Acres for a number of years now, and under the expert care of Tracy and Jimmy Stiffler. The fact that these two are not only farmers with generations of knowledge and experience in animal husbandry behind them, but also helicopter flight first responders for the human population in these here parts…well, need I say more. Yes, and I will in another post. But for now, let’s all try to keep warm, and hopefully we’ll all be back in the saddle soon!

So, as long as we’re stuck inside, we may as well catch up on our reading. Here are some suggestions…