Last night, I found four out of the six reprobates in the container. Both are open but only one has bedding, but the ponies have choice if they get annoyed with each other. There are also two soaked haynets outside for sustenance which are empty by the morning so someone is eating them.
And the new routine seems to be working pretty well for the time being. The ponies who can eat a “normal” diet are out on the new track from 7.30 to 15.30, when it gets dark. I open up little bits so they can get more scrubby grass when it gets bare.
The old ladies go inside for the night but come out in the morning to go onto the grass too. They look forward to this but are more than happy to go inside when it’s dark. More buckets.
The only one who is not thrilled by this is Fivla. She enjoyed the 3 hourly waitress service of constant food buckets that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Around 12.00, I usually find her hovering trying to catch my attention (waitrees, I say, waitress…. yes, you!)
Today, I gave in and fed her a carrot and then she went back to rejoin her herd. It is Fivla, after all and she is very special.
And these three quite like being outside now. They have accepted they don’t have access to the grass like everyone else but spend many hours going in and out of the container, mostly to poo in it so I can spend many hours going in and out cleaning the container. That is my life now.
As life holds special moments for us all, I am back in physical therapy as I have been for the last 40+ years. This time a fall down a flight of stairs ended in a torn calf muscle, but what I thought about yesterday during my session was how my now very kind spine would probably give out before my leg. That ,in turn, made me think of you & how labor intensive your life is; that kind of life is tough for anyone, but someone who has ‘back issues’ would be encouraged to give major primordial screams as the chores are done. It looks as if the resolutions you’ve made to simplify the process in taking care of the four foot family members appears to potentially assist you, thus saving your back. So glad for you. Pain is the pits.
Pain is the pits. Poor you. I hope you feel better soon. For me, I swear buy my acupressure mat at night (2hours) and my Painpod. I don’t take painkillers unless I a, on my knees with misery.
It sounds as though you have now got an excellent system that should keep all the ponies safe from any more lami. You’ll also have an excellent pile of muck that should rot down well and be good for your garden by next winter! I hope your back holds up until the end of winter. xx
Exhausting!!!!