...like I need another hole in my head

Fenika · Aug 5, 2007

Well, as I am hopefully closing on a farmette this week, I set out to find my mare and her future baby a companion.

My friend is a farrier, so he gave me a list of free and nearly free (100-500$) horses in the area. I started with the smallest ones. A mini filly had already found a home, so next I tried a mini colt.

I called the lady and went out to her farm. She breeds miniature horses, and the little guy in question had a parrot mouth so cant be shown in the mini world. He also comes with a story- he was born with luxated patellas and needed a few thousand dollars worth of surgery. She went ahead with it, and he's a spry little yearling now. She named him Phoenix. He's a chestnut, and absolutely Tiny! I've seen minis before, but not proper minis! She showed me her herd and I saw plenty of the dwarfen horses

I'm so honored that she would give me this guy after investing so much in his life.

So, I got me a companion for my mare, who won't cost much to feed (I do have to geld him though). I'm praying my mare likes him, cuz I'm smitten already

She loffs babies though, so she should take him under her wing. Phoenix will be about a year and a half when my mare's foal is born, and most certainly stand shorter than the newborn!

I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to write up once the fence goes up and we all settle in to our new home. Meanwhile, if only I could be bothered packing

Now, where to find a guard donkey and some chooks?

Cheers,
Christina, who does need another animal(s), honest!

GHF65 · Aug 6, 2007

Good for you!

I should warn you, though, that my mini--just 34.5 inches tall--eats just as much as my big horses! What's nice about a stud colt is that they are incredibly neat. My guy is 9 now and wasn't gelded till last fall. He piles all his manure up like a stack of cannonballs. One scoop and it's gone! I've got a whole chapter (with photos) about keeping minis in my new book.

(No, that's not a sales pitch. It isn't out yet.

)

You're in for the ride of your life! I've had my farm for 10 years now and wouldn't know how else to live. Even on vacation I get up at dawn and look for horses to check, and the total silence of a resort hotel at night is disoncerting. I need my barn monitor so I can fall asleep to the sound of snoring horses and birds settling in for the night. I don't think there's anything more fun than a horse drooling kisses on your best "dressed for success" suit just as you're leaving for work in the morning. I haven't owned a white shirt in years!

Best wishes to you! Hope you find your donkey. What a great little group you're starting with!

Fenika · Aug 6, 2007

Hehe, I think this guy is under 30" and I'd like to see him try and eat as much as my preggo mare

When does your book come out?

My mare only snorts on me when I'm about to go somewhere that I shouldn't go with horse snot on me

Or if I just showered before barn chores.

Cheers,
Christina

threedogpeople · Aug 6, 2007

Uhmm....(quiet voice) what's a chook?

:ROFL:

Oh, oh, my dogs wait until I'm dressed for church to show me affection; they love me extra when I'm wearing black.

Fenika · Aug 6, 2007

I was wondering when someone would ask about 'chooks'

Chook = chicken. It's down under (Au/NZ) slang. Possibly british as well...

As in, The chooks are in my garden again. Or- We're having fried chook for dinner. Or- Your damn dog attacked my chooks!

*nod*

Now, what's a 3dogppl? Sounds familiar...

Mel · Aug 6, 2007

Just wanted to say congratulations on your new addition, Christina!

ETA: will there be pictures?

threedogpeople · Aug 6, 2007

If you are really in Oklahoma (if that is what the OK means in your profile), contact the County Extension Office for your area. They can probably send you in the right direction to find the chickens and guard donkey. Plus, they'll have great info on weather, etc. for your local area.

Judy

oarsman · Aug 6, 2007

Congratulations on the mini horse and your closing this week!

For your guard donkey, would it help to contact the American Donkey and Mule Society? They have a web site and list of breeders. Maybe you could get a miniature donkey to go with your horse. I don't know if a miniature donkey would make a good guard; larger animals are more intimidating.

Fenika · Aug 6, 2007

Lol, I was being a bit facisious about where to find a donkey and chooks- they are everywhere. It's just a matter of finding the right one

I went to a sale tonight and passed on several donks and mules for various reasons.

Yep, I'm in Oklahoma...

And on the way home I found a kitten. Figures. I drove her to a friends house (no cats with my birds thank you!) and will be placing found ads in the morning. I think she was dumped though. Anyone want a cute grey furball?

Cheers,
Christina

Fenika · Aug 6, 2007

Thanks for the congrats!

I've been harassing all the extension agents for info on all things farm-y

GHF65 · Aug 7, 2007

Bahamutchild said:
Hehe, I think this guy is under 30" and I'd like to see him try and eat as much as my preggo mare

When does your book come out?

My mare only snorts on me when I'm about to go somewhere that I shouldn't go with horse snot on me Or if I just showered before barn chores.

Cheers,
Christina

About a month on the book. Thanks for asking.

Speaking of mares, my mini stud spent his first week here trying desperately to breed my 15.2hh Paint mare. She was all for it! She never could squat low enough, and he never figured out he could stand on the mounting block and have his way with her. I didn't care. They'd have made a gorgeous, well-bred hunter pony! I've known some full-sized mares to actually lie down so a mini could breed them. Here he just spent a lot of time scaling her hind legs. Her hocks were soooooo pregnant! :ROFL:

He'd try three or four runs for the money, then she'd get bored, hip-block him, and her son would come out of nowhere and head-butt him across the pasture. That went on for days before Duke (the mini) finally gave up. After that the game turned to dwarf-tossing. We won't go there.

I had a co-teacher with whom I shared a class who used to inspect me every morning for random bits of hay and horse snot. The kids got used to it, but he was totally anal and couldn't deal with me sporting fecal matter in odd places. Ain't the horse life grand?

Soccer Mom · Aug 7, 2007

Heh! I have a Standardbred mare (Biiiiig girl) and her bestest friend in the world, a tiny Shetland who is often mistaken for a mini because of her size. They are the original Mutt and Jeff.

And my little Shetland does probably cost me just as much to keep as my full size horses. She does eat a bit less, but the hoof care and health care is just as expensive and sometimes more so. Yeah, she was a "free" rescue.

The only thing that costs more than a free puppy is a free pony. Hah!

GHF65 · Aug 8, 2007

Soccer Mom said:
The only thing that costs more than a free puppy is a free pony. Hah!

Ain't it the truth!! :snoopy:

Fenika · Aug 8, 2007

Okay, I really need an intervention. I just called about a Great Pyranees (spelling?) cross. I saw the flyer at school and couldn't resist. I want a guard dog if not a guard donk

Talk me down ppl, talk me down!

Cheers,
Christina, who gets free dog food every month... and free frontline... and free whatever the companies throw at us students...

Fenika · Aug 8, 2007

PS- looks like the closing is gonna be pushed back to monday. That will give me a week to move and get everything ready before classes start.

oarsman · Aug 8, 2007

Did you get your chooks yet? You really are forming a nice herd (or is it a flock?)

Too bad about the delay in closing. I know how hard it will be to get the animals all moving in the right direction when you move.

Fenika · Aug 8, 2007

hehe, no, I haven't seriously started looking for chooks. I might wait until next spring. The steel shed that I plan on converting to a chicken coop ain't looking very inviting atm. Plus, I don't own it yet

Soon.
Soon, soon, soon.

Cheers,
Christina

Fenika · Aug 10, 2007

Bahamutchild said:
Talk me down ppl, talk me down!

A'ight, ya'll ain't helpin!

I'm going to go look at the doggie at 5ish. She sounds good, and they don't need me to pick her up NOW (thankfully! I gotta move and set up the farm!), so all should work out.

Let's see, that's 4 birds, 1 and 1/3 horsies (the 1/3rd is in the oven), another horse or boarder or both, a doggie, and maybe some chooks.

Anyone wanna take bets that everything will go to heck right before every exam this semester?

Save me!

TheIT · Aug 10, 2007

You're buying a house, not building an ark, right?

Is the dog going to be bigger than the mini-horse?

Good luck with your menagerie!

Fenika · Aug 10, 2007

Er, *hides hammer behind back* Me? Nooo. What's this wood you ask? I was just trimming a few cedars. For um, firewood, yeah....

Doggie is looking to be bigger than mini

All went well this afternoon. They are coming to see the place Tuesday, after I close, and see if they approve

Weeeeeeeeeee.

Now where'd I put those lions? Oh, there they are, next too the unicorns. Sounds about right...

Cheers,
Christina

Fenika · Aug 13, 2007

Mineeeeeeeeeee, mine mine mine! I own a house! I own landddddddd!

I spent the afternoon moving in the essentials- one ton of fencing, tools, WATER- and then set to work. Marking fence lines, hacking down branches, adjusting fence lines. Adjusting again. Dancing around in joy only to realize a road runner was staring at me 50 feet away (hehe)

Course, I spent the last 30 minutes scrubbing my property off me

Ah, gotta love 105 degree weather!

Cheers!
Lady Christina of Cedar Estates

TheIT · Aug 13, 2007

Congratulations!!!!

:welcome:

to your new house!

So you've got your very own flowers: :thankyou:

Your very own place to plant your platform: :Soapbox:

And your very own walls to use however you wish: :Headbang:

May you and yours have health and happiness in your new home!

awatkins · Aug 14, 2007

Yay! Congratulations, Lady Christina of Cedar Estates! That has a ring to it, doesn't it?

Best wishes to you and yours!

P.S. Post a picture of the ark when you've finished building it.

Fenika · Aug 14, 2007

Oh my goodness, I'm tired already! I've been trimming branches like crazy. This afternoon I'm pulling out the chain saw!

I'm giving myself a lunch break. Then I have to work work work. Tonight I pick up the Cat, hehehe.

Other than that, I may try a little :Headbang:

thanks gals,
Christina

oarsman · Aug 14, 2007

Congratulations on your new house!!

Ok, now get back to work!

...like I need another hole in my head

Fenika

GHF65

practical experience, FTW

Fenika

threedogpeople

This is my BEST side!

Fenika

Mel

Never be completely back to normal.

threedogpeople

This is my BEST side!

oarsman

Salt water is the cure

Fenika

Fenika

GHF65

practical experience, FTW

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

GHF65

practical experience, FTW

Fenika

Fenika

oarsman

Salt water is the cure

Fenika

Fenika

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

Fenika

Fenika

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

awatkins

Not harboring illegal parrot

Fenika

oarsman

Salt water is the cure