Only 2 more days!

Today, my dad and I hung a gutter under the overhang of the barn. We won't be able to get the load of sand in time, so the gutter will keep a lot of water out of the pens. They'll only be a little muddy right after it rains. Maybe we'll be able to get some sand later.

The pens are now ready and waiting for their new occupants. I'm really excited, but also a bit apprehensive. I've been anticipating this for a long time (and also just anticipating being able to get back out and spend more time with the other horses too). The end of physics coinciding with the arrival of the wild ones is a really firm transition to summer for me. I worry that I won't be able to gentle them and I worry that I won't have enough time to spend on everyone. I also worry that maybe they won't settle down as fast as I'm hoping they will and I'm also not looking forward to having to be very careful around new horses...I've gotten pretty relaxed with mine. I know them so well and I know how they react to things, so I really don't have to be on guard with them (although I guess we do always need to be a little on guard or someone will get hurt, and accidents happen all the time). But I'm also looking forward to the challenges of working with them too. I think I need to get this physics over with because right now, I have so much to do that I can't really focus on any one thing. The day I get to wake up and only think about what I want to get accomplished with the horses today will be wonderful! I can't wait!

I think one of the things I'm most excited about is the actual trip to go pick up the new mustangs. I've always liked taking trips and especially to go do something with horses. I like the casual conversations that happen when riding in cars and watching the scenery go by. The horses are being delivered to Marshfield, WI, just over an hour from our house. There are around 60 horses being offered up for adoption in Marshfield. Our neighbor is coming along and I think that he'd really really like to bring one home too. Unfortunately, the actual adoption is not until the day after we pick up our two. I think that day is a viewing day. It's required that we pick the online adopted horses up that day because if for some reason we didn't show or decided we didn't want them, the horses would be offered up along with the others in the regular adoption. But no worries about us leaving one behind...we are bringing them both home! I'm also excited to wander and look at the others that they'll have there. I'm not sure what management areas these horses will be coming from, but I'm guessing Nevada. Perhaps my neighbor will be making a second trip up there??? I'll see if I can't talk him into it. :)

Speaking of adoptions, the internet adoption just recently ended. Most of the Oregon horses were adopted...I must say that Oregon horses are my favorite, but I guess I'm a little biased :) My favorite big bay was bid on almost right away. A handsome bay yearling with lots of chrome went for $720. I was surprised to see a sorrel yearling go for $670! I couldn't tell what was so special about him over the others...he had decent conformation looking past the awkward fuzzy baby look, but no special marking or anything, but I guess someone just really wanted him! Or rather, two people must have really wanted him. He even went for way more that the fancy silver dapple colored filly.

The chicks are growing quickly and are not nearly so cuddly as they used to be. They are quite flighty now and do not want to be held anymore. Time to move them to a pen! Right now they are in a huge box in the garage.