One of the things I appreciate about farm life is the consistent rhythms that you find throughout the year and the understanding that there are certain expectations that go with each season. Here in western Pennsylvania we get all four seasons and each has both challenges and blessings for our work. I'll be sharing throughout the year some of what we're up to as our responsibilities shift and let you get a glimpse of what life looks like here at AKH.
Winter is our slowest season for farm work since horse management needs are relatively low. We free-feed large round bales so we have to check feeders and every few days add more hay to each field. Some of our fields have winterproof waterers, other require visits to top off water and/or break ice to keep everyone hydrated. Although our daily horse chores are light we try to use this slower time of year to invest in training- groundwork and riding/driving- and take advantage of days with moderate weather to enjoy some recreational riding. The needs of the breeding herd are similarly low and focus mainly on tracking pregnancy progression with a series of scheduled ultrasounds and keeping on top of everyone's required vaccinations throughout gestation.
For the working horses (and Dehan) winter means that it's logging season! We have quite a few horses that are broke to harness and this means that we can mix and match horses to meet the needs of the job on any given day. The stallions join the logging crew most days while the mares are often rotated through the teams so that each mare only works a couple of days a week since they are also cooking up foals. Typically we'll be up around daylight to catch and harness horses, then Dehan is off to the job. When Dehan has help in the woods he will often take two teams and rotate them on and off to allow time for resting. If he is alone we send just one team and he alternates between using them to pull logs and letting them rest while he puts trees on the ground and preps the trails. The teams work hard but they enjoy the fact that on work days they get extra feed in the form of a concentrated horse ration.
My winter focus is twofold- rest and records. I value the chance to do life at a slower pace and invest in some of my non-horsey hobbies during the winter months. I also take time to update our farm records, do tax prep for the accountant, set goals and make schedules for the upcoming year. This likely sounds horrible to the average horse person, but I'm very much a type-A personality and find a strange pleasure in getting things in order and seeking to find a structure for the upcoming year. Most of that goes out the window when we get into the heat of foaling/breeding/hay season but it's nice to have a solid starting point!
Many of the challenges of the winter months are weather-related. I really don't like being cold so any 'normal' farm problem (broken equipment, horse illness, etc) is amplified by not wanting to go outside. We also struggle with shorter days and more time inside than usual. Even so, we strive to appreciate the slow months as a chance to catch our breath and make some plans. After all, spring follows winter and the cycle of farm life begins again!
コメント