Before we moved to the farm we had a lot of people telling us how awful it would be. How we wouldn’t have any free time because of all the work that would need doing. How I’d wish to be boarding again.
It’s a good thing that I don’t let others negativity effect me.
Since moving here I have never once regretted it. Honestly, none of the “work” has actually felt like work at all. I enjoy most things around here, but the one thing I love to do more than anything else is now the pasture.
There are so many reasons for it. It’s a great way to check out the fence line for loosening, holes or other issues. I can look over the grounds for the health of the grass, invading weeds and any potential area of harm like large rocks or sink holes.
But beyond the logical reasons for loving the task, I also just really enjoy the time spent in the tractor. The task itself requires minimal mental effort and is an instant gratification type activity. I can easily see the progress I have made and the difference in the pasture it is creating.
The four hours spent out there is a time for me to think, dream and watch the horses as they graze and interact with each other without any pressure from me. The pasture has been needing mowed every 6 weeks or so since spring. I’m not sure what the fall and winter will bring, but I’m thinking I’ll likely get one more mowing in before a long break for winter.
Any farm chores that speak to you more than others? I know plenty of people enjoy kicking stalls for similar reasons.
The Roaming Rider 
I actually find cleaning stalls very relaxing. I’m usually alone although sometimes I talk to my mom on the phone while I work. It’s mindless and really helps me come down from the day at work in particular.
My mowing of pastures isn’t anywhere near as frequent or take as long but I do find that I don’t mind that either as long as it’s not horribly hot out.
I love having my horses home! I will say I do look forward to having a horse to ride again so I can spend time at the boarding barn riding with friends.
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Having the horses home has been a dream come true, work and all. I do miss having people to ride with although I always ride at such odd hours, super early or super late, that I rarely ran into anyone else at the barn. I hope you get a riding horse soon!
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Was thinking of you during Irma, guessing all is well & that’s cool 🙂 I’m currently learning about land management myself, any posts with your perspective on the subject would be great as I’m soaking up all the knowledge. Also love these pics of Wyatt helping out. They made me smile!
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Thank you for the thoughts!! We got a lot of rain and heavy winds but no damage and no loss of power. Could have been a lot worse. You are near the coast, right? Did you guys survive alright?
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It is such a rewarding life. I get a taste of it every weekend. ❤
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fence work is really the only part I do not like
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It really has improved my relationship with the horses a lot. I used to only go out to ride or medicate and now I do everything for them.
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Oh absolutely. It is a game changer. Makes you a better horseman.
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I board, so don’t have to do it every day, but I just enjoy cleaning my horse’s stall, refilling water buckets, throwing more hay. I’m not a fan of mowing my own yard, even though it’s only an acre, because it’s got such a slope to it in places that the mower is going to topple right over on me.
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That would make me worry too. I’m not a big fan of dumping and cleaning out the big water trough but most anything else Im fine with
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I enjoy most of the tasks. I love to drag the ring. It helps me to be very zen.
I LOVE that barking skeleton dog and I want one.
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Do you have Home Depot near you? The skeleton dog came from there and wasn’t expensive. Wyatt named him and everything. I’m thinking he won’t get put away after Halloween.
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Night check is probably my favorite part of having the horses at home. I don’t like the bundling up process to stay warm or dry when I do night checks but once I start the walk to the barn I love it. The sounds of the horses munching their hay, the water droplets as they fall from the horses’ mouths as they finish their slurp, the cozy warmth of their bodies, and gentle greeting when I say hello. I just love standing there in the dark watching and listening to them either in their stalls or outside munching on the fresh hay I dropped. (My guys stay out unless the weather is pretty shitty bc I don’t have a run in to keep them dry) I only do night check in the winter when the grass is dead and they need more hay or if they’re in a stall overnight (which is usually during cold winter rains and snow) but it is one of my more favorite barn chores 🙂
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That sounds lovely! Maybe I need to start doing that. Typically I feed than dinner and either ride an hour or so later or ignore them until breakfast. I’m such a good horse mom 🙂
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My tractor is my happy place – clearly they have never owned such a magical machine! Lol
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The tractor is my favorite too. I need to convince the hubby to get a larger one as this one is tiny and it takes me forever
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Aw Pete with that skeleton dog is so cute. I was playing with the skeleton pony at home depot. It’s eyes light up red and it whinnies and screams. I wanted to get it, but couldn’t really justify it.
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I nearly walked out with it but then remembered we live so far back from the road either nobody would see it or it would get stolen. Wyatt tried to get me to purchase the 8′ tall T. rex.
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The baby t-rex still half in the egg was really cute too
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i always felt the same way about cleaning stalls when i worked at bigger boarding barns. just nothing but stall after stall – a mindless, monotonous (but simultaneously physically and visually gratifying) activity that served as the perfect time to sort through and organize my own thoughts. sometimes i miss that!
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It’s hard to find those types of times in life to just quietly think. Farm work sorta forces it on you
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I totally got the demon pony from Home Depot. No regrets. Gwyn and Saffron were VERY concerned by the new herd member.
I like cleaning the stalls and dry runs and watch as it all tidies up. Or spreading out fresh bedding in clean stalls. I love the smell of pine shavings. Feeding in the evening (I only feed grain once a day) is also fun because I get greeted VERY enthusiastically when I come out on the deck and they come running to the barn from the far corners of the pasture.
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I’m jealous!!! I think Pete might have a heart attack though!
We didn’t grain yesterday due to Irma passing through and tonight they were extra vocal when they saw the grain bowls.
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