Staying Dry

Logic should have told us the amounts of rain we’ve been seeing would eventually cause damage, but I don’t think anyone foresaw just how catastrophic it would end up being. 

Where I live was just outside the worst latest storm’s path so we are fine, but our friends just to the south weren’t so lucky - the regional gov't I work for is in a state of emergency due to flooding, mudslides, and washed out roads and utility lines. They’re comparatively very lucky compared to other areas, though. The bigger area situation is just heartbreaking and beyond me to recap here. On a horse specific note though, the rescues shared online are incredible. The local media has been showing people in boats helping cows and horses swim out, fire departments getting ingenious lifting them out of sinkholes, and even a few airlifted to safety via helicopter.

I saw a video with some cows getting flown out in cargo nets - if we filled the cargo net with hay like a round bale net B would happily hop in the middle and fly anywhere!

The worst we have to contend with here is some grocery and fuel shortages due to the highway and rail routes to the coast being flooded or destroyed. I was OK with that until yesterday, when I had a moment. The feed store is out of the things I feed (alfalfa hay cubes, timothy hay, grain) and not likely to be restocked for 3 weeks. Why? Apparently people panic buying and hoarding. I found that pretty discouraging and frustrating - not an understandable supply chain issue but a 'people being selfish' issue.

I’m grateful to have a barn full of hay (feeding Sophie just local hay isn't ideal, but I can up her ration and I do have a tub of vitamins that should get me through - we're still luckier than some, right?) 

Local hay is already Bridget's main diet, and I'm appreciative of that.

 The forecast is for yet more intense storms coming in tomorrow through to Sunday, so keep your fingers crossed for everyone, particularly those south of us.

I haven’t ridden this week - my work has been going late and it’s dark out extra early with the grey and miserable days. We tried to book the indoor arena for a regular weeknight rides, but it seems everyone else had the same thought and we weren't able to come up with a free time that worked for us. Outdoors it is!

Feels like I've been making headway on her weight and topline so I'm trying not to panic.

On the weekend, I did some roof and gutter fixes to our little barn, plus redid the perimeter drainage - and dug in some culverts - there was a large amount of water running through my barn for a while there! I’m grateful the horses hadn’t moved in yet and my hay is up off the ground! Also grateful that where they currently are boarded is overengineered as far as drainage and surfaces, so my horses have been high and dry all winter. I’d hate to think about how deep in water and mud we would have been elsewhere. Always so many silver linings to be found, right?

In a further good news/bad news situations, my husband’s work is shut down due to the current supply chain issues and inability to transport their product out. But, guess who suddenly has lots of time to put in new fences and help with the barn renos? He's pretty epic at fencing. We're getting enjoyment over that : "I redid the south fence line yesterday" in a farmer/rancher voice sounds pretty major if we don't mention it's 1 acre and literally 12 fence posts ;)

Anyway, a happy little before and after - I finally got my new tack room wall up and door hung this week:

The sliding door is a win as far as space goes - lots more storage!

 If nothing else the last couple of weeks have been a good learning experience for what we need on our property as far as improved drainage (and feed storage). It's been a good reminder to have a plan in case of emergency and that being a little more self sufficient here is never a bad thing. 

I've been looking hard at outdoor lighting - I'm hoping this time next year my ring will be in and I'll have some form of lighting to be able to ride after dark. Being able to ride every day after I get off work will be a game changer - currently I am limited to 2 weekdays.

Stay dry, everyone!