Mini Horses 2024 & 2025 & 2026 kidding

[Mini Horses]

So here's 48 hr old twins, cuddled..ignoring mom whose hollering for them. Need to get some tmrw in the sun, while they're up scooting around

And here's the almost dry twin doelings the gali was waiting on had...she came in I knew it was time, I set a panel to make a jug. Came in & made a cup of tea...back out & there they were. Got right down to business. Some sort of brown...know more tomorrow

 

[SageHill]

Cuties! Congrats

 

[Baymule]

They are so cute!

 

[Ridgetop]

Sounds like a successful kidding year.

 

[Mini Horses]

So far, so good. Slower. Works for me. Even fewer bred does will work I have numbers back down, for a while at least.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

for a while at least.

Key phrase right there!

 

[Baymule]

You know you won't keep numbers down. There's always that beautiful kid, lamb, calf, chicken or whatever animal it is, that grabs you and won't let go.

 

[farmerjan]

You know you won't keep numbers down. There's always that beautiful kid, lamb, calf, chicken or whatever animal it is, that grabs you and won't let go.

Or the old faithful that you just have to keep... registered or not.... like Frimplepants???? Maybe she is not a favorite... but when the girls named her that I just fell over laughing.... it has just stuck with me.... There is a good market for home raised lambs and a good producing commercial ewe is worth twice what a poor producing registered ewe is..... BUT, you already know all this...

Take what you get from this next sale of lambs and get that pasture fenced and then you will not feel the feed bill near as much.... I know, I'm one to talk... but the material is here to do it... just the labor is the issue....

 

[Baymule]

Or the old faithful that you just have to keep... registered or not.... like Frimplepants???? Maybe she is not a favorite... but when the girls named her that I just fell over laughing.... it has just stuck with me.... There is a good market for home raised lambs and a good producing commercial ewe is worth twice what a poor producing registered ewe is..... BUT, you already know all this...

Take what you get from this next sale of lambs and get that pasture fenced and then you will not feel the feed bill near as much.... I know, I'm one to talk... but the material is here to do it... just the labor is the issue....

Actually, I have to face reality and I've made up a list of 17 ewes that need to go and Frimplepants is on that list. I had to have a hard talk with myself to face reality. The reality is that I am moving towards a registered flock and I have young ewes from the ones on my list. I can't justify keeping 50% ewes when I have 75% lambs from them, nor can I justify keeping 75% ewes when I have young ewes from them that hit the 87.5% that are eligible for registration after turning 1 year old and passing the hair coat test. I had Patches and Sunshine on the list, but they both had ram lambs, so they stay another year. Twin sisters, Patches was a bottle baby and I want them to go together, but I won't keep them after I get ewes from them.

I told my granddaughters of my decision and explained the why to them and they understood. Their only concern was Ewenique and I assured them that Ewenique can drop dead here, she's more than earned her spot. It's been a hard decision, but I have to move forward towards my goal of a registered flock. Last year I kept 9 ewes, 4 registered, 3 87.5% and 3 at 75%. This year I have lots of lambs to choose from and so far, I'm keeping something like 13 ewes.

Sheep Math is real and so is the feed bill. Oops, I take that back...... I have SEVENTEEN ewe lambs on the list to keep. 5 are 87.5% and 2 are from registered parents. 2 registered ewes to lamb in February, that keeper number is subject to change.......

The man that owns the land on 3 sides on me says he's going to fence it this summer. He has talked of putting up a game fence, I hope he does, The I would have a short stretch of fence between me and the young couple that bought the 14 acres and single wide next to me, and the road frontage. I'll wait this one out to see what he does.

 

[Mini Horses]

Wow...it's tough to choose between oldies & offspring sometimes. The horses were different because of longer lifespans, once a yr foaling, had been selected as registered & many with show records. So most foals were sold.

We actually started a herd of Boer to produce income in different cycles. These were first reg boer brought into VA. Lovely, expensive animals back then...1995. Meat goats were new & trending then. They're everywhere now. Way more affordable.

At this stage of life, I'm not looking for shows & fame -- or the expense & time of that section of raising livestock. Some of mine are registered stock, some not. Goats are both trouble & fun. They are still an expense but, easier to manipulate. Plus I do enjoy the dairy girls, the milk and the milking.

My herd can flux with my mood. There are a couple that will die here....most could leave with a hug. I have land to maintain and they help with that, most days. I have a purpose to tend them. I have an animal fix & connection. It works most days.

The longhorn stays for Jan, Ewenique for Bay, here -- it's Brat, my fav girl. She's aging out, too. I dread "the day". A couple others are pushing middle age, friendly Boer, handle & produce well, so keepers. I have some very nice doelings this year so I see some older ones leaving to allow room for them. it keeps me active & engaged. I'm not slowing a lot...just some. I'm 80 this week, so thinking I'm doing ok. I was running tag with a couple gals in the field last night...I won, they turned & went where I needed them! I'm still toting hay, feed & chasing kids. Yeah, they keep me active! They have a purpose.