There's a lot of theory about whether horses should be on a schedule or not when it comes to feeding. I've read the pros and cons on each position and honestly I usually just do what works for me. And what works for me is a general evening feed. In the summer it's usually right after dinner and the kids all come out with me and we play outside too.
In the winter, it's been after the kids are in bed I bundle up for a trip out and the animals are fine until the next night while they root around for winter grass if there's snow. They've got plenty of water. Anyway, I'm justifying here. On to the story.
I might not go out at an exact time every night, but it is at night. Also note: the winter pasture is behind the house and Saffron is bloody brilliant and has figured out that you can look into the house and see the humans.
So Saffron will see lights turn on as we move to different parts of the house and that's when it starts...
Eeeeeeeeeeeeehaw ehaw ehaw ehaw!
This bray echoes through Dryden. I know our neighbors hear it. Thankfully most of them find it amusing. Sometimes the neighbor donkey three lots down will answer.
Gwyn does not whinny for dinner. She will whinny when she hears a door open or sees me come outside, but she does not call for dinner unless a human has already appeared.
This brings us to tonight. It's cold, in the teens after being up near 50F and there's been an unexpected snowstorm. I am dragging getting ready to go outside. I spent more time than needed just laying next to a sleeping Hazel because I was warm, comfy and tired.
I heard Saffron while I was in with Hazel. This is normal. I heard Saffron again while I was still in with Hazel. I finally got up and went to see Eric, who was playing Zelda on the switch. I sat in bed. Our bedroom faces the back with giant slider doors.
I hear a very plaintive whinny.
Oh geez.
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| "You. Were. Late." |
I get into the barn and toss them each a flake of alfalfa since it's cold and I'm feeling guilty. Saffron sticks her head over the stall door (barely) and just BRAYS at me. It's loud, you guys. And in an enclosed space. I'm pretty sure she does this on purpose.
I told Gwyn we were going to trailer out to go ride tomorrow and she snorted dismissively at me. I tried to get a picture of her and all I could get was mare face.
So maybe we're on more of a schedule than I realized.
Our horses get fed in the morning by the hubby before work at pretty much the same time and by me every evening when I get home from work. Weekends though are slippery. I tend to forget to feed them until it is super late and they are all pacing by the gate. Oops.
ReplyDeleteSaffron is adorable! I keep trying to convince the hubby to get a donkey. Haven't managed to yet.
Going to need to get those noise canceling head phones lol
ReplyDeleteYour routine sounds so similar to mine. The horses get their evening feed whenever I'm done for the day. Sometimes it's 6pm, sometimes it's 8. It's always at night. Ozzy and JR have also figured out that they can see the house and the humans. JR will give this deep, throaty nicker when he sees Mike come outside (or if the "food truck", the Rav, pulls in the driveway). You can hear him clear across the property. Ozzy will whinny if he sees me, but not at feeding time.
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