Prototype Hayfeeder – Part II

Dec 202008
 

Last week, I posted about my prototype hay feeder. I’m here to update you all on the results.

This is how it looked installed. I ended up moving the eye bolts that hold the bungie back into the corner farther, so that no pawing feet could be caught in it.

Complete, I thought.

Complete, I thought.

Cirro figured out the eating part in about 15 seconds.

Cirro figured out the eating part in about 15 seconds.


But he did paw at it for a while.

But he did paw at it. It didn't come fast enough for his taste!

I hung out for a while, watching the scene and making sure that no one go in too much trouble.

I wonder if hes remembering Wyoming?

I wonder if he's remembering Wyoming?

On a side note, Cirro was in the middle of everything. He’s even more interested in my tools than any horse I’ve had so far, especially the power drill. I had to keep the case closed every moment or he would have walked off with all the little things in there. It’s my husband’s, so I’ll have to clean off the beet pulp dribbles soon too! He’s tons of fun and I really look forward to working more with him next summer. I’ll have to study up on what tricks to start him with.

Happy Face

Happy Face

All seemed well, until I showed up the following evening …

Foiled!

Foiled!

I knew that the lid was the weak point and that was proven. I believe that this one was the culprit.

Who me??

Who me??

So for now, the lid has been removed and Lily is having a little extra, free choice hay. I don’t feel badly about it, since we have had below freezing temps. The extra hay is certainly helping her to stay warm. And that’s a good thing.

While this isn’t working quite how I envisioned, it does keep most of the hay out of Cirro’s poop pile. So part of my original problem is solved. I just didn’t intend to give free choice hay to my air fern….

I deserve ALL this hay.

"I deserve ALL this hay."

It might be a few weeks before I make V.2 of the barrel hay feeder with an improved lid. In the mean time, I think that I’ll move this one out of the corner by her side of the shelter….

Breathe!

Dec 182008
 

Breath is energy. Horses respond to energy, on subtle levels. Having the ability to control your breath, in various situations, can effect what’s happening around you. Learning to control your breath starts with being aware of it.

Most of us only use a small portion of our lung capacity. We breathe shallowly and unaware of the energy that we are robbing ourselves of. So sit straight, relax, and let your breath fill up your chest cavity, your belly, your ribs, under your armpits, your back under your should blades, all the way up into your collarbones. Count as you breath in through your nose and count as you breath out through your nose. Are the inhale and exhale equal? Or do you breath out much more quickly. Most of us do. Try balancing out the inhale and exhale, so that they are even for 3 breaths. Then relax and see how you feel. There is no right or wrong; good or bad. Just see what is. Do this once every 31 minutes for a day. Again, see how you feel.

Drawing your awareness to your breath in this way can help to ground and center you in this media saturated, techno-crazed world. We have so much information flowing at us and into us at all times… blogs, newsfeeds, twitter, email, texts, cell phones, work phones, radio, TV, and on and on… That it is worth taking these few moments every so often for ourselves. Being more grounded, centered and calm will also help your relationship with your horses, your pets, your family, your co-workers and on.

Try it!

Bob beckoning me on.

Bob beckoning me to continue on our walk at TDR.

Brain Works – Jill Bolte Taylor

Dec 182008
 

I found this talk inspiring enough to want to share it with those who visit here. I encourage you to take 20 minutes out of your day and see another way of looking at our existence. Click on the image below to run the video. (yes, that’s a real brain…)

Yes, horses know who is who

Dec 172008
 

A study of how horses recognize individual vocalizations is being done in the UK.

See it here.

As the horsewoman interviewed said, it’s not terribly surprising that they know who’s neigh is who’s. Still it’s interesting that someone is researching this scientifically. And the blooper of the reporter at the end is worth watching the entire video.

:)

Photo Meme

Dec 152008
 

I found this while catching up on my blog reading here. I like the idea enough to do it!

The Sixth Photo Game
–Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.
–Go to the 6th Folder and then pick the 6th Picture.
–Post it on your bloggy and tell the story that goes with the picture.
–Tag 5 other glorious peoples to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog telling them about it.

This was last February. My then 12 (now 13) year old son had outgrown the concept of the bunk bed. This was a last photo before we dismantled it.

I’ll add a few more from the same folder to tell the rest of the story.

Then he did most of the work of putting his new bed together.

Success!

Success!

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