Spring comes later to the high country, but alas, she comes. And when she finally does, how is it that every time, every year, we find ourselves so unprepared and overwhelmed with a zillion things to do, half of which we look at and ask why we didn’t get that done yesterday? Yesterday goes way too fast, I suppose, because I know we weren’t just sitting around eating bon-bons yesterday…Plenty to do, but truly, all good stuff. I do my best to enjoy, and at the end of every day, am grateful that I’ve got so much real, healthy and enjoyable work to keep me busy, and so much more to look forward to doing tomorrow.
There’s the horses, still holding on tenaciously to their winter coats up here, and dragging on the shedding process as long as possible. For a month, I’ve been trying to help them “let go.” And in the process, have every sweater and jacket covered, and more than a healthy dose of horse hair in my nose, mouth and probably stomach and lungs. (I’ll guess that fleece was not invented by a horse person – nothing holds onto horse hair worse – or should I say, better?) I suppose the horses wait for the cold nights to end, and since that never really happens here in the high country, they know the longer they hold on to that hair, the more comfortable their nights will be.
Then there’s trimming their feet. We keep our herd barefoot all winter long, and find keeping them trimmed throughout the winter makes getting their feet back in shape in spring that much easier and healthier. More work for the farrier during the cold and snowy winter months, but he’s found his job is that much easier come summer. Still, the foot wall seems to grow with the grass, and this time of year, keeping them well trimmed is an ongoing race.
Next, there’s getting the horses fit once again, and back into “work mode.” This is the fun part of the job, and I find an easy one for the horses. After a winter of leisure, I believe they look forward to a job to do and a purpose to every day. Wouldn’t you?
Onto the barn, we begin to clean up from the horses using the saddle shed for a winter shelter, and replacing the manure with tack. 15 or so riding saddles and a good bunch of pack saddles, all in need of cleaning, oiling, inspecting, repairs… Bridles, lead ropes, halters, hobbles and more… lots of rope splicing, braiding, and leather work.
Onward to the trail clearing. The snow has melted off of our trails, though most are in need of major maintenance. Between the high winds of last autumn and the heavy snows of winter, there is not a trail around us that is free from serious tree damage. Being more than a little short on Forest Service trail crews up this way, we (the outfitters, and quite honestly, the hunters as well, since they are often the last to use a trail in the fall) do our best to care for the trails we ride. A few years ago, I bought my husband a custom leather chain saw scabbard for his saddle. Trail work is really that much a part of our riding! Otherwise, we always ride with saddle saws, which are all we use in the Wilderness, of course. Though, crossing the river to get to those trails is still a ways away.
I suppose you could say it is all work. But those of us who love our horses and everything about them, times like this you feel that life is especially good…
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