What a waste: Our 2025 hay crop

We had problems this year. 

Last year we made enough hay, so much so, that we sold a third of it and still are running on it today, 13 months later. I was joyous, I'd neve experienced such a perfect crop: we paid our farmer 600 Euros, helping ourselves, of course, with the harvest and stacking, and were able to sell about 300 Euros worth so we fed our animals for 300 for a full year. 

This year it all changaed. Our farmer had health issues and couldn't mow our field. We had only one alternative and he flaked out on us. 

So, it's been painful every day to go out there and see a hay field that could have fed so many animals, as hay, haylage, or silage for local cows. But no. 

The fall-back farmer (who is the political/media presence for farmers in our city) finally came out and said we'd wasted everything, our hay is too old to harvest in any way - he said, taking a head of grass in his hands, "It's got mold already building inside - it's not a product I'd sell with a good conscience." 

I thought, nonsense, last year we harvested 4 weeks earlier and all was fine. But I guess his reputation is on the line. He is, afterall, the leader of the Tractor Lights event every year, where farmers dress up their tractors in Christmas lights and go around our town passing every nursing home with a glorious display. He also is in the news regularly representing farmers' rights.  I knew him from this Tractor Lights Christmas event cuz I work with the Red Cross. I work in the parade cuz they need us to mitigate problems that might occur with ppl riding on tractors without seatbelts, I guess. Anyway, this dude is an important figure in our city.

And he was condescending, telling us we need to get our act together and harvest our hay properly in June/July. Right, but this year we couldn't make it happen, so we paid way too much money to him for the mulching of our field, which was a terrible price to pay for such pure waste. 

I walked across my field today and it smelled so sweet and perfect, I simply don't believe that it couldn't have been used in some way. Oh well, I'm just "city folk" as they call us here.

Before picture, last week: 

 The green grass is my animals' track system, which runs around our hay field.

 

It's hard to see the difference, I know, but the pasture has been mulched down to the ground and hopefully will recover and produce good hay next year. 
 

 

 

The horse invention I've been waiting for

Mag has been in training for the last 2 years to help him with past trauma. Taking him out in traffic has been dreadful, and since this is Europe, if you ride horses, you ride in traffic. 

His trainer is a young lady named Ali whose style of natural horsemanship is of the slow variety. She prioritizes calmness over submission, and he still expresses himself dramatically every lesson. 

Mag is extremely mouthy, it's really cute how he puts everything in his mouth. But when I rode him it was annoying, (not only eating, he likes to grab the reins!) and when Ali is working with him on the street it's also no fun. It's a game for him, how many different things he can put in his mouth per session. Even cigarette butts, it's crazy. If a dog left its stick on the street, Mag will get it. 

My donkey, on the other hand, has learned I don't like it, and she never grabs snacks until I tell her it's OK to graze. She's the type that is always planning for famine, as most donkeys are, so I'm pleased that she accepts the rule. Mag has never thought about famine, he just gets stressed, bored, or playful, and grabs snacks. 

At home here Ali is forced to work in a fenced off section of field, so he doesn't have to even drop his head very low to grab long strands of grass. 

Yesterday facebook showed me a solution that I had thought up years ago, and someone finally produced. 

Anti-grazing-net. Not the strap that some ponies wear, but a simple fly-screen type mesh that straps around the horse's muzzle and prohibits eating. I love this solution because unlike anti-grazing reins, the horse can drop his head as low as it likes. 

I think most of all this would help little kids whose arms are not strong enough to keep their ponies from eating (though it won't help with rooting behavior). And it's not a crutch for the kids, they still have to learn. 

They are designed to be used with a bit if desired.

So glad someone else came up with this and actually manufactured it!

The online shop where you can get it is here. 

Brewer's yeast for horses

I'm curious if there is any merit to feeding brewer's yeast. My husband bought a bucket by mistake and I thought what the heck, let's see if it does anything. 

It's a probiotic, I guess, and the label says it's useful during shedding season, or for horses with loose stools. 

Germans always say shedding hair affects the immune system negatively, and horses require supplements bi-annually during these times. 

Someone please say so if it's not a good thing. 

 

 

"Astroturf" for horse paddocks?

Sorry for my absence but today I saw something I have to share. My next door neighbors put in artificial grass in their horse paddock. 

I googled and apparently it's a thing!

My first thought was how ridiculous, how will they get the poop off of it? 

It turns out there are companies that produce artificial grass for horses, specifically (and in many colors if you want bright blue!). The website says to use a broom to get the poop (huh?) and a hose to clean the grass. 

I'm looking forward to watching how my neighbors make it work. The photo below is from one of the manufacturer's websites.

https://tinyurl.com/5n8wubxw

https://tinyurl.com/8uzc3mk 

 

 

Donkey protects horse (from dog)

You think you know your animals, after 13 years. 

Nothing could have taken me more aback, when yesterday I learned something new.

This month we learned we have wolves again in our area. People are worried, cuz there are so many sheep and livestock that can be easily taken. 

I thought, at first, "How cool, again, wolves in Deutschland, like the fairy tales."

Then I read an article about a rider being followed by 3 wolves for 20 minutes. For me, that is about 15 minutes too long. 

I'm from the PNW and I know a bit about predators, mostly black bears who are nothing unless they have kids. Like here in Germany - wild boars abound, but they won't gorge you to death with their tusks unless you annoy their kids.

When the wolves came to our village I thought I would just stay alert to their location via the news. But I know I have a twitchy horse, likely to take a fence down in panic. Actually that's a typical horse.

Although not completely removed tonight my fears were reduced by a dumb dog. 

I'm not a hater of dogs, just most of them. Cuz most of them bark at me when I am invited into their homes, and most of them jump on me, repeatedly lately, over and over.

This Monday our farrier arrived and out of his van, for the first time, popped a Dachshund. And what did it to? It ran to me and barked at me in my front door.

My farrier asked if I was scared of dogs.

I said in frank German, which is always frank, "This is extremely rude behavior." 

He put the dog away in the van and trimmed my horses. And the next day my husband helped me formlate an eloquent response, about how leashed dogs are welcome here, as well as dogs who do not bark at the house owner.

***

Yesterday I was doing my chores and the Dachshund next door started barking at my animals who were hanging out by the shared neighbor fence. This happens often, my animals are used to being barked at by that dog. I've even had the dog come into my yard and bark at me up close in my garden. The dog barks like crazy at every person who walks up our street, and of course the mailman, so no one can move in this neighborhood without a very very loud announcement. 

I looked over and saw that Mag was standing right next to the fence, with the dog right there on the other side. 

He had his head down, ears pricked at the dog as it went, "Rahrahrahrahrah, Rahrahrahrahrah, Rahrahrahrahrah..." There is nothing like the screeching voice of a Dachshund.

Then something happened and Mag spooked. Perhaps the dog lunged at him? Mag spun around suddenly on his heels and bounced a few strides away.

At that same moment, the donkey rushed over to them. She brayed full volume at the dog and stood sideways between the dog and the horse, blocking them. 

I couldn't believe it. I was certain, at that moment, that if there had been no fence, the donkey would have made contact with the dog. 

Until this I'd only heard donkeys bray for things they want/need like food or friends. Just like horses. Never in aggression. But since the arrival of the wolves I'd read that donkeys will bray to intimidate a wolf. 

Wow. 

I went to Bellis' side and started rubbing her, massaging her, praising her, and the entire time the dog went Rahrahrahrahrah, Rahrahrahrahrah, Rahrahrahrahrah....

Bellis did not leave the fence until the owners finally called their dogs in. 

Bellis got lots of carrots and much much love from me. 

I'm so pleased to learn that most likely, Bellis will protect herself and Mag, and us, from wolves.

Here she is, this week she spent a few afternoons soaking in the sun in below freezing temps: 

Hartmut

The old man who suffered a stroke 3 years ago still walks our hill every day and waves and greets Mag. He loves Mag. 3 times per week his wife Simone joins him. 

Recently Simone asked if it's OK if Hartmut gives Mag some snacks. Of course! I just wanted to show them which snacks are best, so I saved up a while. 

Today was the day and I had a big bag of carrots, apples, bananas and 8 slices of bread that I'd dried overnight on the radiator. 

As they made their daily trek by my house, I stopped them, "Hey Hartmut, I have something for you!" and gave him the sack. He was overjoyed!

As we made our way to the pasture along the street, Simone said that he really needs this today, his cousin died in a surfing accident in Austria today.

I said, "IN Austria?" Yes, they surf in rivers there like they do in Munich!

I guess people surf in rivers everywhere.

Harmut was so happy, as Mag made "giraffe" faces/poses to beg for treats, and how Bellis cleaned everything up that Mag bit into in tiny bites. 

His wife was so happy. I should have done this 2 years ago. 

I told them if I'm not there, to whistle for them, they'll come. Simone said, "They usually come to us anyway." 

Well that's great.

I am so thrilled that these good neighbors can find happiness in giving treats, and not just Hartmut waving hello to Mag. 

Ever since Hartmut had a stroke and moved to the nursing home Mag has been very special to him - his wife said he has a photo of a filthy Mag on his nursing home wall!!! Oh my. 

Today she said, "Oh no, I should have brought my camera, this is so wonderful to see."

Hartmut had a great experience and I hope his wife brings him horse treats regularly (in the nursing home he cannot horde food, so his wife would have to bring bread and carrots). 

I'm so happy this worked out so well. If  Mag can make a senior citizen happy on a daily basis...

Mag

Aarene asked how Mag is doing so I went out with my camera to catch a picture of his fluffiness. 

I sent her a few pictures:

I said, "Don't touch me, you're gross."

10 minutes later I went out and had to send her more pictures:

 

 They had both rolled in the same place, but you don't notice much with the donkey.

In this photo you can see my Wasserkocher - I thought I'd at least work on the tail, and I'm nice so I only use warm water to do that.