He's Foxy

On Tuesday, I went to the farm to see my horse and get him some new hay. I took him his grain and as soon as he heard it in the bucket he came trotting down the fence line. I love this cloud of dust blowing off his head in this picture. You can click on it to see a better view, and what is left of the sarcoid mess.

I groomed him while he ate then I wandered around and picked some rocks out of his pasture. I found one of these, digitalis purpurea, or foxglove.

A beautiful plant, but highly toxic to horses. It was just growing there by it's lonesome, a stray seed that had suddenly bloomed tall along the fence.

Luckily my horse is pretty particular about what he eats when grazing. His pasture is also full of buttercups, which are also toxic to horses. In our damp climate it is impossible to keep them from spreading. My horse won't eat them, he'll nibble the grass all around them. Any tips on killing them off in a natural, organic way?

Luckily the foxgloves pull up easy by the roots. Out in the "meadow", behind My Boy's pasture, I found many more. There were white ones.

And lilac ones.

Oh goodness, look! The wild daisies are starting to bloom!

I've been waiting for these, as you might remember my obsession with them last year!

I truly appreciate all of your input, stories, and advice on hay. Paint Girl was working the day we went, so I'd offered to help get hay. I have repeatedly told Paint Girl I was sorry I helped purchase hay that spoiled (it was not moldy when we bought it, it was damp and subsequently molded in the following two weeks.) I wish Paint Girl would have been there, perhaps the two of us could have put our two smart horsey woman brains together and stood our ground on purchasing the hay!

A temperature probe would be a good investment. The article I read suggested sticking an iron rod down into the middle of the bale, leaving it there for ten minutes, then pulling it out. If the rod is hot to the touch....a good sign combustion could happen. I think a bale at 160-170 degrees is potentially combustible.

CDN Cowgirl asked about rock salt. I think it is an old-time tradition. Farmers often throw rock salt on their hay as they load the bales into a barn. It helps to absorb a little moisture, and the salt is beneficial to the stock eating the hay, as well. However, a large amount of moisture can not be fixed with a few handfuls of rock salt.

It was nice to see my horse mid-week, even though I didn't ride, it was relaxing just being around him amongst the growing foliage in the meadow, watching the sun sink low. Horses are always good for the soul. No matter how I am feeling, I get next to my horse and my worries seem to fade away.