Thursday, June 11, 2009

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.

33 comments:

  1. Again, please do not feel bad about the hay! I know you had that gut instinct, but it is not your fault! It happens, and we got our money back, we will get more hay, good hay and we will move on....
    Love the picture of your boy trotting down to get his grain! Oh, and even though Foxgloves are toxic to horses, they are beautiful! How do they come in so many pretty colors?
    I've noticed they are really coming up in the field this year, the field where we hand graze the horses. I also thought of you, when I was letting Fritzy eat grass, I saw the daisy's and than I forgot to tell you they were there, than I mowed that section up to the arena, where they were blooming! Oops! But you found one!

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  2. It's true horses are good for the soul! I think your horse looks adorable. I also looked at your photo blog ... your photos make me smile and dream. Thank you. :)

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  3. "No matter how I am feeling, I get next to my horse and my worries seem to fade away." Ain't it the truth? All is well when I'm with my Boyz.

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  4. Love your boy coming to greet you! The foxgloves are very pretty even if they had to go - thanks for the pictures!

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  5. I had never heard about the rock salt either. Good tip. Most of the time, it's so dry around here, we don't worry about damp hay.

    Love the last shot!

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  6. Your Boy is so cute trotting for his yummy food. I am glad you got the hay problem sorted. I think hay is the single most annoying thing about horsekeeping. Last year we got a load that must have not been so tasty. It wasn't "bad", as in moldy or rotten, but it must have been bitter to them. I spent the whole summer putting it in their stalls and carting it out to the manure pile when they didn't eat it. It drove me nuts! At least you got it worked out now!

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  7. I love seeing all the wild flowers! I hope that after you pulled the foxglove, you took them home and put them in a vase. They are such lovely variety and colors. We have little mini daisies growing in the fields here. My mare loves them, along with the dandelions.

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  8. I love the pictures you take of your horse. What kind of camera do you use? I wish I could catch mine in that flattering light. I love those days at the barn when you are just there for the fun of it.

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  9. I had never heard of the rock salt combination. That's interesting. Sorry about your hay debacle! AT least the farmer gave you your money back. That's good on his part. You can tell wet hay that hasn't dried properly and baled up by its weight, warmth and feel. If you drop a bale and it doesn't have a bounce to it, then good chance it's still wet. Hubby and I are picky about baling our hay. We make sure its been dried and raked before baling it. Fortunately we have cows that will eat the crap hay and not worry about them falling over from colic. We hope to start baling in the next couple weeks. I hope it all goes well. Mother Nature needs to be in good spirits for us.

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  10. {Lynn}~ I use a Nikon D40! I love it. You can read more about my camera journey on my photo blog.

    {DVM'S Wife}~ I wish we had cattle to feed the hay to. Looking back, all those signs were there- they were heavy, didn't bounce, etc.

    {PG}~ After years of buying local, I suppose something like this was bound to happen. I notice a huge difference in the quality, look, and type of grass hay you guys buy, it varies w/every load/vendor. I was just annoyed that it was the first time I actually decide to purchase some too, and it ends up being a nightmare for us both. Oh well! A lesson learned, for sure! :)

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  11. You are right, he is Foxy!! :) Those wild flowers are beautiful. Your pictures are really great! I love that last one with tv sun and your boy!

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  12. At least you got it before it did mold and you fed it to the horses.

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  13. Great pictures Pony Girl! I love the last one. I feel the same way. Just going to the stable and spending time with Dusty takes all my cares and worries away. I could live there! Sometimes before I know it. I've been there 3 hrs. Wish it would go that fast when I'm at work!!!

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  14. Like you, I love just hangin' with my horse! They truly are the best therapy, hands down. My fields are also growing daisies and foxglove...I love that...a true indication of summer! :) Hope you're hangin' in there & glad that "My Boy" could give you some peaceful company mid week.

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  15. That darn sarcoid! But it looks OK in the photo!!
    I have to tell you: I love daisies too. I buy them at garden centers every chance I get, and I also have been spotted flinging the seeds here and there around my yard. I love how pure and sweet they look. Wild ones too are just as good! And even the little chamomile flowers that look like teenie tiny daisies. I like to pick a bunch of them and shove them into Lilly's headstall so she has a little bouquet to wear on a trail ride.
    I wonder how Floxglove got that name? I have never seen foxes wearing gloves!

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  16. Very nice pictures. I love the one of My Boy grazing with the sun rays flowing over his head. Just lovely!!

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  17. that is amazing that the digitalis grows wild there! glad you pulled it up. they make heart meds from that flower, or so i have read. don't beat yourself up about the hay...your horse is so photogenic. he is a darling.

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  18. I agree with all of you that horses are good for the soul. Whenever I go out to a barn and see the horses, I can relax and have a break from worrying about exams and homework.

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  19. I love reading your stories. Your boy is such a good one! :)

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  20. Good grief! I'd a freaked at the foxglove, that it'll stop a heart, literally! Yikes! pretty plant as it is, but dangerous!Nice photos!

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  21. Oooh! Your flower pics are so pretty. It's too bad that the foxgloves are toxic. They sure are lovely to look at in a pasture.

    My Boy is looking rather foxy, too.

    Sorry about the hay situation. What a bummer.

    I hope they give you a refund/discount for selling it to you like that.

    ~Lisa

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  22. Oh that is such a pain to have those sporadic toxic plants and trees! Great Pics, and his sarcoid is looking a little better!

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  23. The Foxgloves are beautiful even though they are a nuisance to you. I am enjoying your pictures on your photo blog. They are excellent.

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  24. love the pics, especailly the 2nd one!

    Sorry to hear about the hay dilema! Glad it worked out!

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  25. You are lucky you got money back on the hay. I don't know how many moldy bales I've tossed with no reimbursement. Beautiful photos of your boy! You are exactly right, horses make worries disappear and feed your soul.

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  26. Q: Any tips on killing them off in a natural, organic way?

    A: 10% pickling vinegar.

    To make the mixture,

    1 gallon of 10% pickling vinegar
    1 oz of orange oil (optional)
    1 tblsp liquid diswashing soap

    This is NOT toxic to animals or people. For more info:
    www.dirtdoctor.com

    Sincerely,
    Garlic Man
    Jack County, TX

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  27. Hello! We also get lots of foxgloves here, especially in the woods....as you say, very pretty but so poisonous and not just to horses.
    Love those wild daisies though....does he eat them?
    And that shot of My Boy with the sun behind him....WOW!
    Have a great weekend :D
    Slobbers xx

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  28. Hey PG....I don't know why but I keep losing some of my favorite blogs! Sorry I haven't been around for awhile! The foxglove are beautiful and I don't see how they just seed themselves randomly in the pasture but they do! Your boy is as beautiful as ever even with his sarcoid issue....I have one also that has them! Have a great weekend! Luanne

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  29. {Garlic Man}~ Thanks so much for the tip! I think I saw you post something similar on my sister's blog. I will check into it, sounds like a good solution and easy to try outside the pasture first!!

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  30. Straight vinegar works as well, I use it for weed control on my path at my house. I did a whole blog entry on the many uses of vingar (I do love it).

    Great pics, too- I love them!

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  31. Our desert stables has "OLEANDER" in a few places which is also toxix to equines! I have always wondered why they have it there. I will ask them next year!!!

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  32. I love that last pic, very nice! Something about just being with our horses...makes all right in the world. :)

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  33. What a pretty picture of the foxglove!

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I love hearing from my readers!! I truly enjoy all of your feedback, advice, helpful tips, and stories. You all make me laugh and I learn so much from you, too. I will try to post replies to your comments as often as I can.

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