Mad Skillz

Is it really Day Four? Today's prompt is to teach everyone something I do well.  You know what I do really, really well?  Muck stalls.  Especially straw.  I really, really miss straw!

So, here you go!

The Tools:  A straw fork is vital. I like to use a muck bucket as part of the process, and I have a spreader (alternately a wheelbarrow can be used). With a matted stall, you'll need a broom.  I will also have a shavings fork handy. Wear a pair of gloves.

The Process:  Start with the straw fork, and lift the unsoiled straw from the front of the stall into a pile elsewhere in the stall.  Pick out the manure and soiled straw along the front - under the feed tub and water bucket.  Sweep out this area, and move the clean straw you've collected to the front wall.

Carry on with the straw fork, continuing to lift the unsoiled straw, and add it to the "clean" pile.  Remove the large piles of manure as you go (I use the muck bucket for this).  Clear out the wet spot and load into the spreader.  Use the shavings fork to scrape the bottom of the stall, once you've preserved the clean.  Now sweep out the stall - any "clean" chaff can be swept into the wet spot.

If time allows, leave the stall open to dry until later.  With the straw fork, distribute the clean straw you've saved evenly throughout the stall, leaving under the feed tub clean.  Get a bale of straw, open, and if you've done a good job (and they horse isn't too messy!) you'll only need a third to a half bale.  With the straw fork (or your hands, until you master the straw fork) shake up the flakes, over top of the old straw, for a fresh layer.  As you shake, whack the straw with the fork to flatten it, creating an even "mat." Sweep back the doorway about a foot. 

If you're bedding for a foaling mare, or you're just an over-achiever, bank the stall.  That means shaking up a bank against the walls before creating your "mat." I then go around and, with the back of the fork, push the banked straw against the wall.

I have a photo somewhere of a stall at the track I'd bedded - it was the most beautiful bale of straw, so apparently I felt the need to photograph it!  :-)

As this is probably the most boring post you will read on this blog...I'm going to go all the way and not include photos of any sort. I think we're all going to be glad when this week is over!

Rush, Rush, Rush

Time was pretty tight again today. I had to get a load of hay, then go back for a load of straw. Then there was the Shop Vac distraction...anyway, I finally started painting around 2pm, and only had till 4pm (feed time) to get something done. As usual, I can see a few issues with this, but I'm not going to tell you what they are if you haven't figured it out!

This is Mute, a four-year old Thoroughbred gelding. He and Gladys were actually both purchased at the 2005 CTHS yearling sale. While Gladys didn't make it to the races, Mute was stakes-placed as a two-year old and made over $100,000. Today's painting is 10 x 8 oil on panel. The limited palette experience is pretty interesting, I'm finding. When I started out I was pretty sure I was going to end up with a bright orange horse; then I seemed to actually remember what I was doing and it turned out okay in the end. Maybe by November 30 I'll have it figured out, but I'm not making any promises!

I'm having a really hard time getting decent photos of these little paintings. Because they're typically wet, and because the thickness of the paint varies over the surface, some funky things happen! Even taking them outdoors doesn't help. Just another chance to remind everyone, there's no comparison to seeing original artwork in person. And now a word from our sponsor.... :-D