RMR March 2010 Article - Dog Hair and Mule Sweat

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Dog Hair & Mule Sweat

with Natalie Riehl

editor@rockymountainrider.com

March 2010 Issue

With our warmer winters of late, I’ve had to keep an eye out for green grass popping up out in the pasture earlier each year. The horses and mules have done a good job of eating down the dry brown grass, but of course we don’t want them to start digging up roots when they smell new grass. At the first sign of this injurious behavior, we’ll be closing the gate!

Brown grass is blah. They are all too happy to receive baled hay in the morning and evening —that would be the same hay they shunned four months ago when first given the option of grazing the pasture.

Can we blame them, though? Eating virtually the same diet year after year? I am continually amazed, however, that they are able to eat grass, live and thrive!

I am happy to report that the garage-as-storage-unit got partially cleaned out before I emptied a rental storage unit and filled it up again. We installed some shelves last year, and were able to organize so many things — like coolers, pet carriers and luggage.

I have, on occasion, met people who did not have pack-rat-itis. One older friend has a neat-as-a-pin garage which she can actually park her car in, and there is nothing in that garage that she doesn’t use. I will only say that a few years ago, when she was moving, she had to downsize and disperse FIFTY years worth of clothing and household goods.

How do people accumulate so much STUFF? I’m not sure. There’s the sentimental stuff like my dad’s old typewriter and a box of family photos. And a few assorted pieces of furniture; a dresser, a hutch, a couple of old family chairs that need to be reupholstered.

When I rate the stuff that meets my eye, I think, “That was a good idea when I bought it.” Things like the decorative hames, the sewing machine and the exercise bike.

Yes, like millions of Americans, I aspire to use Ebay to not only empty the garage, but to make a profit. Ha! I’ve even taken an Ebay class! But sadly, that was five years ago. So I applaud anybody that actually gets around to selling stuff on Ebay or even organizing for an old-fashioned yard sale.

If you are a member of a horse club and you’re “looking for a deal” during this economic downturn, read on to see how RMR can help!

We are excited about our new “Club Connection,” an online resource for local and regional equine clubs and breed associations in RMR’s distribution area. All of the benefits that clubs may use are offered at NO COST!

We encourage participation by clubs representing all disciplines, breeds, sports and activities. We are constantly amazed by the numbers of activities that horse people become involved in and their dedication to those specific interests.

We invite clubs to place a Club Directory Listing on the Club Connection page, to send a schedule of their events in to our Calendar, and to send us their Competition Results and Press Releases (in a digital format, please).

Our mission is to help the equine community in our distribution area disseminate information to as many horse people as possible, at a cost they all can afford — a little bit of time donated by volunteers to email us information.

For more information, go to RMR’s home page: rockymountainrider.com, and scroll down the menu to Club Connection.

We look forward to your participation!!

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