Giving the horses attention

This evening we gave all three horses some one on one. Everyone got a brush and his or her hooves picked. We're having a little problem with thrush, a hoof disease caused by damp conditions. The horses, to my befuddlement, like to stand in the mud instead of thick grass during or after a rain. It exacerbates the problem. The farrier will probably fuss at me when she comes Thursday but we just put a 50/50 apple cider vinegar and water mix in the hoof and that's all I can do.

For the first time since we've had her, I got on Spellbound, our retired racehorse (Grade I $370,000 plus), for a short walk through the yard. Even so, I know I'll be feeling it in my thighs tomorrow. When our friend Anne gave Spellbound to Hayes, I was pregnant and then Spell got so skinny when we lived in Tennessee that I couldn't get on her. She is the boss mare and, as such, does not like being away from the other two. And Hank the pony doesn't like it either. He ran and bucked all through the pasture until Spell returned and then they had a little rodeo demonstration together.

Big Lisa the Percheron took it all in stride. She's dealing with an inflamed, itchy stomach area, which she heaves onto the ground with gusto and rubs until satisfied. Alex says one day she's going to do that and not get back up. At 28, it's a matter of when, not if!

I'm looking for good alfalfa hay. We need to stock up soon since prices are starting to go up. Do I get the mixed alfalfa for $4.50 a bale or the pure for $7 a bale? Alfalfa is so good that you don't have to feed a lot of it, unlike the grass hay we presently feed. I'm paranoid about keeping the weight on all the horses.