We’re in the last few weeks of the year, and although winter isn’t official yet, we’ve already experienced our first bitterly cold snap. Heated water buckets and stock tank heaters were hooked up. Hoses for cleaning chicken coops have frozen solid. And countless discussions have been held about the impossible dream of finding warm waterproof gloves you don’t have to throw off in frustration at the first fight with a frozen gate latch. (Hint: They don’t exist.)
And last night the Ranch 61 boarders shared a meal and a drink (or three or four …) in the barn alongside their half-ton pets. All enjoyed the warmth of good food, good spirits, good company and–at least for a while–the scarily powerful overhead propane heaters burning off a whole summer season of hay dust. (Remind us to sweep them off next time!)
The evening was enough to make the season seem (almost kind of) warm. While the humans enjoyed their horses while safely sipping adult beverages from the ground, the horses—some reluctantly donning dollar-store Santa hats—used the spirit of giving as a shameless ploy to wangle more treats.
Yes, it is starting to look a lot like Christmas! Happy holidays, everyone!
— S.K.
Ranch 61 