March 20-21 Corrals, Tumbleweeds, Goodbye to Rojo & Barkley

---------Barkley--------------------Rojo--------

Two of our better horses had to be "put down" this week. Due to age, Rojo, one of our strongest and fastest horses, but now barely able to walk in to water each day, had to be put down. He was known for breaking into a run if you gave him his head at all. And sometimes it took both hands and a little prayer to get him to stop. Cap, John, and Guy each took their turns on Rojo. Barkley, one of our own home-bred horses from our previous mare April, had developed a hoof condition which caused the hoof to split and was painful for him to walk on, also had to be put down. He was born in 1993 when Charles Barkley led the Suns to the finals- thus the name. It was a little emotional for Chris, Cody, Matt & Steve as this was our first time involved in such a sad event. It's no easier for an old cowboy-Guy couldn't watch but stayed at the truck.

We accomplished a lot on the corrals. Built a new wood gate, straightened 3 metal gates, rehung two gates that the cows knocked down last year and removed the gate between the barn and saddling area. We burned tumbleweeds that had collected around the corrals and rebuilt a wire gate at the knoll's mill. We cleaned out the old tack room on the south end of the stables, which has not been used in decades, and we now have an additional storage area.

There remains plenty of work for our April work weekend including a roundup to get the yearlings off of their mothers and lots more repairs and cleanup. Any help will be appreciated.

PS- Chris Nicoll is home from his mission so he will be shoeing the horses this year.