Sadly this year’s Horse section of the Esk show (23rd May) was cancelled due to rain. The deluge affected the entire SE and Northern regions of NSW with flooding, wash aways and devastation to families and businesses all over again. Thankfully our house doesn’t flood but our street does where it is crossed by the Laidley Creek, so we were locked in for the day until the waters receded. Secretly we were relieved as preparing 3 Shires in rain and muddy conditions was daunting and we were working on precisely how we would achieve clean horses and keep them that way, when we got the news. It was inevitable, those old quips; mow the lawn, water the plants, hang out washing…. almost guarantees rain…. so if you buy a truck load of water you end up with flooding rains. Our gauge recorded 104mm so not as much as last time and certainly no where near what others received in surrounding areas causing all sorts of damage.
Last time it flooded the Forest Hill road also went under – so not as bad this time.
Laidley side flooded 21/05/09
This photo was taked before the peak so this area rose another half meter
Because this was the last show we were attending this year our lot have remained covered in whatever glorious rollings and scratchings they discovered during the wet and all 3 look fantastic…. mud brown, grotty with tails and manes full of grassy bits and twigs, who can resist buying a giant hairy scarecrow I ask you! The miniatures (small mammoths currently) are also serenly revolting, being washed is a signal to find the stickiest mud and grot to cover oneself in and report back in the shortest time to present the newly acquired coat of grime in all its glory……. sigh and we have 5 of them… the competition is fierce to win this one I can tell you and NO it doesn’t make any difference if we keep them confined until totally dry…. it just delays the outcome. Passion’s QLD itch is seemingly under control, a new product advised by the vet, has been working well (foaming wash) despite the additional grot load she insists is necessary after every clean. Thankfully none of the other horses (8 in total) are affected as Passion is, good news for us as it’s a lot of foaming elbow work using the stuff, needing to do all of them twice a week would just be scary.
I also started working full time last Monday and with the 1st week of training completed I am excited and overwhelmed at the same time. It’s an amazing place to work, loads of support with challenges and expectations guaranteed to keep the brain working at my sort of level…. I love it. Our team of 14 will remain a team on completion of training so it’s a bit like going back to school and having classmates move with you to uni. We have such a diverse group so great friendships will be formed no doubt. With this last piece in place our lives have finally returned to contented routine. Both employed, show season over, everyone is fighting fit and paddocks are green… it’s a nice feeling after so many hiccups this past year. Of course we will have to start mowing again, then there are the repairs and never ending maintenance, poo collection, worming, farriers, AI…. did I say routine? I meant contended madness…. surely.
Before the rain – Duchess waiting at the gate
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