Barn Duty

I kicked some serious butt on Sunday.  I already mentioned that I was going to be on poop patrol for the next few weeks because my Barn Owner has gone to Sweden.  Pretty cool!  She has a live-in house sitter (HS) for the duration who is sharing the chores with me.  HS is doing the morning feeding as well as cleaning when it fits her schedule.  I am doing the rest of the chores.  Of course, as soon as BO left, the temperature hit the low 100s (38 ℃).  She's probably wearing a coat in Stockholm!

On Sunday I ...

• cleaned all four stalls which if you'll remember are actually large, open air pens.  I also spread bedding in my two stalls and hosed them down.
• hosed down the barn aisle.
• turned one horse out and rode the other three horses which requires the removal and replacement of four fly masks and three fly sheets. The fly mask/fly sheet thing is a job in and of itself!
• hosed down two horses, not my own.
• watered the arena which requires the set up and removal of two large sprinklers that are connected to two very long and heavy hoses.  I first watered the area where I planned to ride.  After riding, I watered the rest of the arena and then dragged the hoses back to my preferred riding area so that they were ready to go for the next day.
• swept the cross tie area and tack room.
• fed my boys their beet pulp and tossed them some afternoon hay.

And after all of that, I went to the gym and ran over two and a half miles and followed it all up by cooking dinner!  Who said Sunday was a day of rest?