Hello everyone,
My sister just called to let me know she saw her first robin, so spring must be just around the corner. The fields at Aspengrove are still covered in snow as we are usually about 3 weeks behind downtown Vernon. The horses fared very well this winter as we had unusually mild weather. Some are starting to loose their winter coats. The spring grooming is always so much fun. Too bad we can't market all the hair that comes out.

Angie and I have been busy repainting some of our old jumps, as well as painting the new ones we had made in the fall. They are very bright and colorful, should be interesting trying to get the horses over them this spring

Hershey has grown so much and so fast. She is almost as tall as Rudy, and is only 7 months. I remember when we got her she was almost the same size as Barkley. I can't decide whether to let her have a batch of puppies or get her spayed. I have to make the decision soon as it is better to get them spayed before their first heat. She has such a wonderful disposition and it would be nice to share that with other dog lovers. She does not jump up and hasn't even destroyed any shoes or furniture. Poor Rudy, he never gets to relax much any more as Hershey always wants to play. Lorne and I have nicknamed her the Ostrich dog as she always has her head deep into the snow, sniffing out all kinds of things. Today she started digging this big hole, she seemed to know what she was digging for. Lo and behold she came up with a hoof trimming. She can no longer use the pet door, only her head fits in now, so when she wants in she sticks her head in the pet door. She looks very funny, what do you think? When she puts her head in the kitten always jumps on top of her. Yes, I kept one of E.T.'s kittens. It is pure black and we called him Panther. Panther and Hershey get along so well. The cat is forever washing the dogs face and ears and then the dog does the same to the cat. We sometimes let Rudy in when it gets real cold. 2 cats and 3 dogs in the house. It gets quite insane sometimes.

Back out in the paddock area, we have Myra, recovering from her wounds and Lyndey keeping her company. We have kept him in all winter as he needs extra food as he is not an easy keeper. He gets 2 buckets of beet pulp and grain each day and is now just looking good. He was quite thin when we got him in October. Tamara, Moose and Lolita are in another pen, or should I say Tamara is, as Moose and Lolita come and go whenever they want. Can't seem to keep then in any paddock. Moose likes to visit with the big horses across the fence. The other day he decided to go under the fence and visit. All 40 horses decided to check him out. "Who is that little horse?" All I could see was Moose running as fast as he could and the herd of forty run after him. Wish I had the video camera. I was a little worried though as I thought he could get hurt if they were to run into him. He can walk right under a lot of them. Never a dull moment on the farm.

Bye for now,
Hilda