Chat
05-18-2018, 07:14 AM
We had a near tragedy yesterday, but our dear gal TinCup saved the day! I was down at the saddle club when Phil decided to go out for a hike. He was about to get in the truck when TinCup came racing up the driveway by herself. The goats were all down in the horse corral and Phil could hear a baby crying. Usually mama goats run TOWARD crying babies, so this was unusual. Phil almost ignored the incident, passing it off as goats being their sometimes noisy selves, but TinCup screamed at him very urgently like she had something important to say. So Phil walked toward her and she ran off down the hill toward the other goats.
When Phil got down there, he could clearly hear a baby screaming and he realized that little Sadie had jumped into the horse trough! It was too deep for her to stand but too low for her to climb back over the side. If Tinny hadn't alerted Phil, or if this had happened while we were both gone, no doubt Sadie would have drowned.
I feel awful because I'm aware of the danger and I'm usually much more careful when we have kids this age. The water tubs in the goat pens are low so babies can see over the side, and so they can climb back out if they do happen to go in. Usually I don't keep a horse trough filled during baby goat season for this exact reason. My horses have access to a pond and I make them use that when we have babies. But we're having terrible drought this year and the pond is very low with deep, squelching mud on all sides. It's difficult and dangerous for the horses to access it right now, so I went into auto-pilot and have been keeping their trough full. We dumped out half the water so now if a baby jumps in they'll be able to stand with their head above water at least. I may see about getting one of those long, low horse troughs next time I'm in Pueblo. I hate that my horses will probably put their feet in it, and my dogs will lie down in it, but at least baby goats couldn't get trapped in it.
Anyway, we're very thankful for a happy ending. Good job TinCup!!
When Phil got down there, he could clearly hear a baby screaming and he realized that little Sadie had jumped into the horse trough! It was too deep for her to stand but too low for her to climb back over the side. If Tinny hadn't alerted Phil, or if this had happened while we were both gone, no doubt Sadie would have drowned.
I feel awful because I'm aware of the danger and I'm usually much more careful when we have kids this age. The water tubs in the goat pens are low so babies can see over the side, and so they can climb back out if they do happen to go in. Usually I don't keep a horse trough filled during baby goat season for this exact reason. My horses have access to a pond and I make them use that when we have babies. But we're having terrible drought this year and the pond is very low with deep, squelching mud on all sides. It's difficult and dangerous for the horses to access it right now, so I went into auto-pilot and have been keeping their trough full. We dumped out half the water so now if a baby jumps in they'll be able to stand with their head above water at least. I may see about getting one of those long, low horse troughs next time I'm in Pueblo. I hate that my horses will probably put their feet in it, and my dogs will lie down in it, but at least baby goats couldn't get trapped in it.
Anyway, we're very thankful for a happy ending. Good job TinCup!!