so I just found out the Forest Service is planning to do a controled burn at Rucker Lake tomorrow

nevermind the 40 mph wind expected (and suffered through today), nor the lack of any real rain since last summer OR the fact that two HUGE fires burnt up half the county last June anyway.

Somebody mentioned Mondays suck moose cocks and I gotta say today has been a bad one. We seem to have a wandering bull again over on one of the neighbors. So my plan was to go ride the fence to see where he went through.

First though, I had to dispose of the fucking skunk I finally caught after it killed all 16 of my new chicks. Bastard was squeezing through a TINY hole at the bottom of the coop door - even shoving an 88 concrete block out of the way. Got 13 of them the first time (2 nights after I put them down there - they had been on the porch for 2 weeks). and the last three two nights ago. Was tripping the small animal trap but not getting caught so last night I baited the bigger trap with one of the corpses and finally got it.

Of course the dogs scared it first before I could get near the trap and so I now have that stench on me.

I had to trailer old Joe the Horse up across the highway (clutch is going out in the truck but at least it is still hanging on by a thread) and about the time I got going finally the wind started. I hate wind. I really hate wind. It makes you stupid and it makes horses stupid too.

We rode around and didn't see where the bull went (may have walked a cattle guard) but I found where the other neighbor, a guest ranch, has been coming through wighout permission to extend their trail rides. I have just about had it with them. I think I have told them flat out at least 6 times in the last few years what we would need from them in order to grant permission - mostly proof of INSURANCE. Jayzus Keerist! But there is always some excuse...

Anyway when I got back to the truck old Joe hung a foot on the edge of the rubber floor mat and didn't make up into the trailer and then decided he wasn't going to try again. So I did something stupid and tied him up close and went around behind him to give him a little more encouragement with slap to his rump. Right then the wind pushes the door part way closed. It makes a good squeaking noise and rattles. Oops. He jerked back and caught the halter on something - and hung his head up while at the same time his back feet slipped out from under him.

Now when a horse does something stupid like that most of them will panic and do more damage to themselves than any original injury so it is pretty important to get them loose if they are tied up. I used a knot that is an easy one way to undo (I think it is a double half hitch, but I never learned the names for any of the knots I tie) and I got it undone but the lead stayed bound up on itself from the tension and I had to run get something to pry it up with, as of course I didn't have a knife in my pocked. (idiot) All in all the ordeal probably wasn't 2 whole minutes but man the adrenaline!

Joe was a little scraped up on the left side of his face and had a small bit of blood on his front left foot but no limp and it should all heal up ok. I just feel so bad for the old guy. He pretty much does anything asked of him but he was tired and this was only the second time he'd been in my trailer. It is a covered stock trailer so there is plenty of room but the axels have been turned over so it has more clearance for rocks and it is a pretty bid step (jump) up - especially for a horse used to regular trailers.

He finally got in after I circled him a couple times and stepped up in front of him first. He looks pitiful, but of course his appetite is fine. He gets a few days off now.

Yeah the wind. I hate it. Watch the news for another out of control wildfire in south east Arizona tomorrow.