01/28/2026
Last night gave us one of those farm moments that makes your heart absolutely stop.
When we went out to put hay out, we found our little two-year-old standing inside the frozen round bale feeder — stuck in the middle with no way to get himself back out. Somehow, he had no trouble jumping in… but couldn’t reverse the situation.
In that split second, about 5,000 horrible scenarios ran through my mind.
The recent snow accumulation had built up around the feeder, creating a higher “ramp” without us even realizing it. It was just enough to let him step up and climb in to get to the good hay in the middle. Once he was in, the height and footing made it impossible for him to get back out.
Thank God we handle these babies every single day and put so much time into desensitizing and working with them. He didn’t panic. He trusted us.
Ryan had to use the large tractor to pry the entire hay feeder up off the frozen ground and literally lift it up and over his head so we could guide him out.
Not a scratch on him.
A huge reminder how quickly winter conditions can change the farm environment in ways you don’t even notice, and how something as simple as snow drift around a feeder can create a dangerous situation.
Also a reminder why we put so much time into handling, training, and building trust with these horses. Last night, that training is exactly what kept this from turning into a tragedy.