His latest video is of him training a pair of Shetland pony mares. Because the near (left side) mare has teeth problems, the team is being driven without bits. As Barry says, one must have the confidence of your horse for it to obey your voice tones. Normally, he uses soft rubber bits of his own design rather than metal ones.
Barry trains all types of horses and in assorted hitch configurations. His motto is, "the horses must be safe, confident and happy in their work". (Ideal for humans as well.)
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Last winter was bitterly cold with no period of thaw until spring. One of my hives perished. So this year I'm adding more insulation. By mid-October, the bees in my most populated hive applied self-help to reduce their drafty top entrance. They had heartily gopped on propolis to reduce the opening. |
| The honey bees tried to reduce their drafty top entrance with propolis. |
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| To control drafts but still provide ventilation, I added a wee vestibule. |
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| This reducer will also hold a wrapping clear of the bottom entrance. |
In previous years I insulated the vent box under the roof with wood shavings. This year, as well as the shavings, I've also adding fiberglass insulation. In fact, I'm even wrapping the entire hive bodies with pink fiberglass insulation.
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| In each vent box, I've placed a wood shavings-stuffed pillow ... |
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| ... and placed pink fiberglass insulation over the pillow. |
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| Perhaps overkill, I'm wrapping each hive with fiberglass insulation. |
Before I could finish the job and wrap a final layer of tarp over the hives, the weather here turned inclement. I made a note on next year's calendar to complete this chore no later than mid-October! On a more positive note, I've already changed my car tires to winter ones. Oh, and the bird bath has it's winter de-icer element installed.
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| A jay enjoying a drink of tepid water on a frosty morning. |
