It will take time for my new Friesian horses, Hylke and Geert, to fully acclimate to life at my Bedford, New York farm - it's a different country with a different language, a different climate, and of course, different food and water, but so far these handsome steeds are doing excellently.
Hay is an important part of every horse's diet, and my Friesians, Fell pony, and donkeys depend on me to provide them with the best quality hay possible. When I moved here, I designated three separate areas as hayfields and planted them with a mixture of timothy, orchard grass, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and clovers - all great for producing good quality hay. We cut and bale our hay in the summer and it lasts most of the year. I'm happy to report, both Hylke and Geert liked it right away - it's a great start to a smooth transition.
Enjoy these photos.
Hay is a harvested plant that’s dried and cured after being cut in the field at various times of its growth cycle. In most cases, hay is cut during the late bud or early bloom stage to maximize its nutritional value.
The outdoor grounds crew works hard to cut, ted, windrow, and then bale the hay in my fields. This photo was taken last summer – these are rows of hay ready to bale.
We have our own equipment here at the farm that allows us to do the entire process ourselves. It takes several days to complete, but I know the hay I grow is good quality, nutritious hay.
I am so proud of the hay we grow here at the farm. Each bale is about 15 by 18 by 40 inches large. The number of flakes in the bale is determined by a setting in the baler. Many balers are set for 10 to 12 flakes per bale. I have two hay trailers. Each one can hold about 150-bales.
This is a close up of the hay right after it is cut. Good quality fresh hay should be bright green in color with little fading.
After the hay is baled, it is stacked and stored in the hayloft above the stable.
In another area, any hay that is no longer suitable for the horses is separated. This hay is used as nest bedding for the geese and peahens, as insulation around my hoop houses, and to direct any water runoff on the carriage roads.
As needed, bales are brought down in batches and organized in a spare stall.
This is alfalfa – a perennial legume, grown in most regions of the United States for horses and other livestock. it tends to be more nutrient-dense than most grasses and contains more digestible energy, more crude protein and calcium, and fewer nonstructural carbohydrates such as sugars and starches. We give this to my horse, Rinze, the patriarch of my stable.
Above the alfalfa is our first cut – the one harvested first in the year from the field before it blooms. This cutting is good for horses. There is a lot of fiber, so it is nutritious, plus it is easy to eat because the stems are flexible and thin. The donkeys and Geert prefer this hay.
And then there’s second cut. Second cutting is more substantial, with more leaves and a sweet smell. This hay contains a lot of protein and fat, so it is excellent for active horses. Banchunch and the other horses love this hay best.
It is also crucial that we monitor the amount of hay the horses consume, so they don’t become overweight or develop digestion issues. My stable crew is very mindful of the horses’ hay intake. We use these galvanized wall mounted horse feeders from RAMM. Each one holds up to three flakes of hay.
Bond likes his hay wet, so we soak his hay for about 30-minutes and then let it drain completely before feeding. Soaking also cuts down on the amount of dust generated by the hay.
To help keep eating under control, we use hay nets specially designed to slow feed times, curb boredom, and simulate grazing. This large NibbleNet is for the donkeys. Each one holds a sizable amount of hay, but because the donkeys have to pull the hay out through the webbing, they won’t eat as fast, or as much.
A smaller one is used to give Rinze his additional treat of alfalfa.
Automatic waterers are in each stall, so my horses always have fresh, clean water.
Each horse also gets a salt lick which contains essential mineral nutrients of salt deposits, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and calcium. It also helps to trigger a thirst response, so the horses stay well hydrated.
Along with their nutritious hay, my horses are given a variety of other supplements with their meals. We use these stainless steel bowls to mix up each horse’s dose – each bowl is properly labeled, so there is no confusion which supplements go into what bowl. We also label them AM and PM, so it is clear which items are for morning and evening feedings.
To make the supplements more appealing, they are mixed with some of their favorite grains and then served. Here’s my stable manager, Helen Peparo, ready to place each bowl into its designated stall.
Hylke already knows when it’s feeding time – he is waiting at the paddock gate with anticipation – what a handsome boy.
Here are Fernando and Dolma walking Hylke and Geert back indoors for mealtime. These two are currently turned out in the pasture just across from the stable. Now that it is winter, I like the horses out during the day and inside at night.
And then it’s feeding time. Because horses have small stomachs relative to their size, they eat little and often. A horse needs food spread out, preferably in two to three feedings a day. I am so glad all my equids are happy and healthy.
My Bedford, New York farm is now home to two more equids - two sweet, handsome, young Friesian horses from Holland named Hylke and Geert.
If you follow me on Instagram @MarthaStewart48, you may have already seen them. The 11-year old males arrived less than two weeks ago. Within days, my equine veterinarian gave them both thorough check-ups and my farrier fitted them with new winter shoes. So far, they’re doing great - they're eating well and enjoying the time in their paddock. Everyone here at the farm is thrilled to have them here.
Enjoy these photos.
Here they are, safe and sound at my farm, Cantitoe Corners. They seem to like their new paddock and their first experience with snow.
Hylke and Geert came from Stal Okkema Stables in Britswert, Netherlands. The Friesian Horse originated in Holland, where they were put to work in the fields. Nowadays, Friesians are used in dressage competitions and as carriage horses because they are so handsome and nimble. I love these stately equines and find them to be gentle, responsive, and animated.
Before arriving in the United States, Hylke and Geert stayed at Horses2Fly in Holland, a professional horse transport company. The Friesian is most often recognized by its bold black coat color. They have long, arched necks and well-chiseled, short-eared, “Spanish-type” heads. They also have powerful, sloping shoulders, compact, muscular bodies with strong hindquarters, and low-set tails.
Both horses didn’t seem to mind traveling at all. They flew directly to JFK International Airport here in New York. The two are a bonded pair, so as long as they are near each other, they are happy.
The horses arrived at the farm in the evening and were walked right into their stalls. This is Hylke. He was very curious from the beginning, looking over at my donkeys and greeting all who welcomed him at my stable.
And here is Geert – also very alert and interested in his new surroundings.
After a couple days of rest and visits with my equine veterinarian and farrier, Hylke and Geert were let out into the paddock.
A Friesian horse has a long, thick mane and tail, often wavy, and “feather” long, silky hair on the lower legs always left untrimmed. Here, one can see Hylke’s forelock is braided.
On this morning, the two seemed very interested in their new stable mates…
…Rinze, Banchunch, and Bond. These boys are in the paddock directly across the boxwood allee. Outside, all the horses wear Rambo Supreme Turnout Rugs from Horseware Ireland, a company based in Dundalk that focuses on making breathable equine covers that don’t leak or slip.
My stable manager, Helen Peparo, leads the horses back to the stable for lunch and grooming. Here she is with Hylke. A Friesian can weigh anywhere between 1200 and 1500 pounds, but both Hylke and Geert are well-behaved and walk easily by her side.
And look who’s watching nearby – three of my beautiful peafowl perched perfectly on the wagon.
After several hours outside running and playing, Helen puts on these Airmax Coolers from Rambo and Horseware Ireland. These blankets are made to wick moisture, keep the horses warm in winter and dry in summer. And, I love that the outside color is black to match my handsome Friesians.
The Rambo Airmax Cooler rug is also fitted with detachable surcingles, and disc front closures, so they are very easy to put on and take off.
The stalls are mucked out every day, cleaned and filled with new shavings. Hylke and Geert always have lots of nutritious hay in their mangers – hay that’s grown right here at my farm.
This is Hylke, back in his stall waiting to be groomed.
Across the stable are my donkeys. Here are the girls – Billie and Jude “JJ” Junior.
Every afternoon, all my horses are groomed. This means their coats are cleaned, brushed, and combed, and their hooves are picked of any mud, stones, and debris. It’s a time-consuming task, but it keeps these stable residents healthy, happy, and handsome.
Last week, my farrier, Linda Friedman, came by to fit the new horses with winter shoes. Linda is a regular visitor at the farm. She has been a farrier for more than 30 years and she is a master at trimming and shoeing horses’ hooves. Shoeing is quite a complicated process, as each shoe is custom fitted onto each hoof.
All my horses use Rambo halters also from Horseware Ireland. These halters are well fitted with padding to protect sensitive areas of the head. They are designed so they never get in the way of the horse’s view. Here is Helen brushing Geert’s legs – I think Geert is falling asleep. What a good boy.
At the end of the day, the stable is quiet once again – the horses are all in their stalls, groomed, fed, and warm. I’ll see you later, my handsome Geert. One of the things I appreciate about working from home is all the extra time I get to spend with my pets – they all give me so much joy.
Even in the depths of winter, one can still enjoy the beauty of springtime blooms - just force bulbs indoors.
Forcing is an old gardening technique that speeds up a bulb’s development by simulating the conditions of winter and spring - it's a way of fooling Mother Nature and tricking the bulb to bloom before its time. Last month, I forced a collection of hyacinths, which are blooming in my home right now. My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, just planted amaryllis bulbs in soil, which will erupt with magnificent trumpet-shaped blooms later this season and last for several weeks.
Here are some photos, enjoy. Maybe this post will inspire you to grow some too.
Some of you may remember the large, gorgeous trumpet amaryllis blooms we forced last year. Of all flowering bulbs, amaryllis are the easiest to bring to bloom. This flower originated in South Africa and comes in many beautiful varieties.
The genus Amaryllis comes from the Greek word amarysso, which means “to sparkle.” Amaryllis flowers range from four to 10 inches in size and can be either single or double in form.
While the most popular colors are red and white, flowers may also be pink, salmon, apricot, rose or deep burgundy, and some unique striped varieties.
Amaryllis bulbs are hardy and can be saved from year to year if planted in soil.
While dormant, the bulbs can be stored in a cool, dry, dark space – these bulbs are in good condition. Ryan timed it, so these bloom after all the colorful and fragrant hyacinths that are in my Winter House now are done.
First, Ryan inspects each bulb. It should be dry and clean without any blemishes or mold.
Then he cleans each bulb, removing any dried papery skins.
Ryan uses a potting mix that includes perlite and vermiculite for good drainage.
We also add some Scott’s Osmocote fertilizer – small, round coated prills filled with nutrients. You can find Osmocote on Martha.com.
Here, Ryan mixes it right into the soil – they are the yellow prills. These prills coat a core of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The resin-coating is made from linseed oil and as the plant’s root system takes-up nutrition from the soil, it also takes up the needed nutrients from the Osmocote.
Ryan chooses a selection of terracotta pots for all the amaryllis. One amaryllis bulb per six to seven inch pot will work nicely. Be sure there is at least an inch between the bulb sides and the rim of the vessel. Groups of three bulbs together can also be planted in a 10- to 12-inch container.
Each pot has a drainage hole at the bottom. This is critical, so adequate air is available for the roots.
As with all our pots, the drainage holes are covered with shards on the inside to help drainage and to keep the soil from leaking out. We save all the shards from broken clay pots for this purpose.
Ryan fills the pot with potting mix – this mix is very light and easy to scoop in a production line process.
Next, Ryan makes a hole deep enough for the plump bulb.
And positions the bulb neck deep, keeping the top one-third of the bulb sticking up above soil level. He is also very careful not to crush any of the roots as the bulb is planted.
Here is a closer look at the large bulb in the pot. A little more soil mix can be added if needed. Once positioned properly, Ryan gently packs the potting mix down to anchor the bulb.
The key to amaryllis forcing indoors is the temperature. The best, most rapid growth will occur if the container is in a room that is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
All the potted amaryllis bulbs are placed in a corner of the greenhouse that gets bright, indirect light. When forcing, be sure to keep the soil moist but not wet. Water only when the top inch or two of the potting mix is dry to the touch. Overwatering at the beginning of the growth cycle will cause the bulb to rot.
Ryan has a few more to pot up, but in six to eight weeks, we should have beautiful large colorful blooms atop 12- to 24-inch straight stems. I can’t wait.
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