We purchased our small acreage in Yarrow almost seventeen years ago. With Janis’ (somewhat reluctant) blessing I purchased a beautiful green lawn tractor just before the deal on the property was final. On the day we officially owned the property I had the joy of mowing the expansive grass for the first time. It was my happy place. As we settled into the old farmhouse negotiations began almost immediately about where the fences would go, what would be lawn and what would be used for other purposes. Becke of course was a part of the negotiations as she insisted I make good on a promise I made to her when she was little. When she asked for a horse we told her there was no room on our yard. The logical assumption was made that if we ever got a larger piece of property a horse would be part of the deal. Easy promise back then and honoured fifteen years later. One horse led to another and before I could blink there was a herd of miniature horses on our property.
Eventually Becke and Janis formed Pipsqueak Paddocks Miniature Horse Rescue Society and with the help of a team of volunteers they rescued almost 300 miniature horses over about ten years. The horses most often were only on our property for a short while but as emergencies arose more land was negotiated away from my much prized large lawn and fenced and cross fenced into needed paddocks. As we built the shop, expanded the driveway, landscaped and eventually built the new house the fence lines would need to be changed. With each revision we would have a family meeting, armed with spray bombs and tape measures. We would stake out the proposed fence lines and discuss all the possibilities. I was always defending my prized lawn of course while Janis and Becke were seeking to expand the paddocks. My lawn got pretty small at times.
The fences were moved regularly as our needs changed, sometimes making the lawn smaller and sometimes larger. About five years ago Becke built her house on our property and the landscape and fence lines changed dramatically. My beloved lawn became larger than it has ever been. I was delighted. The horses were no longer a regular feature in our yard but two paddocks remained at the back of the property - just in case. After two years of non-use, serious negotiations were initiated once again. In the last couple of days the last of the cross fences came down and this morning I got to mow the ‘lawn’ around the front of the studio for the first time in many, many years. Over the next months we’ll be adding some proper soil to this area and plant some nicer grass. The grandkids and grampa are really excited!
