Ah, its spring, that wonderful time of year when the grass turns green, the flies come out and the light lasts long enough to get something done outside after the end of the work day. All kidding aside, there is something about spring that breathes a breath of fresh air into my energy levels. That’s a good thing because spring also means maintenance around Fresh Perspective Farm.
Project One: The Cleansing of the Blankets.
Nothing smells quite like a turnout blanket at the end of the winter. It’s a strangely attractive mix of horse, manure, mud, and urine. Unfortunately the turnout sheets don’t seem to hold onto the pleasant smells, resulting in a mainly toxic dose of ammonia. My smell bias aside, I’m an equal opportunity washer, so each Spring I lug out all the blankets, find an appropriate expanse of yard, hook-up the hose, grab my trusty scrub brush, and set to work. Most people either pay someone to launder their blankets or risk being thrown out of the laundry mat (again) in an attempt to save a few bucks. There are also those who just buy new blankets every year or so. With my wallet on the thin side, I go ultra cheap, but that’s not the only reason I yearly bruise my knees. I have found that good old fashion elbow grease is a very effective way to freshen up your blankets, especially if you take time to knock the chunks off throughout the winter. The water-proofing lasts longer and they seem to hold up to many more years of wear and tear if they don’t have to endure the washing machine. As for my knees, back and shoulders, well that’s a different story.
Project Two: Truck & Trailer Clean-up
Even if you are diligent in always cleaning up after your horse takes a ride in your trailer (as we all should be!) at least once a year you need to give your rig a good cleaning. I find it cathartic to go through every inch of space, finding that old dressage test and rereading it before filing it in its proper place, reuniting with the glove you were sure you lost, and checking the vet kit to make sure you are prepared for life’s bumps and scrapes. The trailer floor is always a bit more work then fun, but if you consider the consequences of your floor giving way while you are in transit, it is always completely worth it.
Tackling the truck is a matter of reclaiming. The construction receipts shift their status from floating to filed. The “emergency” rations are tested for density, are they brick, powder or edible? I check to make sure all the paper work is tucked safely in the glove box and give everything a good vacuum. For those of you with carpet less cabs – I envy you!
Project Three: Getting Greasy
I’m no grease monkey, but I’ve packed a few wheel bearings over the years. While you may get more satisfaction from the cosmetic cleaning, don’t neglect the nuts and bolts that keep you moving down the road. Unless you are super mechanically inclined (or can bribe someone who is) it’s not a bad idea to have a mechanic give your vehicle a good once over. This spring I received the welcome news that pretty much my entire breaking system needed to be replaced. While new calipers, routers, drums, shoes, pads, etc. isn’t cheap, it’s still cheaper then failing to stop with the horses on board.
Spring is a wonderful time of year. It can set the mood for the year to follow. Spring forward with new energy. Sproing about like a busy bunny with your cleaning tools and make sure nothing important is sprung. Then look forward to the coming year with a Fresh Perspective.
