Kim Lemmon

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

Every spring when the temperatures start to rise, all the critters at my house start to shed their winter woolies in preparation for the coming summer hot weather. I let them shed most of their hair naturally, but there is still large amount of spring grooming and clipping that is necessary to remove the first round of extra hair in preparation for show-ready clipping that happens later in the summer before my fair.

I have found it is much easier to do a quick bath and rough clipping in the spring than to wait and remove all the extra hair right before the fair. Due partially to my lack of refined clipping skills, it often becomes necessary for the horses to have an extra month or so to allow for more hair grow so that mane trimming and leg clipping can be revisited at a later date to smooth out the rough patches and even up the hasty haircuts they received in the spring.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

When you’ve spent quite a bit of time and effort stacking hay in the barn, it is very frustrating to find part of your hay stack dismantled. Day after day I arrived to find a bunch of hay strung out inside the miniature horse pen.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to stop the hay stack destruction, and I couldn’t figure out how it was happening. One day, I decided to exert a little extra effort into finding my hay thief. I decided to have a stake out in the barn until I was able to determine the identity of the hay thieving bandit.

I sat quietly in the barn for only a few minutes when it became clear that one of my miniature horses was in fact the thief. Apparently he was able to reach farther into the the barn than I had estimated.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

I am one of those people who is always stressed about running out of hay. Several years ago, when hay harvest was delayed until almost July, I nearly ran out of hay, and I vowed at that time that it would never happen again.

Despite my best efforts to conserve enough hay to last until the 2014 hay baling season, 2014’s harsh winter forced me to feed my horses more hay than normal to help them maintain a healthy weight. Since I was forced to feed extra hay this winter, it became apparent in March that I was only going to have enough hay to last until the end of April. There was no way I was going to have enough hay to feed my horses until the 2014 hay crop was ready.

Luckily, a friend of mine literally “baled me out.” He saved some good quality horse hay for me.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

I owned, showed and raised pygmy goats for about eight years until about two years ago when I needed a break. I decided to cut back and sell all my goats to avoid cleaning goat stalls and making constant calls to my veterinarian.

The first several years of breeding goats went very smoothly for me, but as with raising any type of livestock, my luck ran out. My last couple of years owning goats were filled with injured goats, false alarm pregnancies and many visits to the veterinarian.

The fun was gone so I sold all my goats. Now a few years later, I’ve had a break and some rest, and I started to miss my goats.

I was still helping friends with their kiddings so I stayed well informed about the pygmy goat community during my time away from goats. This spring seemed like the perfect time to jump back in and buy a FEW pets for breeding.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

If you are a livestock owner, you may pay closer attention to the thickness of the hair coats on your livestock than you do the calendar when you try to predict future weather. Animals have of a way of knowing how and when to best prepare for future weather.

The winter of 2013/2014 was no exception to the animals’ ability to predict the weather.  It seemed to me that as fall came to a close, the horses were sporting more winter hair than they had in the past. It also seemed like they were growing it sooner than normal.

I wasn’t too alarmed about my horses’ early, thicker winter hair coats until the weather turned cold in the middle of November and basically stayed that way. Heated water buckets that normally didn’t appear in my barn until the middle of December or even January were permanently in use without interruption from November through the winter and early spring months.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

Last Spring, I found a new reality TV show that I really liked. The program was called “Mountain Monsters” and featured a group of men that comprise A.I.M.S., Appalachian Investigators of Mysterious Sightings. The members of A.I.M.S. travel the Appalachian region of the United States and follow up on reports of sightings of mysterious creatures.

These gentlemen aren’t your average paranormal or mystery investigators. They don’t enter the woods to investigate with cameras; they take guns and set traps. They don’t often run away from the unknown monsters lurking in the dark. They try to hunt them down.

I quickly became addicted to the show last spring. I have a very vivid imagination coupled with a couristy for wildlife and the unknown. I was the perfect target audience for the program. Additionally, this group of hunters is so very colorful and down to Earth, that I enjoyed laughing and screaming along to the program as A.I.M.S.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

I know PEEPS are available more that just in the Spring, but I still manage to keep my consumption of them limited until Spring and the Easter season arrive.

It is well known amongst the staff at Ohio’s Country Journal and Ohio Ag Net that I LOVE PEEPS. I often describe the stress level of my day based on how many rows of PEEPS I’ll be eating when I arrive at my home.

Matt Reese, editor of Ohio’s Country Journal, and I have been friends and co-workers for more than a decade so he likes to annually argue with me about PEEPS. He just really doesn’t see the necessity of PEEPS in a human diet. So Matt, just for you I decided to do a little research on my favorite marshmallow treats.

Matt will be happy to know that PEEPS usually aren’t available year-round. They can only be purchased at Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day,  and Easter. … Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

I wasn’t able to attend the Spring 2014 Mt. Hope Draft Horse Sale, but I think I’ll be making plans to attend their next draft horse sale based on the exciting reviews of their new sale barn. The new building is 240 feet long and roughly 120 feet wide, providing much more room for consigners to present their horses.

In the past, the horses were sold in a small building. It was impossible to find a seat in the old sale barn — in fact, I think they might have all been reserved — and there wasn’t even room to stand and watch the sale. If you wanted to see a specific horse sell or have a chance to bid on a horse yourself, you had to literally crowd or push your way through masses of people to make it inside to place your bid.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

UPDATED AIR TIMES: RFD-TV changed the schedule. Saturday Feb. 22: The round one performance will not be aired live. On Sunday, Feb. 23, round two will air live at 11 a.m. eastern. Round one coverage will be part of a two-hour special on Wednesday, March 2.

Percherons, Belgians, and Clydesdales will meet up in Mesquite, Texas, in late February to compete for the largest premiums ever offered in 6-Horse Hitch competition.

Competitors from throughout the country were invited to attend the Gentle Giants $100,000 Invitational that will be held Feb. 22 and 23 in conjunction with “The American” which claims to be one of the richest rodeos in the sport.

For those that can’t attend the competition, the Gentle Giants $100,000 Invitational will be aired LIVE on RFD-TV Sunday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. eastern. On March 2, RFD-TV will air a two-hour special of the event that includes coverage from round one.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

This time of year it becomes hard to remember that Spring will actually be here before we know it. Most of the time, I just want to stay in bed and cover my head until it warms up, but I don’t think my employers, my husband or my livestock would appreciate that.

In an effort to cheer us all, I asked my Facebook friends to share some photos of past or present baby livestock. There is just something about baby animals that makes me think Spring is coming and helps me hold out hope that I can stand another month or two of winter.

Enjoy these photos. Hopefully they will at least warm up your heart.

Thank you everyone who submitted photos!… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

Last week’s weather seemed extreme to almost everyone. Although I was fortunate enough to only receive a couple of inches of snow, the negative degree temperatures combined with high winds still made for a miserable few days.

I spent much time debating with myself about whether or not the horses should be turned out during such extreme weather. Spending the day outside allows them to exercise, which is good for them, and it means less stall cleaning for me, but I couldn’t believe even they would enjoy being outside in negative temperatures.

In the end, it was my draft horse, Julie, who helped me make the decision. She is the only horse to have access to a stall and a dry lot 100% of the time. She is from the state up north so she loves the snow and cold temperatures and often stands outside no matter what the temperature to enjoy snow.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

A year ago my husband, Mark, and I got into an argument about the existence of reindeer. I was trying to convince him to visit a Christmas display that included live reindeer, and he thought I was crazier than normal.

The conversation went something like this:

Kim: “I think we should visit Pine Acres.”

Mark: “Why would we want to do that?”

Kim: “I think it would be fun. There are lights and Christmas displays and live reindeer.”

Mark (rolling his eyes and laughing): “Right. Reindeer!”

He then tried to turn his back and walk out of the room to end the conversation, but I followed him.

Kim: “What do you mean?”

Mark: “There are no such things as reindeer.”

Kim: “Please tell me you don’t really believe that?”

Mark: “Seriously Kim, stop trying to convince me they are real. It will just be regular deer dressed up to look like reindeer.”… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

Deer season is often full of adventure for those involved but this video is amazing. Apparently, two bucks’ antlers became permanently latched together while they were fighting. One buck died, either during the fight or by being eat by coyotes, while the live buck remained attached to the dead buck. The dead buck quickly became a feast for a group of coyotes.

Some hunters took pity on the buck and decided to save him from the same fate his sparring partner had received. Much effort was put forth to untangle the live buck from the dead one.

Enjoy the video and remember most hunters care as much about living wildlife as they do filling their tables with meat and their walls with trophies.

I originally watched the video at LiveLeak.com… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

I recently spent time in the woods with a crew of loggers that used horsepower to move the harvested timber. I was collecting photos and information for an upcoming article in Ohio’s Country Journal.

Generally, I picture the woods as a quiet and peaceful place to spend a fall day, but when this crew was working, the woods were filled with noise as the buzz of chainsaws filled the air. The saws sounded rather loud to my sensitive ears so I was surprised to find the Percheron draft horses working that day unfazed by the noise. As they waited (unsupervised) for a path to be made to allow them to safely reach the next set of logs, they munched on leaves or napped. I guess they are a lot more used to the noise than me as they spend a lot of time working in the woods.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

I grew up in Clark County, Ohio. Although I realize that wild turkeys do exist in the county, I don’t recall ever seeing one during the time I lived within its borders. I have lived in Morrow County for more than a decade, and I often see large groups of turkeys. It is amazing what an hour’s drive can do to change the habitat, and therefore the wildlife, that lives in it in this great state of Ohio.

During my time in Morrow County, I have seen large groups of turkeys searching for insects in fields, and I have seen them flying across the roads. Their ability to fly surprised me because I don’t spend much time in the woods and I have a general lack of knowledge about turkeys. I didn’t realize they could fly.

This past spring, I learned something else about turkeys.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

Though some Ohioans received snow in late October, a more widespread snowfall hit the state last week. This early-November snowfall was the first snow I received this season.

Although I had heard reports of expected snow, I was surprised to wake up to not only about an inch of snow, but also a thin layer of ice beneath the snow. I had to break ice off of latches to gain entry into the barn, and once inside, I found a barn full of frozen water buckets. I had to be dreaming. The forecast has more very cold temperatures late this week and early next week. This was November right?

The next morning, the thin layer of snow was still on the ground and the water buckets in the barn were nearly frozen solid. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I usually don’t have to worry about using heated water buckets (which I know I’m very lucky to own) until Mid-December.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

I have kind of a unique job. During most of the 14 years of my employment at Ohio’s Country Journal, my tasks have kept me in my home office or at my desk in Columbus. I enjoyed this work, but it was slightly less adventurous than my current role.

Since I have started helping write articles for the Horse Sense Section as well as an occasional feature story for Ohio’s Country Journal, I’m out of the office more. I sometimes wonder if the management ever considers what affect my hermit-like personality has on the poor folks, which are graced with my presence during my visits to interview them for upcoming articles.

Most of the time interviews start off with a little chitchat and time to get to know the people being interviewed. This portion of the fact-finding mission always brings me to a crippling silence as I search for topics to discuss with folks.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

Pygmy goats often give birth to multiples and raise them on their own, but recently a friend’s goat decided three babies was too many and rejected one of her kids. My friend found this poor little baby freezing and starving in her barn. The only option for his survival was to bring him into the house for a few days to warm him up and start him on a bottle.

When goats are newborns, they require feedings several times a day. My friend couldn’t take the baby to work so I volunteered to goat sit for a few days.

The job was fun in the beginning, but it become more challenging as the baby grew stronger. He no longer wanted to stay in his bed and would wander all over the house. Often I had to have my dogs help me find him.

Not only did the baby become very efficient at hiding, but his messes started becoming bigger too as he ate more.… Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

I have a pretty vivid imagination. As a bonus, I’m literally afraid of my own shadow.  Every dark morning or evening that I trudge out to the barn, I have to work pretty hard to keep away thoughts about creatures of the night attacking me before I can flip on the barn lights. Whether or not the creatures I imagine are real, the fear I feel is definitely real.

Halloween makes all this fright much worse, because we all know it is the night that belongs to all things spooky. Add my tendency to watch several paranormal/ghost hunting shows fairly regularly into the mix of Halloween and my vivid imagination, and it is easy to understand how Halloween can become nearly a crippling experience for me because of my fears both real and imagined.

Unlike the “stars” of the ghostly reality shows, I watch these individuals search out all things spooky so I know what NOT to do. … Continue reading

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

What can I say? I couldn’t stand to miss another sale so I decided to make the trip to Mt. Hope for the Mid-Ohio Fall Draft Horse Sale. As always, it was a sight and experience to behold.

The number of horses entered in the sale seemed to out-number sales I had attended in the past. Horses were tied in stalls in all the barns, in tents and stalls were even set up out in the open without a tent to cover them.  I had never seen that before. Not to mention the horses that were tied in every possible space in the old barn.

It is hard to really truly get an idea of what the sale is like without being there. Since I had some friends selling horses this time, I decided to video as they walked their horses back to their assigned stalls in the barn after hitching them.… Continue reading