we scratched our heads for awhile when we first moved here about what to do with the dogs when we travelled ... and finally found a "petsitter" who came out twice a day to see to them. Fortunately she also had no problem seeing to the horses when we added them. That worked out great for the first year. Unfortunately, she then retired so we had to start over. We then got our farrier to agree to do the same petsitting ... since her horses are boarded across the street from us. The only bad part is the timing ... she has a 9-5 job which is actually 5-5 ... and those are weird hours for the animals ... so we end up travelling less and less. I usually do all my business travel alone now as she hates to leave the animals.
Fortunately, the dogs like travelling so the motorhome wils suit them just fine ... and with just the horses ... the farrier can leave them in the pasture and just make sure they have feed and water. Should work out ok.
My mother is still in Alberta, up in Cold Lake and I have a sister is Edmonton (whom I mostly ignore), a brother in Bonnyville (for now, he just moved back from the Netherlands) and another sister in Yorkton, Sask ... so lots of family to visit when I get around to it. I've flown back to Edmonton twice to visit Mom and we drove back to Cold Lake once before my stepdad passed away to celebrate their 25th.
We're looking forward to spring, now that I have the motorhome in shape. My wife doesn't think 10 hour motorcycle rides sound like fun, but she thinks that towing the bike to Kentucky and then riding it around the state does sound like fun (she wants ot see all the horse country).
I know what you mean about hay ... I have a stepbrother with a 4 section cattle/horse ranch in Cold Lake and so I got to hear about the drought .. shortage of feed, etc. He made out ok ... but lots of others in that area had to depend on the big hay roundup from Ontario this summer.
I certainly can't complain ... even manage to get premium hay without alfalfa for the little guys at that price.