Just a few pony pictures

 

I don’t think I’ve ever been clinically depressed in my life, but the past few months have seen a new side of me, a side I don’t think I like.  It’s been terribly difficult for me to find the energy to do anything except feed the horses.  When Amigo was born I had to force myself to get the camera and take some pictures of him.   I felt like I was far underwater, just trying to swim to the surface for air.  All I could concentrate on was flapping my arms in hopes of reaching the surface before I drowned.  I didn’t want to ride, take pictures, blog, start any seeds for the garden… none of the things that usually get me going this time of year held any interest for me.

This morning when I rolled my weary body out of bed I decided that enough was enough and took the camera with me when I fed.

Sky and Quill were very thin when we got home in February.  Their hips and backbones were sticking up under their thick winter coats and they were lethargic.

 

Being so young, they recovered quickly.  Quill still has a little weight to put on, but he’s starting another growth spurt right now and not only growing out, but also growing up again.

 

Had Tabby been fed properly this winter, she’d already be back to normal.  But when we got home, she didn’t look that much better than when we took her back from her adopters.  I’d still like to see another 150lbs on her.

 

I only wish they could all be like Dallas (except for the covered in mud part)!

 

Traveler is another one that didn’t lose much weight over the winter.  He was still plump and round when we got home.  Greedy little pony still thinks he needs all the grain in the world and runs me over at every feeding.  Good thing he’s cute and cuddly.

 

Ditto for Jewel.  That mare could stay fat just by looking at food. 

 

Molly was fat when she came back from her foster home, but quickly lost weight and became ribby when Gilbert refused to feed her because he said he didn’t like her.  She picked up weight quickly and is ready to start carting me down the trails whenever this weather warms up again. 

 

Now if this four day migraine would go away and spring would come back to town, I could be happy again. 

Cheyenne Goes Home

No, I don’t have a picture.  It was almost dark when she left and I suck.  Need I say more?

It’s been a very long day, so please don’t pick on me too badly for the short post.   Just go check out Summer and Traveler over on Rescue Recoveries – I’m still way too angry and exhausted to rant about that particular situation here.   Tomorrow I’ll get pictures of the other two geldings that came in today with Traveler and Summer, and I’ll also need your help naming them.   So put your thinking caps on and come up with something good, okay?

Morning Snooze

Cold weather has arrived and we got our first heavy frost Sunday night.  Except for the greens, my garden is finished.  Each night has been dipping down in the 30’s and we spent part of Sunday going through the horse blankets and assigning each one to a horse and debating on how many more we’ll need to buy before winter.  These are sure signs that winter is coming.

But even if I didn’t know about seasons and thermometers, the herd is a pretty darned good barometer.  Not only are they starting to grow thick winter coats, but every morning following a chilly night, I can find the herd dozing in the sun on the eastern side of the hill of death – the first place in the pasture to get sun each morning.

 

By the way, Patrick is in LOVE with Miss Molly.   He flirts with her constantly and she tolerates him as long as he’s not too annoying.

 

Poor Jewel.  She never rests and is always on the lookout for danger.  Or food.  Whichever comes first.

 

Miles the mustang, standing apart from the herd because his best buddies are already in the yard chowing down on breakfast.  He’s fit himself neatly into Junior’s clique, and doesn’t like to be apart from Semi, Classy, or Junior. 

 

As I was snapping these pictures early this morning I heard a whinny coming from the back pasture, and turned to see Lilo running down to the fence, eager for breakfast.

 

Apparently, I was supposed to feed her before doing ANYTHING else.  I guess I need to get my priorities straight!

As a side note, we may have a new farrier!  He’s supposed to be coming on Thursday, so keep your fingers crossed that he actually shows up!  Donkey sure does need a trim!

Overdose of Cute

Anne and her daughter, Emily, came out for a photo shoot this morning so I could finally get some pictures of the horses up on the rescue site.   We took pictures of Gentry, Jewel, Maggie, Ellie, Apache, and Cheyenne.  Then, wouldn’t you know it, Gentry and Cheyenne went and got themselves adopted this afternoon!  Gentry will go home next week and Cheyenne leaves once she’s broke to ride.  They’re both going to the same home and will have tons of fun in 4H with their new humans!

But let’s get back to the cute, shall we? 

Maggie and Kenzie may miss Marbles, but they’re not showing it.  These two have formed their own mini herd that usually hangs with the Jewel/Jasmine herd, but just as easily hangs with the big guys, like Kita, Junior, and Sadie.

 

Since Meghan left, Jewel has befriended Jasmine and her two offspring.  There’s plenty of grass and hay to go around gang, you don’t all need to try and eat the same blade of grass!

 

Just so you know, I love this pony.

 

After  we took the “necessary” pictures, I had to show off Sky.  Emily loved him (who doesn’t??) and just wanted to hug and cuddle with him.  Too bad he doesn’t feel the same yet!  He is getting a lot more curious and actually snuck up behind me and nudged me in the elbow the other night.  That was the first time he’d voluntarily gotten close enough to touch me.

 

 

 

Someday, I’m going to have a big butt, just like mom and Auntie Jewel!

A taste of the wild west

Yup, two more horses.  I know… just shoot me now.  But there are some people that I just can’t say NO to.  These are the people that genuinely care for their horses and have tried to find a way to keep them, but things just haven’t worked out for them.  Like Chessy and Duchess, Holly and her band of hoodlums, and Misfire’s little herd.

And I’m probably feeling a little pleased with myself these days.  In looking back at the last year, I’ve taken in 24 horses and adopted out 15, with another 6 horses already adopted that just haven’t gone to their new homes yet (Abbi, Genesis, Marbles, Jacob, Holly, & Synergy).  There are three more geldings coming next week and I already have homes lined up for two of them.   Luck?  Probably. :)

Everyone gets their feet trimmed on a regular basis and gets wormed every other month.  Teeth have been floated when necessary, everyone has been vaccinated this year, and when a vet is needed Doc is here to take care of things.  I’d like to think these horses are better off here than where they came from, or where they were headed to, in Sadie’s case.  So, I continue to say YES to horses in need, even though there never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done.

There are things that I wish I had more time for, like grooming, training, and riding.   Especially with these two cuties coming in yesterday!

Everyone, let me introduce Apache (left) and Cheyenne (right). 

 

Apache is a 5yo Mustang, adopted from the BLM a couple of years ago.  He was originally captured in Kansas as a weanling and has been living in WV ever since.   He’s a friendly fellow and has had ground work done with him, but isn’t broke to ride.   Cheyenne is a 3yo grade filly that isn’t broke to saddle yet either, but she’s really sweet and friendly.  They’re both very short, topping out around 14.1 hands, so they’ll make great kid’s ponies eventually.  They came from someone who had lost his place to board and he couldn’t find any place else to keep them.   He drove them all the way down from Glendale, WV to bring them here yesterday.  He had Cheyenne’s mother that was coming here as well, but she ended up being bought by the trainer that had been working with her.  Whew!

 

 

They’ve been hanging out together and staying away from the rest of the herd, even though Gentry and Willow made them feel welcome when they got off the trailer.  I’m sure they’ll settle in shortly and make some new friends.  Maverick has already been eyeing Cheyenne and calling to her.  “Hey, baby!  What’s a good lookin’ filly like you doin’ in a place like this?”

Jacob has been trying to help Maverick with his pickup lines, but it’s not going well.