So Much for Spring Fever

 

It’s group snooze day around here.

 

And I would just love to be curled up snoozing in the sun with Summer right now.  Except it’s cold, windy, and muddy.   So, nevermind.

 

 

I should be starting up with training next week, and will try to keep up with the Training the Unwanted blog.   Sassy and Miles are still my two holdouts, but both are starting to come around and see that I’m not totally evil.  Sassy follows me down to the house after every feeding, braying at me as if to say she’s still hungry and why did I not give her 10 times more food?  Miles allows me to lock him into a standing stall to eat and I’m allowed to touch his head while he’s eating.  Otherwise, he keeps one eye on me at all times, just to make sure I’m not going to turn into a lion and devour him whole.  Next week I’ll try luring him into the round pen at feeding time and see if I can convince him that halters aren’t all that bad.  What fun!

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!

Oh, shiny!

I love this time of year because everyone just glistens in the sun.  Sadie’s picture from yesterday made me want to go out and get  pictures of those that you last saw as furry fuzzy wuzzies.

My all time favorite – Maverick. Doing his all time favorite thing – eating.

 

Kenzie, posing for the camera and wondering if I might have possibly brought carrots with me.

 

Remember the shag carpet with legs that you named Marbles?  Not so shaggy anymore!

 

 

Marbles may also have a home soon!  Keep your fingers crossed for the little guy!

Leader of the pack

Frisky has always kept Maggie and Marbles close at hand.  When Kenzie joined the herd, she was readily accepted into Frisky’s little herd of youngsters.  Gentry hangs with them on occasion, as does Jewel, but mostly they just stick to themselves.

Now there seems to be a new leader of the midgets emerging.  Maggie has taken on the roll of adventurer and is always the first to check out something new.   Like my camera. 

“What the heck is that hanging around mom’s neck??”

 

"I dunno.  You think it’s food?”

 

 

“Nah, it ain’t food.  Let’s go find some shade to stand under.”

 

Maggie was one of the mares that got the abortion shot the yesterday when Doc was here.  Marbles has been losing his worm belly, but Maggie’s gut has just been getting bigger and her back muscles have started to sag.  Before she came here, she was turned out in the same pasture with dear old dad and she’s old enough to become pregnant.  She was a lot better about getting shots than either Marbles or Kenzie, but still wasn’t all that happy about being stuck with a needle.   Maybe if Doc brings lollipops next time they’ll be better behaved.

What’s one more?

Since Marbles and Maggie won the name poll for the last filly and colt that came to the farm, the second place filly name, Kenzie, goes to the latest addition. She’s an 8 month old spotted Tennessee Walker, and guess what? She’s not halter broke. What is it with people not working with their babies around here??? Her owners bought her from a cattle auction about a month ago for 40 bucks. She’s in good shape, and is a tall leggy little girl. She seems to have a very sweet personality and while I was standing with her tonight she kept breathing in my face trying to introduce herself. She knows what treats and carrots are and seems to have a calm demeanor. When she got off the trailer, she simply looked around and stood quietly beside me. When I let her loose in the pasture she just moseyed off and found some grass to munch on, ignoring Maverick calling to her from the next pasture over.

Glenn fell in love with her the minute he laid eyes on her. He even said that if she turned out to be a good sized mare that gaits, he’d be willing to sell Willow and keep Kenzie. You have no idea how much I like that idea! Anyone want to buy a conceited little hussy too smart for her own good in a couple of years? :)

Anyway, what do you think? I think she’s just a cutie pie.

It took about five minutes for her to see Ellie at the bottom of the hill and rush down to meet her.

Ellie was, of course, on her way up to me to beg for more food. She’s a professional beggar by now.

Ellie really didn’t care if Kenzie wanted to hang out with her or not. She was on a mission for food and nothing and no one was getting in her way.

I know, I know. Yet another youngster that’s just going to hang out around the farm for a couple of years until she can be broke to ride. And another baby that I need to halter break. I guess I need to hurry up and win the lottery so I can quit my job and work with these guys full time.

Is it true that you have to play to win?