Little Charmer

 

Once again, I have to blog about Amigo.    Let me start by telling those of you that don’t follow us on Facebook that he is the smallest escape artist I’ve ever had.  Electric fence?  No problem!  He just ducks under it quick enough to not get jolted.  Lower the wire?  No problem!  He just lies down and wiggles his way under it.  Lower the fence even more?  No worries!  He just jumps between the top and bottom strand of electric without touching either.  Put up a third strand of electric in the middle?  Not a problem!  He just jumps all three strands.  I’ve wondered more than once if his daddy was a deer.

And his most favorite place to go when he gets out?  In with the main herd.

 

Whiskers really likes the little guy because she’s in season and she somehow thinks that he can scratch the itch that none of the geldings can.  Good luck with that, girl.

 

Sometimes he stays out in the yard with Junior and follows him wherever the he goes.  River can be calling from her paddock, but Amigo just ignores her as if he doesn’t need her anymore.  Once I found him sleeping in the sun next to Lucille by the pond – completely out of sight of River.  Neither one of them minded much and Lucille enjoyed the company.  He’s only six weeks old!  Little tyke should not be that independent yet!

His teenage angst and “rebel without a cause” attitude reminds me of another little twerp I used to know…

 

 

Opie!!  Opie is living large with his adopter, has run of the whole farm (since he ducks under fence as adeptly as Amigo), and likes to follow his adopter when she takes her other horse out for a ride.  What a lucky pony!

Opie gets a bath

This was Opie back on 4/12.  Am I the only one that thinks he resembled a miniature wooly mammoth?  Trust me, that wasn’t fat, it was fur.  Tons of fur.  He was also afraid of humans and couldn’t be touched.

 

It only took a handful of cookies to get a halter on him, and about five more minutes to teach him to lead.  Now he thinks all humans are made of cookies and likes to “taste” humans whenever the opportunity arises.  Some humans don’t appreciate this, but I happen to like the little bruises his teeth leave behind when my back is turned.  Honest. 

Yesterday was bath day and little Opie was first on the list.  He did really well!  He was afraid of the water at first, but quickly figured out that the cold water felt good in yesterday’s heat.

 

He just wasn’t crazy about having his belly cleaned.

 

 

The first thing he did after his bath was roll in the dirt.  Of course.  But he was still pretty clean today when I handed the shedding blade to a volunteer and told her to have at it.

 

 

He handled the torture really well and just stood there looking cute and begging for muzzle kisses the whole time. 

 

He’s got a lot of shedding left to do, but at least he’s finally starting to resemble a horse!

Introductions – Everyone else

I think this is everyone else, but don’t quote me on that. 

Casper isn’t a mini, but he is a very small pony.  Maybe Welsh?  He’s very skittish and doesn’t think humans are necessary, but he’s coming around slowly.

 

Jubilee is also a small pony, and is very pregnant.  She’s a sweetie who discovered quickly that humans = treats and being petted doesn’t hurt.

 

Peppermint is a cute little mare, a little on the large side to be a mini so may be a small pony.  I’m no expert, so you tell me.  She’s also becoming friendly very quickly and loves to have her head rubbed.

 

 

Daphne is very shy and tends to stay by herself.  She doesn’t really have any buddies that she hangs with and is always the last one in to eat.  I haven’t seen anyone picking on her, I just think she prefers solitude.  She did take a liking to a little boy that came to visit today and walked right up to him and allowed him to pet her.  She just doesn’t have a use for the big humans.  I can’t really blame her.

 

Frankie is a cute little blue-eyed girl that was one of the first to become friendly towards us. 

 

Dagwood is one of the five mini studs in dire need of castration.  He’s become enamored with people and treats, but chases poor Casper around constantly.

 

Blondie is Dagwood’s girl and is probably carrying his baby.  She looks like she’s about to pop any time and her udder is starting to bag up.

 

Opie never leaves Blondie’s side and seems to be very young, so I’m assuming he’s her last offspring from a year or two ago.  He’s very shy, but figured out what treats were tonight and let me rub his head just a bit.

 

Possum is stealing everyone’s heart!  He’s the smallest mini in the herd and also one of the friendliest. 

 

Peanut is a mare that actually doesn’t seem to be pregnant, or at least not very far along.  She’s shy and hasn’t come close enough to discover treats yet, but it shouldn’t take too much longer.

 

River is Chip’s main girl and the two of them are rarely apart.  And of course she’s pregnant.

 

Sorry for the picture overload tonight, but I just can’t wait to tell you about the two new arrivals to the farm that happened earlier this week.  More on that tomorrow! :)