River and Casper get to show off

 

The Tyler County Fair is this week and our foster took River and Casper to compete in the pony classes at the fair.  Monday’s classes were postponed until today because the ring was too muddy, which was fine with me since I had to work on Monday.  I did end up going Monday evening after work to get some pictures, which was a good thing since I took the camera with me today, but forgot the memory card.  Go me!

The competition wasn’t exactly stiff since there were only three ponies in most of the classes and all three were ridden by the foster’s kids.  But we weren’t there for the competition, we were there for the fun!  Little L rode River in a halter and lead rope all day, even in the classes (what can I say, things are pretty laid back here in hillbillyville).  River won most of the peewee classes and even did pretty well in the barrel racing.  I hope you can imagine what it looked like to see tiny little River trotting around cones that are twice as big as she is since I don’t have any pictures to show you.  Trust me, it was too stinkin’ adorable!

 

The little girl that rode Casper forgot to hold on to the reins when she was leading him back to the tent and he had a nice gallop around the show grounds.  It was pretty entertaining to see him outrun and outsmart a bunch of adults (including me).  In the end, he ran right back to the trailer that brought him to the show in the first place.  I could just see him thinking that if he got back on the dark scary box maybe it would take him home!

 

 

 

River was also the “go to” pony for impromptu pony rides.  She made a lot of little kids very happy!

 

It was sad to see River get on the trailer at the end of the show today and head off to Pennsylvania to her new home, but it was also very fulfilling.  She’s going to be pampered and loved in her new home, with an indoor riding arena, all the cookies she could ever eat, and an unsuspecting little boy who just turned three on Sunday.  I wish I could be there to see his face when he finds his belated birthday present in the barn!

Baby #6

 

First, let me apologize for the lack of posts.  Besides running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I have not had much luck with internet access since being home.  That should start changing here shortly and I’ll be posting more often.  At least, that’s the plan.

 

This should be the last baby that will be born from the mares seized from Baracksville, WV last April.  River must have conceived either days before being seized or in the few days after when we were trying to catch everyone and get mares separated from stallions.  Amigo was born exactly 11 months from the day River was seized, on March 14th shortly after 1AM.  I had separated River from Lucille and Lucky about a week before, when her bag started filling up, but she was still right in front of the house and I could look out the window all night and keep an eye on her.

 

The GBH was home that night and was having trouble sleeping, so when he heard the horses screaming and going nuts, he grabbed a flashlight and our new puppy (she deserves her own post later), Calypso, and headed out the door to see if someone had gotten out or if that bobcat we had heard in the woods a few nights ago had made a return visit.  He and Calypso wandered around, but couldn’t find anything amiss.  He came back in, but Calypso stayed out, which is totally against her nature.  She is usually glued to us and goes wherever we go.  As soon as the GBH closed the door, Calypso started barking.  He went back out to find her standing in front of River’s foal, who had been born under the metal panels of River’s pen!   The poor little guy was about 12’ from River’s pen and was still soaking wet and attached to the umbilical and sack.  He couldn’t stand up yet, but had obviously tried since he had gotten himself so far away from River. 

We got the little guy back in with mom, dried him off, and I kept River close to the heater until he stopped shivering.   River has proven to be an excellent mother, but because her fat belly was hanging so low and her udder was so high and tight, the poor little guy had trouble nursing.  I tried milking her, but couldn’t get anything out.  Fortunately, a friend of mine raises Andalusian horses not far from our place and I knew she’d have a supply of colostrum since her foaling season starts in April.  Once he had some warm colostrum in his belly his energy level picked up and within another hour he had figured out how to turn his head to the side and practically upside down to nurse.

 

The friend with the colostrum is also the person who named the little tyke:  Amigo.  Too darned cute for words, right?

Pony Updates

It’s been awhile since I’ve shown you the remaining Fairmont horses, so I thought we’d start with the pony mares and gelding first.  Blondie, Casper, and River are all that’s left.  I put up electric fence in the yard for them so they have a place of their own, complete with shelter.  When I first brought them here, Casper and Riley stuck their noses on the electric fence and never went near it again.  The girls were smart enough to take their word for it!

Blondie is the boss of the three, but she’s a just and generous ruler most days.  But just so you know, this is her hay, and you can’t have any.

 

I put Riley in with the other studs three days ago.  Blondie missed him for about 10 minutes, then went on with her life of eating and bossing Casper and River around.  I still see Riley standing at the fence once in awhile, gazing wistfully across the driveway at his mother.  The other studs accepted him immediately as one of their own and I really need to get a picture of him standing completely under Don Juan at the hay roll.

This is my favorite pony of all time.  River is the sweetest little mare EVER.  The problem is that she’s getting bigger.  And bigger…  I guess we have a fall/winter foal to look forward to.

 

Casper couldn’t ask for a better life.  He’s got two beautiful women living with him and all he does all day is eat.  Every man’s dream!

If this fog ever lifts today, I’ll get pictures of the studs to show you tomorrow.  I’m hoping to get the go ahead to start castrating in September once the weather cools!  The bad news is that Don Juan is definitely a cryptorchid – Doc can’t find that right testicle anywhere, even when DJ is under sedation.  That means hauling him to a equine hospital in Ohio and paying for expensive surgery.  I’m excited about getting them castrated, but not excited about the expense!

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! :)