If life was fair...

If life was fair horses would get to ride 1/2 the time.
I have been trying to tell the DOR for years that I should get to ride 1/2 the time, she never listens.  She feels the time I spend hanging out with the He Man Gelding Club and riding in the trailer to go out to trails counts as more than 1/2 of my time.  I beg to differ, non-saddle time should not count.
I have spoken to the other members of the herd and here is what they had to say:
Shandi-La, La, La...are there going to be hunky geldings?  If so I don't mind being ridden.
Salty the Wonderhorse-I'm retired so none of this matters to me.
Coelho-Dude! Just mellow out already...after all the grass is real nice here.
Tahkoe-I can move faster than a human, so I don't want to ride. Gotta go!
Mighty Mouse-I dare them to try and ride me, it will never happen I tell you!
The Mighty Q-I don't mind getting ridden, I get three hots and a cot.
Sir Darby-Well He of the Spotty Butt, I personally am offended by your presence in my pasture and demand you leave now.
I have the feeling I am not getting much support from the herd.  The DOR tells her students whoever told them life was fair lied...
Well I am going to demand fair treatment, so the DOR better be ready to pack my rear around the arena a couple of times if she expects to ride....so there!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Look what Sir Darby did!

 

We all know that Sir Royal Pain, okay Sir Darby, likes his own space.  It has not mattered what gender, color, or age the horse that was put in with him he was not nice to them.  He would chase them, bite them, kick them, and not let them get to the water or food unless he didn't see them do it.  That all changed for some reason today.
A young, lonely BLM mustang paid Darby a visit.  Not only was Darby nice, he even seemed to enjoy the visit.

He even let the little guy eat without giving him the pinny ear treatment.  Darby didn't grump at him at all.

 

Darby was even kind when the DOR gave the visitor a scritch.  Usually Darby lights into the middle of any horse that pays attention to her.  The DOR was glad to see Darby enjoying a visitor, she feels he should be with a herd of some kind.  She wishes he would learn to share his pasture, but at his age she knows it is going to take one special horse for him to be willing to give up his "man pasture".

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

My little sis

The DOR went for a ride on Hanna today.  I must remind you that Hanna is one of my little sisters, so of course she is wonderful.  They rode together out in Hanna's pasture and had a good time.  Hanna even tried to herd the llamas.  She did try to show me up a bit by wearing only a bosal and walking over a branch that had a waving white grocery sack hooked to it...
Nice try little sis, but I don't try to kick other horses when I am carrying a rider because I am in heat.  You also have not shown that you are a fearless, surefooted mountain horse like I am.  Keep showing off with those grocery bags and I will keep strong and steady with deer leaping in front of me.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

You did what with my hooves?

I recently found out a dirty little secret that the DOR has been keeping.  She who rescues horses, decries the eating of her equine champions, and has been know to spend the night in the cold rain comforting a sick horse has a twisted side...let me show you



See what she did with our hoof trimmings?  She fed them to her dog!  Now that dog has a hankering for horse hooves.  What is to stop that predator from coming out and start gnarring on my hooves rather than wait for the DOR to bring it trimmings?  Next thing you know I will be walking around on stubs...
Fair warning to all canines-if you come out and try to eat hooves directly at the source I am going to put a big ol' appy hoof upside your head and kick you into the next century.
DOR, I am not amused and I am plotting how to point out the error of your ways.  I am thinking about feeding your hair to the llamas.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Celebrate with us.

Today is World Down Syndrome Day.  The DOR wants us all to celebrate these special individuals.  They have enriched her life as they have crossed her path as students.

She celebrated by taking Miss Ella to different classrooms to enjoy a day of fun.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Bob the cow?

The DOR decided that working cows is a lot of fun.  She decided that she might like to learn to rope, so she got a cow to learn on.

That's right you heard it she bought a cow and named it BOB and here he is:

It doesn't look like any cow I have ever seen...

She was concerned that his horns might hurt some person or horse so she put small bright green noodles on his horns.  None of the horses were bothered by that, but I am sure Bob is embarrassed.

Then to make matters worse she had to do this...

That's right she had to go 4.7 seconds on a bull named Bob, I guess Fumanchu was otherwise engaged.  I hope she isn't having thoughts of riding bulls at the rodeo.

Well the DOR is a bit goofy at times, but we love her.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Poor Shandi Doll

This is my Shandi Doll checking out a bucket of betadine solution.  Now you might be wondering why she needed a bucket of betadine solution.   Well here is the reason:

She managed to give herself a pretty good wound.  The DOR, SCC, and Horse Guardian spent about an hour hosing it down and cleaning it up so that it wouldn't get an infection.

They got it nice and clean and then coated it with antibiotic ointment.  She was a very good girl for them.  There was some tail swishing and foot stomping, but that is minor for how uncomfortable she must have been while they were cleaning her wound.

The DOR again wished that we could tell her what happened, she hates not knowing how we get hurt.  She needs to trust that we know and won't do it again-at least not on purpose.

Shandi Doll will heal up fine and all will soon be forgotten, well at least by us horses.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Blessing for Saint Patricks Day

This is one of the DOR's favorite Irish Blessings.  She loves the music it is set to.  May you all have a wonderful and safe Saint Partick's Day
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Comfort

This is Miss Ella, she is the DOR's therapy dog that she uses at school.  Today she went to the alternative high school to hang out with the students.  Yesterday a former student who was a friend to many of the current students died in a tragic accident.  The DOR spent much of yesterday helping get through today.  Today she took Ella in to help her.

Ella wandered around the room giving smooches and scoring treats.  The students found her delightful, Ella loved them all.  She managed to find a few laps to sit on and a couple of boys who would take the time to read to her.

She made them forget being sad for a bit and helped them find some smiles.  Comfort is a good thing.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Spring scritches

It is the time of year when we are all shedding.  That also means it is the time of year when we all make goofy "scritch faces."

Little Sister makes the best scritch face of all of us.  It has been years since somebody cared enough to help her shed out.  She even tried to follow the DOR into the barn when she was done brushing her for the day.  The DOR loves how much we all love getting help shedding, although she does not appreciate all the hair that gets all over her clothes.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Lots of progress!

The DOR has been busy with lots of horse activities!

Here she is on her first ride on The Mighty Q.  All the patience and hard work really paid off, it was like they had been partners for years.  She is so proud of him.  He has been to a clinic and will be going to a trail clinic on April 7th.  A long way from the horse who had been labeled a "man killer" and was looking at being destroyed.  I want to thank all the people who helped save him, it was a life worth saving and Q is my best friend.

 Sir Darby took a very special lady for a horse ride.  Sofia has Batten Disease and had a wonderful time coming out and riding.  I know I often call him Sir Royal Pain, but Sir Darby is worth his weight in gold and is so good with granting children's wishes.

My sister Hanna has been to two clinics and is doing well.  She is smart and brave.  She will even let the DOR ride her with a bright pink flag waving around.

Mushboy's little Icelandic Tahkoe is now started under saddle.  She has a lovely tolt and is doing well.  She never bucked, not even when loping.  Tahkoe is going to be a very good saddle horse.

Salty The Wonderhorse is busy smoozing.  He has been modeling as a centerfold for Mare Magazine and has many fans.

 Shandi attended her first clinic this year and did a wonderful job.  She was soft, responsive, and did not forget any of her training after her winter vacation.  The DOR and SCC think she is going to be a good kids horse and play an important role supporting a therapeutic riding program.

Here I am with Mighty Mouse, aka The Little Soprano.  I have to tell you even though he is now gelded he still thinks he is the head stallion.  He is also a big party pooper.  If he thinks we are having too much fun he gets in the middle of things with sharp teeth and hard hooves.  We all have marks from the little monster....

Little Sister is up to weight, her coat is thick and soft, and she is getting more spots.  She gave a short ride to the DOR's granddaughter.  The DOR is thinking that Little Sister needs a job and is going to start her under saddle this year.  She has also joined the mare herd, so is going to have lots of friends.

This is Mickey, he was a sheriff seizure that the DOR fostered for a bit.  Mickey came to her as a 16 year-old, neglected, not handled much stallion who had lived on his own in a small paddock.  She had him gelded, put him out with the gelding herd, and started him under saddle.  He is a smart guy and came a long way quickly.  The photo is his second ride, pretty amazing.  He went to two clinics this year and was out with mares.  He focused on his his job and kept good manners.

Mushboy is doing wonderfully.  The DOR located a photo of one of his wild relatives.  They are both pretty cute.

Well that catches you up.  I will be better about posting in the future.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!