Giving comfort

 

This is me comforting Mushboy's Icelandic Tahkoe.  She had just had a saddle malfunction and was a bit worried.  She was being lunged and her saddle started slipping off to the side.  Seems the saddle pad was not allowing for a snug cinching because of her mutton withers.  Boy can I empathize with that! 

The DOR had been riding me with an impact gel pad that she thought I would really like.  The saddle was a bit loose, caused by the fact that the pad was thick and I am mutton withered.  When she went to dismount the saddle rolled clear under my belly.  I started doing the spider dance, snorting and hopping up and down.  Remember this is when I first came to live with the DOR.  Luckily the Horse Guardian was there to help us and it all turned out okay.

So while the Rodeo Rider set the saddle in place and re-cinched I gave comfort to Tahkoe and told her that humans are sometimes goofy.  I reminded her that saddles can't hurt us.  I explained how mutton withers make cinching hard sometimes and that if she would blow out her air it would help.  I was pleased with how well she was listening.  Then as the Rodeo Rider went to snug up the cinch Tahkoe took in a deep breath and held it, smirking at the same time.  The little stinker was going to see if the saddle would roll when the Rodeo Rider went to mount.  He lead her over to the mounting bock and instead of stepping into the stirrup he just swung his leg over....well played Rodeo Rider, well played.  Tahkoe was a bit miffed that her prank failed.

I have a feeling that these two are going to be trying to out fox each other often in the future.

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

Come dance with me

 The weather was wonderful today and the DOR came out to ride.  The horse guardian is part of the SunSation Drill Team and I needed to help her and Chez Beau practice. 

It was my job to go whizzing by Beau while he had to keep going the same speed.  I whipped around him in all sorts of directions...it was fun.

The I partnered up with him to help him on his quadrille parttern.  I liked it because the DOR had to concentrate on where Beau was and being in the right position instead of messing with my mouth!  She even had to look some where else other than between my ears at the ground right in front of my nose.

I even worked on the pattern with Beau while he carried a flag.  Not my favorite thing and I gave him lots of space.  I have heard that flags have been know to try and eat horses.  I was also a bit confused because a flapping flag means I am either supposed to hurry up or yeild some part of my body.  In this instance I was supposed to keep the same speed and travel on a certain path, regardless what the flag was doing.  I tell you humans expect some darn silly things.

The DOR asked me to give a try at carrying the flag.  At first I wasn't even going near it.  I did finally give it a valiant try, I did not like it at all but I know when the DOR asks me to do really tough things I always get extra treats.

I ended the afternoon by having the DOR practice ponying a horse.  We ponied Beau and the Horse Guardian rode with her eyes closed.  I am going to start ponying Marvelous Marvin several times a week to get him ready to return to his job at the mountain.

The DOR is going to be sore tomorrow I bet, she posted the entire time we trotted a good hour.

She was so pleased with our ride I got a whole handful of treats.

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

New Years Revolutions...I mean Resolutions

It is New Years Eve and the time of year that humans make resolutions.  The DOR was quick to point out that I should probably make some for the upcoming year, so I will oblige her since it will mean extra cookies for me if I do.  Yes I can be bought for a cookie-is that a bad thing?
My New Years Revolutions Resolutions:
1.  I will not make pinnie ears at other horses who ask for attention from the DOR (unless it is Tahkoe the Terrible, then I might even snap my teeth because she irritates me).
2.  I will not step away from the mounting block when the DOR goes to get on (unless she has made me stand there for too long, then stepping off is fair to teach her to hurry up).
3.  I will not groan when the DOR gets seated for a ride (she could help with this by loosing 1/2 a ton).
4.  I will not tear the straps of my winter blanket (unless the DOR puts one on me that is in direct violation of the code of conduct for the He Man Gelding Club).
5.  I will not use my nose to shove the DOR in the butt when she is bent over so she falls flat on her face (unless there is a puddle handy, then it simply must be done).
6.  I will not buck while being ridden (unless my rider asks for it and then I must do as asked).
7.  I will not fart or poop while the farrier is working on my back feet (unless I absolutely can't help myself)
8.  I will come when the DOR calls me and not make her hike across the pasture (unless she is working on her weight and then I am going to make her chase me to heck and back).
9.  I will not mug the DOR for cookies and peppermints (unless she has them in her pocket and then I am reaching right in there and nabbing those suckers).
10.  I will never forget to hug and smooch my DOR every time I see her (sometimes I might have to do it twice)
Blessings for your New Year and thanks for being my friends.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

And Santa says....

I have heard the humans talk about Santa.  The DOR has made me wear a Santa hat and dress up for the holidays.  I have always thought it was all make believe, just like the Great Pumpkin and the Tooth Fairy.  Boy was I in for a surprise....
I was hanging out up by the barn hoping to mooch treats when the DOR came out to the ranch and some strange guy shows up in a red suit.  He was wearing the same kind of hat the the DOR says is a Santa hat.  He was pretty hairy and had a really happy look.  He came in and gave me a candy cane...I love candy canes.  He called me Boogie, now how would he know that is the name that the DOR calls me? He said he was Santa and was here to let me know if I had been naughty or nice.  He gave me a scritch and then began thinking, soon he started to speak....
He said that I need to quit making stinky faces at the little Icelandics and probably should not be calling them trolls.  He also said that sneaking up on Shandi when her head is in the feed bunk and nipping her on the butt was not very nice either.  How does he know this stuff?  I always check to make sure no humans are around to catch me and my shenanigans.
Santa then told me that the DOR brags to everyone about me.  She tells people what a good boy I am and what a big heart I have.  She also uses me to illustrate how one should never give up.  According to Santa the DOR thinks I am the best horse ever.  He told me I made the good list, but to keep working on being on my best behavior.  I am thinking I am going to get more sneaky with my shenanigans.
I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

And we go on...

I have been missing in action for a bit.  Things are fine, just busy with lots of puzzling about things. The DOR had a hard time with her dad being gone this Thanksgiving, it made her very sad.
The world seems to be a bit wakko outside of our pastures.  We horses just sigh and shake our heads at the behavior of some humans.
I do want to point out that there is still so much happiness in the world.  Take a look at this photo of a boy and his very own, and 1st, horse.  Joy!!!!
The young man is Sharkbait, the DOR's grandson.  The horse is King Henry, aka Hank, he has come to retire with our herd.  King Henry was one of the DOR's co-workers up at the mountain for the past two years.  He was the go to horse for kids and nervous riders.  He performed his job with pride and competence.  As a reward for his service, and while he is still sound and in good health, Red (owner of the mountain horses) decided to retire him.  Now he owns a little boy of his own and the little boy is delighted.
If humans could learn to be like horses there would be less violence and more joy in the world.  I encourage all humans to make an effort to spend a day with a herd of horses.  Watch how we live, how we communicate, how we treat each other then go out to the world and teach other humans what we do.
The DOR says that God sent horses to humans so they would see how he intended humans to live.
May you find peace, love, and joy in the coming days.  Remember to live and eat like a horse.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!