I Love my Mom!

I am very upset as I stand here in my stall, eating the delicious hay mom bought for me, because I learned that my mom has been feeling very lonely and neglected and that she found out some she felt were friends have been thinking she spends too much time talking about me and praising her love for me. That they have avoided her and made her feel unwanted when I know my mom has given a LOT to the humans at the barn... she offers her help, I have seen it, she loans out her stuff (some of it MY stuff; I am not as giving as my mom. I don't want any other using my stuff, but that's me)


I know I am only a horse, but what is so wrong about this bond and love my mom and me have together? I know my mom is not like other humans. She has cried on my massive shoulder on more than one occasion and I kissed her and nuzzled her with my muzzle to try and make her feel better. I am her world, but I know she is lonely and longs for the companionship of other humans. I can't always be there since I cannot live in the house with her. I don't think I would even fit through the door!


Mom told me that we are leaving this barn that I have lived in for the past year and a half. She said that she started to think about leaving because people she loved and considered friends began to make her feel very left out and lonely. She knows they don't do it on purpose, but it hurt her anyway. Personally, I think she is oversensitive and should just kick them in the shins, but then I am a horse! I go out in that pasture and I DEMAND respect in the herd! They might not all like me, but they all respect me!


In any event, mom is much more sensitive than I am; the show circuit taught me to be tough.


Mom told me about the new barn; she said it's what she has always wanted for me and that this place is as close as she has ever come to the way things would be if she had her own barn and farm. I am fairly happy where I am; I like being respected by so many other horses, but I am not an attention-seeker (like mom is... don't tell her I said that) and mom said I will have a big stall and a huge paddock with grass and trees, all to myself! There are other horses around so I can still talk to them (I hear one is a horse I knew from the past), but to have all the grass just for ME! Wow! 


Mom says there's enough room for my need to move around, yet not too much land that I can get into trouble (like *I* get into trouble!! Hmmph). And the land is flat. Mom says Uncle Jerry, my farrier, says the flat land will be better for my feet problems. I have to admit those hills can be tough, but I manage.


I have to admit since I lost my best friend, Gulliver, I really haven't been hanging around with anyone else or playing. I really miss him and I know my mom misses his mom. I miss Auntie Sarah too. Mom hopes that she will come see us more at the new barn, since she won't have bad memories there.


I don't know what to expect with this new move and it's a little scary, but mom assures me I will be very happy there. She said I can have a fan on my stall and in the barn during hot days and I can stay out at night. As a matter of fact, she said my stall opens out to my big paddock so I can come and go as I please. Mom told me that's what she always wanted for me!


And I will be able to wear my fly sheet so the flies stay off me. I really hate those bugs. They bite!! I miss my fly sheet! I can also go out in the rain more, even if it's colder, since I will be able to wear my rain sheets. Mom says I can't wear sheets in the pasture where we are now because there's so much land and trees and bushes and other horses, it would be unsafe. If that is true, then I guess it is a good rule, but I do miss my fly sheet!


Mom said I will also be able to have my heated water bucket again this winter, so no more fighting through ice to get my water, and since I have IR mom says I need to have access at all times. I won't tell mom that I never had any problems fighting through ice and it sort of gave me something to do. Neeighhhahahaha. But, I can remember when I had that heated water bucket several years ago at a barn called Nutmeg, I always had water I didn't have to break the ice on...sometimes I am tired and just want to drink!


I have no complaints, personally, where I am, except that I miss Gulliver terribly, but mom insists this place will be better for my health needs and that there are fun places to ride. So, if she feels it is better for me then I believe her.

I'm a Champ

Wow! It's been a bit of time since my last post. I've been busy losing my shoes and mom's been busy trying to find the money to pay for them!

Hint Hint... Buy stuff from mom's store so she can afford me!

She made me say that!  Anyway, I had a horse show a week ago and I had a lot of fun. I felt really good and so mom took home two first places and a reserve champion. She was very happy with me.

It's been rather HOT these days, so mom decided to let me go out at night when it's cooler. I like that! But I think I blew it because I lost a shoe down in the swamps and mom says those are very expensive shoes. She threatened to remove my shoes and let me be lame. I hope she was kidding! My heels hurt when my shoes are off.

I still get to spend the day outside though. Mom makes me a boot out of baby diapers (for humans), vetwrap (purple of course) and duct tape.... I thought it was duck tape and made out of ducks, but the package said duct. I don't know what a duct is but I am glad it's not me. I would not want to become tape. Or glue! Mom has said that they used to make glue out of horses. Wow, that's scary!

I haven't really been ridden much, which I have to admit I miss a little. Mom rode me once before the last show and that was it... I think because of my booboo she didn't want to push me. But my booboo is almost all gone now (thank the horse gods, because I was getting tired of having it played with every day)... but I think the heat is why she hasn't been riding as much.

I know mom's reasons, but my aunties haven't come to ride me or even give me treats. Maybe I did something and they no longer love me. My auntie Sarah H never comes anymore, but I guess it's hard for her since Gulliver went to horse heaven. I really miss him. I can't talk much about it because I want to neigh with sadness.

I don't know why my auntie Laura doesn't ride me. Maybe it's too hot? Humans are strange!

New Article

What do we horses think? Humans will never know for sure because we just do not tell! But some humans, like my mom, understand how we think very well. Mom always seems to know what I am thinking and my needs, so I was pleased to see she wrote an article on horse thinking.

http://www.examiner.com/horses-in-hartford/what-is-your-horse-thinking

Go ahead and read it. Mom is proud of her "gift."

OH NO! Show!

Tomorrow is another show day! I know because mom gave me a bath with actual shampoo today! And she clipped me up... my left ear was ticklish today and I know she wanted me to hold still but I couldn't help it; it tickled!

When she had me all bathed, she put me in my stall with my fan on, which felt really good because it was a warm day and it's always so stuffy in my stall without the fan. I love my fan! I love to stand in front of it and let the air run over my face and back. It feels so good. I wish mom could leave it on me like she did when we were at another barn years back. But I guess they have different rules here. Too bad, I do so love that fan on hot nights. But at least mom does what she can to cool me off instead of letting me sweat all night.

At first mom put a sheet on me, a light one, as she always does before a show. I know it's to keep me clean. But it was too hot, so mom took it off. I will see how dirty I can get tonight so mom will have to give me lots of grooming attention before the show tomorrow. *horse grin*

I love going to shows, I have been going to them all my life, but I have to admit I am a little bit nervous. Last show I got hurt really bad and it was not pleasant. I had to see vets afterwards and vets smell funny and make me nervous... they always have needles and I hate needles!

Perhaps after a good night's sleep in my manure I will feel less nervous. *horse snicker*

Horse Personality Test

Hi there! Today was a nice day outside, although it did rain and the bugs were out. The rain made the bugs go away, but as soon as the rain stopped, the bugs came back. Bad bugs!

Mom didn't put my fly mask on because she said it was going to rain, but she sprayed me down with that terrible smelling fly spray. I guess I shouldn't complain as I was not bothered by the bugs as much as the horses who did not get fly sprayed. I like when mom puts me out because she makes sure I am as comfy as possible. The problem, however, is that mom puts me out a lot later than the other horses go out, so I am in the barn alone for a couple hours. I am okay with it, though, and make no fuss. I get plenty to eat while in there and mom always comes to let me out before I finish.

I rolled in the mud today, which felt really good, but ended up in me getting a full bath when mom came to get me in. I didn't mind, except she sprayed my face and I really hate my face sprayed with water! Mom hates letting me get terribly dirty. I don't mind being clean when I am in my stall, but outside it feels so good to roll in the dirt and the mud keeps those deplorable bugs away! Did I mention I hate bugs?

Mom keeps telling people how happy she is that my leg healed up so quickly (picture on left). I think the other people at the barn are getting tired of hearing mom talk about me and my boo boo, as mom calls it. But, mom seems so happy and proud of me, it pleases me. So, the people who don't like to hear mom brag about me can just bugger off because at least I have a mom who really loves me!

Mom did a personality test for horses from some magazine.  It was something that would rate my personality. I don't know why she feels she needs a test; she knows who I am, she sees me every day. Why would she need a test to tell her who I am? She said there were three sections to the test. One would tell if I am an introverted horse or an extroverted horse. I don't know what those terms mean, but mom said I came up as "average." I don't know; I think I am above average... why else would the other horses respect my authority?

In step two, mom said the test would tell if I am neurotic or stable. She said my results showed that I am a stable horse. Well, of course I am... I live in a stable after all. I don't get these humans!

The last part was to judge if I am agreeable or disagreeable. I know I don't always agree with everything, but on the test I apparently came up as an agreeable horse. Mom said the test came up accurate in all respects, but again I don't see the point. She knows how I am!

I guess tomorrow is a holiday. I don't understand human holidays, but I guess they feel the need to have them. Nothing seems to be much different, except on some holidays mom comes very early like she does for horse show days, and I get to go out early. But I have to come in early too, so I guess it's not much different.

Mom's been working hard on adding all her new products to her local horse store web site. I guess she wants to sell and deliver to people who have horses all around here. Then other horses can have whatever they need, just as I do... as long as their moms love and care for them as my mom does for me.

Well, Bella wants to have a talk and I want to take a nap. She is an adorable filly, but sometimes talks a lot. I rally do like her, though, so I will let her talk. Her voice can be quite soothing at night when the barn is quiet.

Mom's at it Again!

Mom wrote another article and once again she is using my blog to promote it. But I don't mind, because if mom writes enough, maybe more people will come and read and click on links and buy stuff in her store... then she can buy me more treats!! I love peppermint treats, though mom only allows me sugar free because she says I have a fatty crest on my neck. I really don't think I am fat!! Hmmph!

Mom's article. I like this one because mom takes really good care of me and I have talked to many horses through the years who have told me that their moms and dads don't care as well for them and they wish my mom was their mom... or they at least wish their moms did for them what my mom does for me.

I can remember a long time ago before my current mom bought me. I didn't really know any different then, but people made me work a lot and I didn't get much close individual attention. I was not abused or mistreated, mind you, and I was always fairly happy. But I didn't know what it was like to have a mom who cares so much and spends so much time with me, and is always nice to me, even when I am bad. People in the past just yelled or tugged hard at me. I never liked that. It only made me angry and want to misbehave more! My mom now seems to know that and she is so patient with me -- well, most of the time. But I know...when my mom yells, I had better listen! She doesn't yell much so I must be super bad if she does. And she never hits me, thank the horsey gods.

I love being loved by such a loving mom!

Oh yeah... here is mom's article:

http://www.examiner.com/horses-in-hartford/ignorance-can-kill-your-horse

Just click on the link and read. Mom put in a slideshow of some horses that got hurt (including my latest  boo boo, which is much better now), so she wants you to get the whole experience. I knew personally all the horses in the pictures. Mom took the pictures herself. I remember little Hot Rod. He came with 2 eyes, but one looked funny and didn't work. When he got a little older, they took it out. Mom was there and took pictures. I hear Hot Rod has a much better life now than he did then.

We lived then at a pretty farm, and I did like it there (except the mud and manure. They rarely cleaned the paddocks), and I know that the man who owned the place was a really bad man! My friend Tootsie told me that she had to eat this really bad hay with prickers in it because her mom left and stopped paying for her! Poor Tootsie. I lived with her at 3 different barns! She is such a pretty woman and I do miss her. Last I saw her she lived at the last barn I was at.

Glory was Tootsie's daughter. She had a lot of spunk. She cut her head one cold night on a nail outside the barn where my stall was. That one hurt, but it was very cold so she said it didn't hurt for long. Her picture is also on this article, as mom took pictures of every surgical procedure she can so she can write articles on it.

I am glad my mom is a writer. She has to research a lot and she always learns many things in caring well for me and she makes sure I get all the best stuff and care. If I am talking too much about my mom I am sorry. I hope I don't bore you, but I know how much my mom loves me and I am a very lucky horse indeed!

Mom says I am getting better!

My boo boo getting better

Mom put me out in the paddock this morning without taking off my bandage, as she does every morning. I didn't understand why at first, but then I heard her talking to my auntie Laura (and auntie Sarah P.) and saying something about taping the bandage to my leg to keep it in place. I thought I felt a little tug on my leg fur when she removed the bandage, but it didn't hurt at all.

I got a lot of attention today. Mom spent a bit of time in the paddock with me getting me a nice fresh bucket of water, and I saw her talking to the lady Karen, who I see once in awhile, but I am not sure who she is as she never handles me or kisses me or tells me she loves me as my aunties do! But, she seems to be someone important around the barn and she's never been mean to me or the other horses.

The paddock can be very boring as it is small, and I think the reason I am in it is because of this boo boo on my leg and all these bandages mom keeps fussing with. I heard mom say something about "limited movement." I don't like that, as I love to run around. But, mom always puts this super good hay in the paddock with me and fresh water and there is a bit of grass to nibble on, though I still prefer to be out on the big land with the other horses.

There's a pony in the paddock next to mine. I think they call him Sparky. He doesn't talk much, but we have had a couple games of halter tag over the fence. I always win of course! Neeighhhhhahahahaha

I have spent time in both paddocks last winter when it was cold. Mom says I need to eat all day to keep sugar levels even, whatever that means. So, I will see these paddocks again come winter.

I was a little sad going back into that paddock, as the last time I was in it was with my best friend, Gulliver. I know Gulliver is gone now, though I am not absolutely positive where he went. I saw him laying in the arena, not moving, not breathing and everyone was crying and sad. I sniffed him and felt a profuse sense of loss, though I didn't completely understand it. The next day he was not there and I called and called for him and searched the pasture, but I have never seen him again. It's not the same as when he moved... he did not move away; he is just...gone.

For a long time I didn't want any other horse near me. Gulliver was my best friend and I didn't care about the other horses. I felt they were an intrusion on my aloneness. But, I have started noticing the pretty filly in the stall where Gulliver used to live. She is the same breed Gulliver was, but smaller and with a much more girl-like face and scent. She talks to me at night and I can tell by the things she says, she is young, but she really is pretty!

Mom took pictures of my injury yesterday and today and she said it looks much better. Then she mentioned a very bad word... vet! Oh no. Vets scare me. They always put needles in me or did things that scare me. We will see what tomorrow holds.

Keeping Me Clean!

My mom wrote this article for one of those places she writes for online. I can't use a computer because they have yet to make one that is hoof-friendly, so mom decided to share her special secret on how she keeps me clean. I have to admit I like the part about dirt being a good thing as I loooovvveeeee to roll in the dirt! It feels so good on my itchy back. I have trouble reaching around to scratch my own back, so rolling helps as does mom's "currying" with my mane and tail brush. Neeeiiighhhhhahahahahaha.

Mom's article. Enjoy!


My horse is a flea-bitten grey overo Paint/Pinto (that's me). He is mostly white now, as his grey has faded with age, which is normal. Yet in the show ring he sparkles like the sun, and yet rarely do I ever bathe him.
If you boarded with me you would argue that, as he is often in the wash stall. But what people don't realize is that I am not putting shampoo or soap of any kind to him, merely water if necessary. And usually not his entire body (Oh thank goodness. I get worried every time she leads me into the wash area because I am sure I will come out dripping!)
 

1. Don't Shampoo! Green spots due to lying or rolling in manure can stain coats and become almost impossible to remove, I don't care what kind of products you use. Thus, the secret, if it can be called that, is to merely rinse those spots off immediately, using plain water and your hand or a sponge. You need no shampoos or products of any kind (the horse whitening shampoo companies are going to hate me). This means diligence every single day. Don't wait until the day before a show then slather loads of harsh whitening shampoos on your horse! Not only can that dry out his skin (which will then need time to repllenish its oils) and spray with a layer of slippery shine spray. Nope, keeping your greys and whites looking nice and not dull or yellowish means caring for their coat daily! Read the rest.
2. Groom Daily. I groom my horse every single day. And I don't use horse-made rubber or plastic curry combs either. I am not saying those products are bad or wrong, I just do not prefer them. This may sound stange, but I use a human hair brush (you can get a very inexpensive one that will last a long time if you don't abuse it). Use a nylon bristle brush; It has small nodules on the end of each bristle that won't harm skin or hair and feels like a nice massage. Curry the hair in backwards circles as well as up and down lines, using average pressure. If there's some excess dirt you may use a bit more elbow grease. I even do the legs with the brush, only much more carefully and with less pressure. But this will depend on your horse. My horse likes it, some might not. Currying your horse daily has so many benefits I can't mention them all!
3. Face. When it comes to his face, I use a Dollar Store item: a sisal mitt used for human bathing. The sisal side is just ebrasive enough to loosen dirt, but not so abrasive as to hurt or rip hair. My horse loves it as he can scratch his itchy head on it. I just hold my hand up and let him use his own pressure as he rubs his face on the mitt to scratch it. The other side of the mitt is foam and is great for rubbing the loose dirt and hair off.
4. Soft & Hard Brush. You're probably wondering at this time if I use anything actually made for horses. Yes. I do use a hard brush and a soft brush for finishing touches on the body, legs and face.
5. Conditioners. On most days I don't use conditioners of any kind. But, on occasion I might spray his body with a human-made leave-in hair conditioner. The more natural the better, as these are lightweight and won't weigh the coat down with heavy chemicals or oils. Horse detanglers are oily, so instead use a good natural conditioner (human or horse is fine) with water and when you rinse, the tail will be soft and manageable. Just be sure you get the product all the way through the hair and rinse thoroughly.
6. Shampoos. Eventually, you will need to give your horse a bath (for a show or if he gets super dirty). Instead of using whitening shampoos that have harsh chemicals, use a good natural shampoo that has aloe and/or tea tree oil. I use a nice tea tree oil shampoo on my horse. It keeps his skin soft and his hair in great condition. For soiled stains I use an enzymatic spray that I leave in for awhile and then rinse it off (even if it says not to).
7. Maintenance. The best key to keeping your horse the cleanest is maintenance. Remember good grooming practices, clean stains and spots immediately and don't use a lot of unnatural products and sprays.
   

My horse has a thick bed of pine shavings in his stall. I began using it when he developed a low grade case of laminitis years back. I found that by keeping the bedding thick, it helped him stay clean. At night, as he moves around and lays down and gets up, the manure and urine fall to the bottom so he lays on clean shavings rather than in his own waste. Since he always urinates in the same spot, I often place pelleted bedding (unsoaked) under the pine shavings in that area. It soaks up the urine under the pine and stays dry. This can get expensive so I tend to only use it at times when he is in a lot. Otherwise, I make sure his stall is super clean and pick it out as often as possible. The finer pine shavings work the best. The thicker flakes don't absob as well.

My First Blog!

First of all, I need to thank my mom for helping me with this blog. I am not sure what a blog is exactly, but it seems like a lot of fun and I get to talk to my many fans out there (and I know I have many because an aweful lot of people have said they love me in the last 18 years, so I must). Mom is typing this for me because my hooves don't work well on human keyboards and I don't think the makers at Sony, as good as they are, have created a keyboard for horses.

In this blog (what a strange word humans made up for this thing) I will talk to you--through my mommy--about all things related to being a horse. I can't speak for other horses much since they have their own personalities and thoughts but I might still gossip a bit about them from time to time.

If you don't know me, I was born as a little black and white colt on a farm in Colchester, CT. I was too young to remember what their intentions were for me, but I do remember when I was 2 years old, the veterinarian came (I have a true phobia for those guys!) and I was asleep and when I awoke I felt differently.

Before the veterinarian came, everything seemed fun and the fillies were especially fun to sniff and look at. I remember feeling wild and wanting to chase every other horse (exept the fillies, I wanted to catch them) away. The fillies, they were mine!

Time passed and I realized what they did calmed my demeanor and made me not notice the fillies quite so much. I must admit it is a lot less frustrating than always wanting those pretty girls but never being able to have them. I was a stallion after all (was being the operative word).

I still do not like veterinarians! They always have needles!

As I grew older my fur color began to change. My mom (my biological mom), I remember was a pretty grey quarter horse named Sonoita Chubby. I later discovered the Sonoita line is famous for producing very beautiful horses that win a lot in conformation and other areas of horse shows. I cannot be sure of the details, but mom tells everyone she meets how gorgeous I am and that I get my looks from my champion line.

I never saw my sire. And I have no human dad, so I guess that makes me the adopted child of a single mom. But that's ok because mom takes amazing care of me and I can feel how much she loves me, and I winnie to her whenever I hear her voice.

I will write more tomorrow. I have to tell mom all my exploits at night and during the day so she can write this every day and keep anyone who is interested up to date on the life of being a horse. Sounds boring to me, but humans sure she seem to love us horses, as least from what I see at the barn where I live now in Bolton!

Good night, and neigh in your sleep!