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!