This summer as I was driving to the stable for morning coffee, I got to Sautter Farm which is always exciting and saw this runaway cow. The family was busy trying to catch it, but the cow was just as busily trying to make a "dash" for the corn. Hijinks ensued. This is the same cow, I am certain, that last year made a break for it and was chewing beans in the bean field with smug satisfaction! Go, Cow!
This past year, Jackass and Zelia showed their age. Z can't really go for long walks as easily anymore, though she does like taking a spin. And my little man had lost so much weight. He was just bones. You can see that in this photo. So, I took them both to their vet, though J is very clear about his "position on his physician." Dr. Amanda put Z on a diet and discovered that my little man has a highly correctable form of hyperthyroidism. I've posted this before, but it bears repeating. I started him on a twice-daily regimen of methsimazole and it was like his body just ate it up with relish. Immediately, J started acting better, gaining weight and in all respects reestablishing himself as the King of Laurel Wreath Farm. I love my little guy!
Here is a beautiful photo of my bright red pony. He makes me so happy just by being his own sweet pony self. And here's a picture of his girlfriend, B. You would think she is shy, but she is coming into her thoroughbred Bowman's Band nature. So, she is pretty darn bossy with Ren and likes to shove him, bite him, rear on him and kick him. And he just eats it up with a spoon! He loves his wild girl!
Here's a photo from late June of my beautiful Hailee and Violet, nose to nose and happy with each other's company. I am writing this entry on July 19th and I'm glad to report that my sister and I are trying to work on our relationship so that we are closer and share our lives with each other a bit more.
On my ecologically-minded farm, I would grow cabbage and basil and pole beans and peas. And I would grow nasturtium and columbine and foxglove. And I would have a teeny little patio with herbs and tomatoes everywhere and a writing desk and a tiny hidden stash of Turkish cigarettes. And I would set it up so that the stable was very close to my bedroom, so I could hear the horses snuffling to each other at night and I could give a shout to them in the morning and hear them shout back that they were glad to be getting breakfast!
So, some bad things happened over the course of this weekend and I'm feeling bruised and bad. I'm experiencing lots of difficult emotions and I'm not sleeping well. But a little anchor of love during this storm has been my handsome little guy, my Renny. I called Sandy down in Florida, the lady who owns Renny's sire. And I told her I needed to start developing pony networks, so I could keep him forever and just loan or lease him out to families with children. So, she is giving me ideas about how to pursue that goal. And this morning, I went out to the barn and my handsome guy was looking at me with his bright alert eager happy healthy ears and a lady from my old barn, Breezy Acres, was visiting. She had met Renny on his second day of life and so she asked me about him right away and praised how handsome he had become. She said just the right thing. I love my darling boy and he is certainly handsome. I walked him out to the pasture and let him out with his young friends and went and talked to the trainer about my little guy. I told him about my ideas for Renny and he complimented my little guy too -- saying that he really likes Renny. He has a great color, that cherry-popping sorrel red with flashy flaxen mane and tail and that the way he moves and looks makes him think that Renny is a reining horse who shrunk down. That my Renny is unusual and unique and a great mover -- that when he long trots he gets bounce and suspension and can really look fancy. So, he encouraged me and said that when Renny started working with surcingle and learning how to break at the poll and work in the bridle that he should be a really fancy-looking talented cart pony. My little guy is a fancy type. I am blessed to have this little fellow in my family. So, you know how it goes. You can be sad and grieve and feel like a bad and lowly person, but your little talented fancy hilarious and obliging baby pony loves you anyway. My advice to you: get a pony.
Here is Jackass and Arcangelo. Jackie is always busy. He takes such good care of us. He takes naps with me. He lays on the dining room table in the late afternoon sun watching the neighbors. He guards the basement when we have lightning. And he will creep up to the top of the stairs to meow a shout at me, so that I give him a little petting before he goes back down to guard again. He's thoughtful that way -- giving me a little comfort because I might be afraid of the lightning before he goes and guards the basement. I just adore how he cares for us.
Here we are on the day Karla received her Hamlet and became a herd leader and not just a horsewoman! She and I are posing with the babies in our herds -- the wonderful Hamlet who is 6 months old and the adorable Renny who is 18 months old -- a full year older than his little buddy! You can see the difference as Hamlet clacks his teeth in submission!
My beloved little Indian Blessing is retiring. Her trainer and owners announced on Thursday that she won't be running in the Breeders Cup, though she turned in a blistering run. She was allowed to have one last run for the fun of it before she retires as a broodmare. She's a four year-old daughter to Indian Charlie and Shameful. And this beautiful lovely girl is one of those special ones who is good on turf and dirt -- so you just know she's have diversely talented babies. This girl in her three seasons won two Eclipse awards and $3 million in winnings. She had 16 starts with 10 wins and 5 places, only out of the money once! She was the Champion 2 year-old Eclipse filly in 2007 and then in 2008 was the Champion female sprinter. I remember when she was that young thing when her trainer felt that she wasn't necessarily being a stayer over distances and announced he was going to put her in the sprints. And she responded by blowing the cork off the bottle! What a wonderful beautiful girl! Namaste and blessings to her. I will have happy dreams of this talented girl standing in blue grass and looking happily upon her crazy cute foal!
Here's a mid-June shot of my girl. I had just taken her halter off to take off her copper nametag. It was early in the summer and the flies and noseeums were driving all the horses a little nutty, but my herd was especially loud with their shaking...you could hear their little tinkling nametags. So, now those three rings hang on my key hanger in my kitchen. My happy little herd. So, anyway, here's a shot of Violet, looking as beautiful as G*d intended.
Christine and Jorge hosted a Halloween party which was so fun and nice. I had such a great time. And I was impressed beyond all description that Danielle and Todd went as Nancy and Sid. Honestly, all night long, I was slightly freaked out by Todd talking his usual talk -- of film, cultural criticism, politics and art -- and all the while he just looked exactly like Sid! And Jorge was eerie too -- he went as one of the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz and so it was just strange to see his face painted and acting so goofy -- though of course sweet. Anyway, we stayed until after 2am! Thank goodness for the fall back gain in hour! Christine and Jorge hosted the most charming party with great food, drinks, company and laughs, laughs, laughs. They are really dear people!
urday is that Mike, Karla's husband, gave Karla the surprise of her life by giving her the gift of Hamlet by The Invitation out of True Blue Love. He came with her mother and had a very warm pie ready and lots of wonderful coffee. The man really knows how to brew coffee. He is such a nice person. Anyway, after our lesson, we had a little treat and then he surprised her by giving her a halter which had a copper tag announcing her as Hamlet's owner. She cried and cried and was overjoyed. We really had a nice time and Lexie and Barbie and Mike and I were so pleased for her. She and I joked that we would have to confer now because we both have herds -- we'll have to exchange ideas about "herd management!" We are the luckiest ladies I know!
