Easter with the Horses

[spirithorse21]

It has been almost 4 months since I've visited Terre Haute to see my family and my boys. Traditionally I spend Easter with my parents and I get to cook (lamb. And it's delicious! I love cooking for Easter). This year we came down to Terre Haute and Jeremy and I spent this afternoon walking around the farm, ending with the horses in their pasture.

Dash has wintered especially well this year. He turned 33 in January and today the weight tape said he was at 1275 pounds. Back when he was still well muscled I could count on adding at least 100 pounds to anything the weight tape said. Now that he doesn't have much muscle, I'm not sure how inaccurate the tape is, but 1275 is a damn good number for my big liver chestnut! I can't tell you all how pleased I am with his condition. To have him only barely ribby is just amazing! And there is a little meat on his backbone too. I don't think we'll ever see much of a top line again, but he's looking pretty fine for his age.

Sam looks pretty good too. We had to give him a pretty ghetto roach job today. The only scissors I had on hand were a bit dull, and I forgot to bring my clippers along to do a proper job. He was looking pretty...rugged though (lol), so I didn't feel like waiting. As such, we have a bit of a Stegosaurus look going on, but he is otherwise fine. His eyes continue to recede. Eventually I should have them removed, but they don't seem to bother him and he doesn't get infections, so I'm in no hurry. He turns 14 next month. I can't believe where time goes. I got him as a 3 year old that was unbroke.

All in all, they are very happy, retired (or mostly retired in Sam's case) pasture puffs. Mom and Dad's farm hand has taken to brushing them daily. He has always enjoyed the horses, even though he doesn't know much about caring for them. When Mom and Dad hired him ages ago he didn't know a thing about horses, and now he cares for them daily. Dad tells me that if you sneak into the barn, you can hear Phil talking gently to them as he brushes them. Makes my heart melt. I also hear they are spoiled rotten by the dry cleaning delivery guy. He apparently loves the horses and brings them a bag of carrots anytime he stops by! Like dogs who learn the sound of the UPS truck, my horses have learned the sound of the dry cleaning truck and coming running to the fence, eager for their treats! I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do.

Comments

[mizchalmers.livejournal.com]

Wow. They are absurdly beautiful. Sam's red blaze is just crazy, too: makes them look like positive and negative.

I love pasture pets. My daydream is to be someone's forever home again, some day.

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

The red on Sam's face is actually just what is left of his buckskin markings after whiting out. He's an Appy that has become very, very white over the years.

[icealarm.livejournal.com]

Dash looks awesome! (And of course Samwise too...bad roach job notwithstanding). I'm sending all my horses to retire with your parents :)

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

Mom seems a little unsure of this plan. lol! :)

[icealarm.livejournal.com]

This is only because she hasn't met Libby yet! And let's be honest, where is the line for me? What am I going to retire Libby from...grooming?

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

hahahaha! You are right on both counts! She loves big black percherons, but I can't see Libby wanting to give up your 12 step grooming process (or is it 13?).

[harnessphoto.livejournal.com]

OMG so good to see their faces <3

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I felt the same way! :)

[windy-withers.livejournal.com]

Luckiest two ponies on the planet! They are so fortunate to have found you and your family :)

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

and we them. :)