Monday, March 28, 2011

they asked us to stay for tea and have some fun


This is my take on Frank Mather Beatty's poster, Out of the Running.

Today's ride on Sovey was ridiculously perfect in spite of a thundering herd of two stirring up trouble in the pastures beside us.

I left Pie and Foggy out together with access to all the pastures as I headed out riding Sovereign this afternoon. That wasn't very smart on my part. It is fine if they are out together, but I should have kept them in a small pasture. I gave the left-behind-boys hay to munch which only lasted as long as Foggy's tiny attention span (4 minutes!). They walked slowly and calmly around to be near us at first. I rode for 30 minutes around all the building and trees. Sovey likes variety more than anyone so this was a fun ride for him. My mother joined us and we followed her into the woods. Dumb me. I was talking and forgot what I doing. As soon as we were out of view, the two wild babies understandably took off looking for their herd mate. If I had been on Pie I would have been launched into orbit. Luckily, I was on Sovereign who takes care of me like no other horse I've ever known. He put his head up a little but that was all. I felt his heart thumping because he heard one of Pie's dragon snorts, but he didn't become the dynamite keg that Pie is known to imitate in scary situations and we made it back without any problems at all.

I love these three horses so much.  Each have unique personalities and their own positive attributes. I tell the horse I am with at the time that "you are my best boy" but really they all are my best boys. Sovey is a steady boy under saddle. Pie is willing and funny/goofy and sweet. Foggy is unbelievably kind and trusting to horses and dogs and people. They all like each other, too. Foggy is back in at night because our temperatures are so chilly, but in the day I have witnessed Sovey and Foggy grooming and resting their heads on each other. Pie and Foggy eat tight together sometimes. And, of course, Pie and Sovey are still best friends. It seems to me that Pie and Sovey are actually happier now than they were before. I think it is because they are one horse closer to a real herd and all the benefits that come with that natural dynamic.

I thought I was perfectly horse happy before, but I feel even more joy now, if possible.  My only regret about adding another horse is my sad lack of blogging time.  I have been having interesting rides on the two "old" boys and good progress on the ground each day with Foggy, but I find little time to post about it and then it is the next day and new things happen!  Three horses and a husband and a sixth grade sweetie-Maizie-girl and a smattering of posters to design and blogs to read (I have been reading-just not commenting) has been keeping me stepping - all in a good way. 

On Sunday, Maizie and I went geocaching and she found a pony travel bug that had instructions to have its picture taken with "other ponies" along the way.  Here it is with Pie and Sovey!


15 comments:

  1. That is so great that all the boys are getting along so well. I know how much time 3 horses take, and I don't even do much with mine this time of year, but still find it hard to blog etc.
    Happy to hear that you are so "horse" happy!

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  2. Three is a lot - I know! What a good Sovey!

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  3. Dragon snort! Perfect!

    How wonderful that your herd gets along so well. Unfortunately in my herd there's a bit of a bad egg, poor Gwen is getting eaten up :(

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  4. I just love your posters!

    So nice to hear that they are all good friends.

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  5. I tell each of my dogs (out of earshot of the others) that she's my bestest girl. Val doesn't have any competition (yet!)...

    Good ♥Sovey♥

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  6. HorseOfCourse - I am so happy you guys like the posters! Stay warm!

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  7. Not enough hours, are there...but you spread yourself thin because you have lots of loves and loved ones to indulge in your life. Is there such a thing as a blog-cation?

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  8. You are busy in many good ways. What a fun find Maizie found in the geocache. And you "best boys" are getting along so well. I'm glad you are enjoying your heard and that they are enjoying each other.

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  9. It's a good thing that you are busy living and loving your life with your three wonderful boys, and of course human family! We'll be here to share your wonderful adventures when time allows. Isn't it great that love shows no boundaries? It doesn't fill up, it just grows.

    Fun geocache with Maize! How does the pony travel bug work??

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  10. aurora - Sometimes in caches you will find a Travel Bug in addition to the regular loot. These "bugs" are registered and have official dog tags but they can be anything - from key chains to stuffed animals. This one just happened to be a pony and asked to have its photo taken with other ponies and was hidden in a cache very close to our barn. This Travel Bug started in Colorado and wants to get to Austin, Texas! Maizie posted the photo and the owner emailed her a thank you! Fun!

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  11. I know what you mean about blogging sometimes having to take a backseat to all the other good things happening. Horses do require time! Big ole loving, throw your body against another warm body kind of time that is so rewarding.
    When I am riding by some of our pastures and all the horses go thundering by, I am always a little nervous! One never knows when the herding instinct may take over! Sovey sounds just like QTee the way he takes such good care of his rider.

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  12. Juliette, What a nice problem to have - wonderful things going on with your horses and family and not enough time to share it! I'm glad the boys are getting along together, and I enjoy reading about the personality of each one! They are all very special horses!

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  13. I bet Maize loved getting a Travel Bug response, very fun!

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  14. It does my heart so good to read about your love for your babies... human and horse. I love my babies like that too and I just want to honor who they truly are. You seem to strike that balance so well. Love it.

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