Eleven Horses in One Day!

A new record (or at least one that hasn't happened in YEARS) - I visited with eleven horses in one afternoon!

Leslie is out of town and asked Lisa and me to go to her farm and check on her horses. We filled up the water trough, watered the garden, and gave Skippy, Beau, and Coco sugar lumps. (Lisa went to three stores to find them. And the horses LOVED them!)

 Skippy frisks Lisa, knowing she has treats on her.

 He is such a patient, gentle boy and enjoys being social.

"Please?? Can't I have another lump of sugar, Lisa??"

We spent about an hour at Leslie's and then we hopped in the car and drove back to West Lafayette to see Abby and her buddies.

I was hot and tired when we got there, and moving rather slowly, so I didn't call Abby's name and whistle like I usually do. Nevertheless, Abby saw me coming, lifted her head with her ears cocked forward, and nickered at me as I approached. (Talk about melting my heart!!)

The water level in the trough was down, so I turned on the spigot and added fresh water. Dolly and Trouble took long, cool draughts.

 Diablo also was thirsty. I didn't get it on camera, but she put her front leg into the trough and splashed around, then pulled it out and drank! I have seen horses paw water in creeks and rivers, but never have I seen one do it in the water trough!!

Abby takes her turn. Horses often dribble after drinking, and you can see the water beads trickling out her mouth.

And then Abby did something that surprised me, something similar to what she did in Frankfort that "sealed the deal" and wrapped her forever around my heart. 

She stayed, just to socialize.

Abby half closed her eyes and put her head over the gate for petting. She wasn't frisking me for carrots or sugar, she simply wanted to be with me. I spoke quietly to her and rubbed her ears, her face, and neck. Still she stayed, relaxed and content, happy to just have my companionship.

Is it any wonder I love this horse?