A Horsie Mama License Plate

Moving to Aurora, Colorado as Sarah and Todd did last summer most definitely has its advantages for them and JC and Trinity. Scenery, an outdoorsy lifestyle, wildlife...

... and horses on the license plate.

Todd spotted the PERFECT one for me today:

Yep - a horse and my personal xoxox "signature" that I put on all letters, texts, and emails to my children and grandchildren combined into one license plate.

Perfect for me!

Unfortunately, Indiana doesn't have license plates that reflect me like that, so maybe I should move to Aurora, too??

Horsewomen "of a Certain Age"

Let me make it crystal clear that I am NOT yet at that "certain age." At least, I hope not. I certainly don't consider myself an old lady!

Having said that, I do like this poem that has made the rounds among horsewomen before and apparently is going around again. My friend, Colette Asay, recently posted it on my Facebook page.

 I do feel a kinship to the woman of which it speaks. (Although I'll be drinking hot chocolate instead of white wine!)

When I am an Old Horsewoman
	When I am an old horsewoman I shall wear turquoise and diamonds, And a straw hat that doesn’t suit me And I shall spend my social security on white wine and carrots, And sit in my alleyway of my barn And listen to my horses breathe. I will sneak out in the middle of a summer night And ride the old bay gelding, Across the moonstruck meadow If my old bones will allow And when people come to call, I will smile and nod As I walk past the gardens to the barn and show instead the flowers growing inside stalls fresh-lined with straw. I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair as if it were a jewel And I will be an embarrassment to all Who will not yet have found the peace in being free to have a horse as a best friend A friend who waits at midnight hour With muzzle and nicker and patient eyes For the kind of woman I will be When I am old. -By Patty Barnhart Originally published in The Arabian Horse World magazine in l992

Where are the Horses??

A sunny day yesterday, with temperatures in the mid 60s. That meant that I could get out to the barn for a visit. (Today? Back to winter. 3.5 inches of blowing and drifting snow over a layer of sleet and freezing rain. Snow day for me. Again.)

But when I pulled up to the old barn, there were no whickers of greeting nor any horses to be seen. I checked the west pasture, but the herd was not there, either.

So, I got in my car and drove to the south side of the property and the new barn/indoor arena. Those pastures were empty, too. Had Tim put everyone inside the new barn for some reason? I went inside and checked the arena, but still no sign of the horses.

But, I could now hear them, that sound of snorting, munching, and interacting that horses do with each other.

Tim had put them in the little-used paddock behind the new barn. I called Abby's name, and she (along with Diablo, Hokey, Dolly, and Trouble) came ambling around the barn. (Abby broke into a trot when she saw me.)

May I please have a candy cane or some carrots?

(I think she looks like a teddy bear in this picture, she' so soft and fluffy looking!)

My day always seems better after an Abby-visit!

Ahhh! That Horsey Smell!

Winter's grip on us on us has been broken, and we had sun and 60 degrees today. There was no way I was NOT going to visit Abby after school. I anticipated my visit all day, and as I rolled up to the old barn and opened my car door, that lovely horsey smell wafted into the car.

Heavenly!!

Hay, fresh air, horsey bodies, and even manure, the smell is one of my favorites and makes me happy.

Abby came right over to say hello, followed closely by her BFF, Diablo.

 Candy canes make them happy!

 Abby had an itchy nose and used the gate post as a scratching post.

I laughed at how it smushed up her nose, but it sure seemed to feel good to her.

 Persuasion was hanging out with Hokey at the second hayrack.

Hokey loves treats, and so he waited by the other gate, hoping I would notice. (I did, and he got a candy cane.)

I drove home with a smile on my face and a feeling that all is right in the world.