The Eyes Have It

In my opinion, Abby is a beautiful mare, what with her mottled skin, white blaze, blonde mane and tail, and spots.

 But I think that her most striking feature is her eyes.

I call them "Cleopatra eyes" as there is a black line around each one. It looks like she has applied eyeliner to make herself presentable!

See what I mean?

Although I'd have to say that her tongue is a "striking feature," too. 

She's always sticking it out, just as she is in this photo. (She was walking up to get her peppermints and sticking it out in anticipation!) 

That tongue may not be striking or beautiful, but it certainly is an unusual trait that she has!

Juicy Apples Lead to...

The teachers at Hershey know I love horses and have Abby. Sometimes they put treats in my school mailbox for her - an apple, a pear, candy canes, and other goodies.

This fall my little horse has been living the life of Riley - four times I have been given BAGS of apples for her! She likes apples almost as much as she likes candy canes, and their sweet juiciness gets my hands just as sticky as the candy canes do.

So naturally, Abby has to lick all that juice off.

Ever been licked by a horse? Their tongues are soft, but they are also huge.

See what I mean??

An "Offended" Hokey

While Abby and Diablo were eating their carrots and apples, Hokey's nose got a little out of joint. He had been the first of the herd to come up for a visit, and I had given him three carrots before the other horses had ambled over. (They were downright pokey today - in fact, I did not think they were coming at all!)

So, when Lisa arrived with the apples, we didn't want to make him sick or give him colic. We did give him one bite of apple so he would not be left out, and then shooed him off.

He went over to the adjacent gate and put his head up, watching us (and those apples.) Doesn't he look like he is highly insulted?

Then he stuck his tongue out! (Probably he is just licking his lips, but it DOES look as though Hokey is going, "Neener, neener!" to Lisa, me, and the girls!)

Every Last Bit

Hokey loves his treats. Either that, or he thinks he's a dog and is showing Lisa how much he loves her.

 The last bite of carrot disappears, but...

...out comes the tongue. One broad swipe down Lisa's palm.

  Let's get between those fingers. Maybe there's a crumb or two.

 Fingertips? Wiped clean!

A final sweep over Lisa's hand, and Hokey has gotten everything.

Oddly enough, and unlike dogs, a horse's tongue is quite dry. (Unless it's Abby who often is holding a mouthful of water, so when she opens her mouth to lick your hand, you are drenched!)

The Girls

The girls of the herd have banded together this winter and are nearly always together.

 Diablo (19), Abby (13), and Dolly (5).

 Abby leans against Diablo briefly as they wait for some treats from me.

 Diablo is the herd alpha. Shortly after this picture was snapped, she chased Mason (in the background) off for coming too closely to me. You can see that her ears are pinned in warning to him to stay back.

 She also seems to have picked up Abby's knack for sticking out her tongue.

 You know, like this!

Diablo may be the herd alpha, but to my surprise, she tolerates it when Abby, wanting me (or rather, my treats) all to herself, pins her ears and chases her off.

 Diablo never goes too far when that happens, and any crankiness from the dust-up fades quickly.

And soon the gals are chummy again.

Look Closely, Mom!

What a pretty girl (despite some mud around her ears.)

 Make sure you look closely.

Neener, neener, Mom!

Nyeah! Nyeah!

I'm all muddy and I don't care!

Drooling

Not only does she stick her tongue out more than any horse I've ever known, but Abby is also the drooliest!

Why, yes, that is her tongue hanging out. Again.

Copy Cat! (Er, Copy Horse?)

Either Diablo is saying, "Neener, neener!" to Abby and Dolly, or she's copying Abby's habit of flapping her tongue in the wind!

She's certainly not hot and sweaty, and panting in the heat, that's for sure!

Neener, Neener!

What is it with Abby and her tongue?

Hanging waaay out.

Just the tip peeking out.

And here it comes again.

I have never known a horse who sticks its tongue out like Abby!

(I find it rather endearing.)

A Family Trait?

I've mentioned many times how Abby licks my hand frequently, almost like a dog. Don't believe me? Here are some pictures:

Here she licks Lisa's hand after a treat.

 See her tongue hanging out?

 Now Abby's licking Trinity's hand.

See it again?

So I am wondering...

 Is it a family trait??