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?

Here Comes the Herd!

Abby and her pasture pals were waaaaaaaay out in the pasture when Lisa and I arrived this morning.

 Nonetheless, as soon as they heard my whistle and call, the whole herd started up to the gate, Abby in the lead.

 Abby brings half the herd...

 .... while Trouble leads the other half.

(It was kind of funny how they split and came up in halves.)

 Knowing there's a carrot waiting, Mason breaks into a trot, surprising Abby as he passes her by.

 She catches up and they amble up to us.

Carrots for everyone!

Frisked!

This is what being frisked by a horse looks like:

 (Abby needs to shave her whiskers!)

 She's using her nose to smell for the goods.

 What goods, you ask?

Apple spaghetti! And she knows I have it!

 Yummy! (See the apple peel trailing from her mouth?)

Abby gets every last bit that she can.

Hoakie Charms Lisa

I have said before that I am very fond of Hoakie. He seeks out human attention, demands it even, and reminds me a bit of a dog - I think he would climb in your lap if you let him! And when Lisa met him today, he charmed her, too, eagerly seeking her attention and hanging out with her.

 A content horse and a happy gal.

 Hoakie is loving the attention she's giving him. Look at his face!

 At one point, Dolly crowded him away from Lisa for some attention herself. Hoakie's solution? To put his head over hers and reach over to Lisa's face. (Look closely at the end of his nose and you will see her face.)

 Suddenly Hoakie began yawning. Great big yawns.

 It was so funny - he'd yawn, then sort of smack his lips, and then yawn again!

Maybe we were boring him? Or perhaps he was just so relaxed from all that petting he felt sleepy.

Whatever it was, Hoakie lived up to his reputation of being a big "dog" and seeking out attention and loving from his people!

"Innocent" Dolly

Dolly looks pretty innocent, doesn't she? 

 Standing behind Hoakie, enjoying a pretty summer day.

She lifts her head and rests her chin on Hoakie's backside.

 And then...

She takes a little nip!

I Missed You!

The first thing Lisa wanted to do this morning was to meet Abby. So, off we went to the barn as soon as we were up and dressed.

When we arrived, I whistled and called Abby's name. Her head popped up and she came over to the fence right away.

 "You're back! I missed you!! So, how about a good scritch?"

"Oh, yes, right there, please!"

 "Ohhhhh, I am in horsey heaven."

 "Oh, Mom, I am so glad you're home."

"I'm so relaxed, I feel like maybe taking a nap."

"Here, have a little hug to let you know how much I love you."

At the risk of sounding like I am ascribing anthropomorphic qualities to my horse, I do think she missed me the week I was gone. (And I missed her!)

Kentucky Horse Park with Lisa!

On our way home from Florida, Lisa and I decided to stop at Kentucky Horse Park (it was right next to the interstate!) We both share a love of horses, so...

One of the shows we watched within the park was the Horses of the World show.

 A view of the arena.

 An American Paint ridden by a woman named Suzy in old-west garb.

 A rare white Thoroughbred. He is not an albino - he is simply white.

 A Fell Horse from England.

 See the feathers? Beautiful!

 A Swedish Warmblood.

 His tail was all white - he looked a bit like a charcoal Breyer.

 The Lippizaner was giving his handler problems which disappointed me because I love Lippizaners!

 A big Percheron gelding dressed as a war horse.

 Final lineup.

Lisa and the Lippizaner.

Lisa took a picture of me petting the Percheron.

We also saw the Parade of Champions - famous race horses who live at Kentucky Horse Park. So cool!

This is Cigar. He's 22 years old now, but still very beautiful.

Cigar had sixteen wins and was the 1995 and 1996 Horse of the Year.

See that mark on his shoulder? He cut himself as a foal and had to have thirty two stitches! Sadly, Cigar is sterile and has no progeny.

Cigar from the back. Look closely at his left hock - see that pin firing?

This is Da Hoss. He's twenty years old and is a Breeders Cup winner.

And then, the one I was MOST thrilled to see....

Funny Cide!!

I was SO EXCITED to see him - and here he is, standing right next to me! He's a Kentucky Derby winner and a Preakness winner. In fact, he was the  first gelding to win the Kentucky Derby in seventy four years.

 So beautiful.

Funny Cide looked quite relaxed and calm.

This is the Standardbred, Mr. Muscleman. He's the 9th richest trotter ever. He has also been pin fired.

Mr. Muscleman is twelve years old and seventeen hands high. 

Lisa and I also rode the trolley around the horse park. Here Lisa is thanking one of the drafters who pulled us on our tour.