Flying south for the winter...

It seems a bit late in the season to be migrating, but I suppose that's due to the mild winter we've been experiencing. At any rate, these birds are on their way!

White Christmas

Thanks to a skiff of snow, we managed to have a White Christmas. This picture was taken at twilight on Christmas Day, and by the next day it had all pretty much disappeared...but it was there for Christmas!

Rainy days...

Silver came into his stall to escape the rain & also to enjoy his morning breakfast. I startled him by taking a flash photo, whereupon he immediately bolted back out into the rain. It didn't take long for him to come back inside & resume eating though. And we - both man & beast - are all very fortunate that all this rain isn't SNOW!

Christmas Parade

This is one of my riding buddies, Tammy Smith, from Alton, MO. We had planned to ride in the Christmas parade last Saturday, but I canceled at the last minute. Tammy went ahead & rode in the parade, & was one of the few who did an outstanding job of decorating her horse (& herself!). The long string of large jingle bells draped across her horse's withers as well as the jingle bell wreaths at each side of her saddle provided a nice background beat. So congratulations to Tammy & a Very Merry Christmas!!! (If you click on the picture - or any other picture on this blog - the picture will enlarge for better viewing.)

Update today - Booney's FREE!

Kathy just emailed me some new pictures of Boone, who was turned out of the barnlot today & allowed to run free with her coming 3 yr. old TWH filly. He's enjoying having some extra freedom & room to stretch his legs. Boone has not been allowed to run with the fillies for about 6 months on the off chance he could have impregnated one, so he'll have to find his place in Kathy's herd.
Contrary to popular beliefs, in the horse world a stallion does not 'rule' the herd---that position is occupied by an Alpha mare (usually the oldest, definitely the most dominant. In my herd, that position is held by Jamaica Mistake, black reg. TWH).

Boone's new home...

Boone surely feels right at home at Kathy's house. He has lots of new horse friends so he won't be lonely, & he even has what appears to be a poodle & a min-pin for dog friends (doesn't the min-pin remind you of Quark, our min-pin?). It won't be long before Boone will be turned out with his new horse buddies & become part of his new family.

Bye, Bye Boone

This is Boone, a yearling Missouri Foxtrotter. Today Boone began his big adventure with his new owner, Kathy Murphy. He left here in the rain, but Kathy kindly took his picture upon arrival at her farm & emailed it to me so I'd know he was safe & at home in his new quarters. As you can see, he is happily munching away on some hay. He has a nice, big stall, & Kathy has other horses so he won't be lonely. Kathy is a soft spoken, self confessed 'horse collector', & I'm sure she'll take really good care of Boone. Kathy & Boone don't live far from me, & Kathy has invited me to visit Boone from time to time. So, Boone found a new home, & I found a new friend.