Back In The Saddle

Mourning is officially over, for everyone except Pony Boy. He usually just carts around little children and gets rewarded with buckets of carrots and sweet feed, but he was a good sport today. He even put up with lots of hugs and kisses.

nothing like that pony/puppy smell

His bridle was dusty and needed a little polishI needed to walk over to the mounting block to climb on my 12 hand steed.

Double wide

I thought it would be fun to round up the Longhorns, but changed my mind…..

git along little doggies

After 14 years of smiling for the camera, our little pony has it down pat.

Smile for the camera!

Fast Eddie the super tortoise wanted to join us on our trail ride.

Wanna come?

We rode the fence-line and the weather could not have been more perfect.

Flower power

Miss Piggy was content to hear all about it when we got back to the barn.

what did I miss?????

Everybody got extra treats to celebrate the awesome day……once again I feel like I am living the dream.

Feeling down? Talk to the Clown

Yeah, it happens to the jolliest of us all.  Even living in paradise on earth, sometimes you just need to go somewhere quiet and be alone. I was trying to escape  the other day and hide out for a few minutes, just to absorb all the ups and downs of the last few weeks, without upsetting the dogs and Miss Piggy.  So I blinked back a few tears and walked over to  the barn to be in a crappy mood for a while. As usual our resident clown saw me coming and was prepared to uplift my mood and make me forget anything but his silly self. Here he was herding our 80 pound tortoise across the pasture

Move along little doggie

When the farrier came later in the day to trim hooves, he felt obligated to hand him his tools and accidently dropped a heavy metal object on his foot. When I had securely locked a filly into her stall, he managed to set her free to run around playing hard to catch for the next 30 minutes. I swear it must be a conspiracy to make me happy!!!!! I LOVE you RUSS!!!!!!

Dream Pony

This is a very early progress painting. Long way to go, but we have had this dream pony for 14 years so I know every little thing about him. I’m still working on the twinkle in his eye…

pony in the wildflowers-progress painting

Horse Hair Couch

 

best seat in the place

We have a drive-in theatre not far from here. I’m tempted to ride up there and have a seat on my pony. I’ll wait until there is a good family flick showing, just not too sad like Black Beauty. The horses hate to see me cry.

Country Boy

Future farmer of America? I don’t think so…..I used to see little boys with blonde curls walking around before Peyton was born and I had no idea I would have such a little angel like that or that he would grow up to be tall, handsome and brilliant like his older brother. They are both awesome and never cease to amaze us…….

Not By The Hairs On My Chinny Chin Chin

 

pastel painting with pan pastels

We got the best liddle ponies on the planet…How cool is it to walk outside and see these monsters begging for a carrot or two. No halters needed to lead them, just grab a long lock of mane or maybe whiskers in his guys case. Whatever,  jumping on a pony bareback in the pasture rocks….

This is a pastel painting completed with these cool pan pastels…They have a gallery that has posted several of my pastel paintings, which is cool because I have no clue what in the heck I am doing but they sent me a ton of cool stuff…..maybe $200.00 worth of supplies just for letting them put up my paintings.  I am having a blast.

Co-Madres

 I painted this pastel based on three reference photos taken on the same day. That day we had a serious out of control wild fire. The horses and ponies were running around snorting and freaking out. I think mostly they sensed my fear as horses always are aware of. Their survival is based on their sense of smell and sight, but my guys know me and being as they are enclosed behind fences, they can only flee so far. They can tell by the way I walk across the pasture, if I am having a bad day (rare in this paradise) or if we are going for a long trail ride……I look happy carrying the saddle and bridle, but that doesn’t necessarily thrill them…..This day I was carrying my cell phone and calling 911 and the fire department….

I call this painting “Co-Madres”.

Body Talk

 

What did you say?

 

 

Horses just KNOW. The ears are a good indicator and an early warning signal to their buddies and enemies. My alpha mare may have delicate little Arabian ears, but she knows how to use them. My herd of ten thrive in their established pecking order. The head honcho always has the advantage in a pasture situation at feeding time. He/she will be first in line at the trough and last to leave. They earn that right by being the sharpest tools in the shed. My small 15 year old Welsh Mountain pony gelding is about as even as can be with my 27 year old  15 hand Arabian mare. They have a 100 acre pasture to establish their hierarchy and the others respect their space. In the horse world, at least the one that I observe 24/7, their are no miscommunications. There are no conversations like “Well, it’s probably the bridle that makes your nose look so big” or ” Sarita said that your mane looks like a smurf with a mohawk”. It’s just cut and dried with them. It’s basic survival skills with these guys. My food, my Mom, my barn and your poop smells. The sad part is that our own signals can upset a perfectly balanced herd environment. Whether or not they are kept in a 10×10 foot stall or blessed to be in horse heaven in a lush pasture, just seeing the way you carry the bucket as you sling the feed at them or maybe give a little jab with the pitch pork as you shovel the hay into the manger. They see it in your eyes and they know that you love them ….or you don’t. I have dear friends that are leaving their cherished pets behind and grieving before they say good bye, then there are those who dump them with others to care for them because they would rather not deal with them. It is not enough to have food and water, they need to know that they are loved by you. We have taught them to depend on us. Horses are just as aware of love and hate as a purring kitten or a cuddly puppy. To be continued…….

Crazy Sexy Baby Face

 

Crazy Sexy Baby Face

Beautiful grand daughter of Liddle Duke Of Hazzard……she has his crazy sexy face and solid perfect body with a feminine aura about her. we can’t wait for our first show along side Grand Dad….look out Pony World.

Daddy’s Little Helper

He might really be trying to taste Tom’s straw hat, but after living with this pony boy for the last 12years, we know that he is always more than willing to hand you a hammer or help you pull weeds, if need be. He is multi-talented and smart as a whip. Life would not be nearly as interesting without this equine treasure in our lives.