Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Departure of An Equine Super Model

Well, the beauteous one hopped in her travelling box and is gone from our lives. Doc's broken-hearted bellow could be heard in upper New York state. The four females went for another forest tour this morning before she packed her tack box and I still remain puzzled by this overwhelming desire to commune with nature. They found an enormous dead toad on one trail and that is simply not my idea of a fun time in the woods. Yechhhh.

Things are back to their usual tranquil pace and that's probably best for everyone's nerves, especially Jack, who has been gazing at Annie non-stop since her arrival on Saturday. He's exhausted and maybe now he can stop trying to hold his stomach in. We had an ungodly downpour last night and poor Annie got stuck in it in the front paddock. We helped in her rescue by calling loudly while her human braved the elements to rescue her. Doc would not come in, even for his dinner, until she was safely in the run-in. Annie was so scared and cold we thought she would shake herself to death but she quickly revived and scarfed her dinner.

The humans are very pleased with the 25km ride they did with the other hundred pairs of horses and humans. They raised around twenty thousand dollars altogether and plan to do it again next year. All that walking - I wouldn't do it if you paid ME twenty thousand dollars. They didn't even have Sherpas to carry their lunches.

7 comments:

OzArab said...

Sounds like having Annie visit was a real adventure. :)
My boss has taken me on a few 40km rides. Then we did an 80km one. I thought my hooves were going to fall off. But then I got to eat a huge breakfast and lunch so that made me better. Some of the other horses there were telling me I was a wimp because *they* do 160km rides! I have told the boss that rides of that length are NOT acceptable. Thankfully she agrees. But not because of the sore feet. She muttered something about hours of pantyline agony. Whatever. The main thing is we WON'T. I'd better go eat something to get rid of those thoughts!

billie said...

Oh, my - I'm glad things are returning to normal there. The thought of Jack holding his stomach in all that time makes MY stomach muscles sore!

Stay firm in your resolve, Sheaffer. No marathon walks!

Anonymous said...

The beauteous one has come back to us – solid evidence that she prefers svelte stunted standards over wide grey minis. So there. However, we have been lusting after the broad golden girl in your paddock! When you're tired of her, send her up here!

We have been miserable in Annie's absence, deriving what little solace we can from agitating the big guy who was left in our care. We had him convinced that we each got two carrots at night and four flakes of hay twice a day. Sadly, this regimen of plenty ended when the fat lady returned. The evidence – piles of wasted hay in the paddock – must have tipped her off.

We continue to suffer torrential rain so the hay situation remains dire. If donkeys ruled the world, this would never happen.

On the positive side, we do not suffer those midget biting flies that batter you and Jack. And we love being sprayed with bug repellent in the morning. I like to inhale it but Fred says it makes him sneeze. At three, he is too old to know how to have a good time. Even Jack sounds more cheerful than Fred.

ponymaid said...

ozarab - did you say 80km?? Is your human mad? I think the 160km rides were made up just to scare you - that sounds like nearly the distance from my house to yours. This pantyline complaint - we're heard it as well but have no idea what is meant - we don't the infernal things, thank goodness.

billie - the thought of all that walking, even with a lunch break, makes my hoofs hurt. It's complete insanity. Is Redford on his way to your house yet?

Fred and Ginger - we miss Annie but must admit girl horses are quite obsessed with organizing everybody and keep us donkeys safely under their watchful, beady gaze. Doc continues to pine...

billie said...

Redford is possibly coming Aug. 23 or Sept. 6. I have been talking to Rafer Johnson about it and I think he's getting ready to welcome his new pal.

Tonight, in honor of the new herd member, Rafer took hay from the pony's mouth, moved Keil Bay off his hay pile, and allowed the lowest herd member to back him down. I think he's shaking things up so everyone is ready when the new herd member arrives. :)

Buddy said...

Well don't tell Molly but that Annie is a looker!

I'm telling you a ride around the block is too far - 160KM - whatever that is - it just sounds too far - whew - tired just thinking about it.

Give Molly my love!!!

ponymaid said...

billie, please keep us updated on Redford's impending arrival. Rafer is obviously testing herd dynamics to see what will work best when Redford arrives.

buddy, you said it. All that running around for nothing - complete madness. Like yourself, I'm more of a homebody. I won't tell Molly about your views on Annie - Molly is feeling rather insecure. Much like the girl next door who suddenly has to compete with the head cheerleader.