Friday, July 1, 2011

Jack Rules The Roost

I am pleased to report that Herself finally got over to visit Jack and Company but not pleased that her hostess gift was a bag of vermifuge. Honestly, how embarrassing. Most people would think of a bag of apples or carrots as being a fitting gift but no, my representative takes parasite poison. All I can say is good luck trying to get any of it into Jack.

Jack of course remembered the humans from here and greeted them politely. Then he remembered his busy schedule and tossed the Woman aside so he could get on with things. They met his two lady friends, Molly and Maggie Donkey and they renewed acquaintance with Simon and O'Sullivan and many of the other permanent residents. Poor O'Sullivan isn't doing well and was resting with his head on a pillow provided by Sheila. Russell is feeling his forty six years and for the first time in his life is walking like an old man.

TJ (Virgil) and his mule friend Finnegan fill the role of resident hooligans very well and range far and wide, pestering, thieving and generally causing chaos. The Woman still avers that TJ is the cutest thing on four legs but if she could look inside she would see the black soul of a tiny pirate/brigand.

All is well here. Chester is progressing with his lessons but continues to exhibit a streak of youthful exuberance that is sometimes alarming. This morning he grabbed the hose out of our water trough as it was filling and nearly drowned himself before realizing he needed to drop the thing for the drowning to cease. He ran off to the corner, snorting, dripping and looking puzzled and hurt. Then he approached the trough from another direction and tried to drink with his lips extended as far as possible. Herself says he may need something called a straw with a bend in it. Pshaw. What nonsense. Let the boy sink or swim, I say.

My harness fitter is making extensions for the waist portion of my new outfit. Once those arrive I will be able to progress in a stately fashion through the newly-cut hay fields. I need to be ready in case royalty drops in - some of the younger ones are in the area visiting and after Dennis's brush with them, who knows what could happen.

13 comments:

billie said...

Sheaffer, you made me laugh today with this lovely post! I hope you get a surprise visit from royalty - that way you will not have to submit to a bath! I confess, I think TJ is cute too - but I do not have the ability as you do to see inside him. What does Jack say about TJ?

Salina had a massage this morning and oddly, I felt like I benefited from it just standing there with her. Rafer Johnson expressed a huge snort of disdain that yet again, he was not the recipient of the body work.

Lori said...

Kokomo says

Billie, I too am in need of a masssagge. Not a normal one that my person gives me but a machine, grease and lots of muscles from the masseuse kind. I have been learning that dressagie stuff because my person broke her leg "jumping" and now wants something more sedate to do. Humph, she should not have been jumping over logs in the first place. There isn nothing wrong with walking around I say, which I did say which is why she broke her leg I guess..opps sorry.
Sheaffer, I just love my baths. They cool me off and she lets me play with the hose if I am good. My favorite part is chasing her with the water end.. till the hose runs out. sigh

Dougie Donk said...

So glad to hear that Jack is doing well & also that you may get a visit from the minor Royalty. Perhaps that is why Dennis is drifting your way?

Camryn said...

Camryn here: I'm not much into baths, I behave but don't enjoy. It helps that my human hangs my hay net to keep me occupied. Been packing my human around lots more lately. Luckily she's into click training so snacks are involved :)

ponymaid said...

billie - no royalty as of yet...but I am on watch by the front drive. Jack thinks TJ is a "caution" and that he should stop "tarryhootin' aroun". I agree with Jack. I hope you will see fit to indulge Rafer Johnson with his own massage one day - he might decide he needs one a week. I myself would not be adverse to the experience...

ponymaid said...

Kokomo - I agree heartily with your view on jumping over things. There is simply no need and the result may be a broken limb. I prefer all four feet in contact with the ground. I only jump when the stream is an impediment to my constitutional - then I give a mightly leap and ensure no foot touches the water. I will leave the water bathing to you...

ponymaid said...

Dougie - Jack is thriving. We saw a large airborne mass yesterday but it had something to do with Canada Day and may have been a hot air balloon - or then again may have been Dennis. Does he have a wicker basket hanging from his mid-section?

ponymaid said...

Camryn - you are a brave, brave equine to endure water baths. I must look into this clicker training - did it take a long time for your human to catch on and how often do you reward positive behaviour? I would definitely like to use some sort of course to improve the Woman's comportment.

Camryn said...

Camryn here:
Well, my human had a head start clicking dogs for the show an agility ring. She'd read you could click horses an gave it a go. Just let me say this, human now knows for certain that horses are much smarter than dogs. Her has read that Donkeys are even quicker to catch on. Google Equine (or donkey) clicker training, I'm certain you'll find lots of tips.

Happy clicking :)

Dougie Donk said...

Sheaffer, Dennis MIGHT have a wicker basket hanging from his midriff, as he feels deprived going for more than a few hours without ingestion of Polo mints.

On the other hand, perhaps it accomodates his growing ego. He is going to Riding Club camp soon & is convinced he will win everything.... I feel the need to become a recluse!

ponymaid said...

Camryn - this is exactly the information I need. However, rather than Herself clicking at me, I see myself as the one doing the clicking. Heaven knows she could do with some behaviour modification. Nothing else has worked on her so far and the fact that she is rather dim doesn't help my cause. Yes. I will definitely give clicking a try.

ponymaid said...

Dougie- this is a veritable Catch 22. You are rid of Dennis for the summer but when he returns he will be more insufferable than ever, his ego fuelled by Polo mints and ribbons. I don't envy you.

Camryn said...

Camryn here: Oh we gots ways to click our humans too. Mine is a very low whicker noise (not a nicker, kind of like clearing my throat sound). If human is to slow to ask me to do something that earns a treat I remind her (whicker,whicker, whicker)to hurry up and ask me to back up, pick up a toy, spin around, anything just hurry up I wanna earn that treat and fast.