Today it was supposed to be warm. However I don’t know that it got over 15 degrees. All. Day. I was going to ride today, but the wind was bitter cold- the kind of cold that burns your fingers and your nose. To the point that in a couple minutes outside, uncovered you can’t feel them. At. All.
So instead of riding, I went and caught Gump, who I honestly haven’t seen since right after Thanksgiving. He has been turned out in just over 1000 acres along with 35 other geldings. But it’s been cold, so they’ve been getting fed hay in a smaller 15 acre trap that is adjacent to their pasture. I grabbed a 2 gallon bucket-full of cow cake, put some oats on top and trudged out there with a string in my pocket. Once inside the trap, he looked up at the sound of my voice, and came right over. This is a FAR cry from earlier this year, even before he was mine. Gump has had a rough life (he was born on the ranch, sold and then bought back about 4 years ago), and he has been, up until the past few times exceptionally hard to catch. To be able to walk out in a pasture that he could certainly get away from me in and have him come and be led back with only a string around his neck says something about my horsemanship and how far he’s come. I’m pretty sure he knows I love him!
He got hauled into the barn, and I fed him some alfalfa hay. Then I brushed him (sort of- see above photo), took his furry photo and put him in the same trap with Shuttle, Big and Nora, et al. He’ll be close now, so that if it does actually warm up enough to be tolerable outside, I can grab him and we can long trot through the country. He’s the best long-trotter!
I decided since I had the camera handy I’d snap photos of my two favorite weanlings and whatever other ponies decided to get in on the action. Around here, they’re all attention whores so there are photos of lots of other babies. But DX Gorgeous Georges (the orphan) and Ibaflitnbird, aka, Dolce are my favorites. Dolce because she is my first foal, and Georges because I fed him all summer and he’s just absolutely the most huggable, kissable, loveable foal on the entire planet. I’m not kidding, y’all!
Here’s the results of the photo shoot!
That is great that Gump decided to bond with you and is showing that by being easier to catch! I know about the hard to catch thing. But I don’t know what my horse’s excuse is, he has never had a hard life, that I know of! 🙂
The photo shoot was fun. Stay cozy and warm!
You are so blessed….
Cute ponies!!!