Winter

Mom and Dad have been getting the farm ready for Winter. I see trees being cut back, plants divided and moved, limbs and sticks removed and many other things that mean cold weather is here. The little goats have thick bedding in their little house and so do the chickens. The barn is full of sweet smelling hay! We mainly live outside, which we like best, and it keeps us healthier. We get called in to our stalls twice a day to be fed, groomed and have our feet checked. All of us horses have waterproof blankets for really bad weather and we watched as they were cleaned, fitted and our names put on them. Mom says that she especially wants to be sure I stay warm enough, as I am thinner than the others and my coat isn't as thick. Today we were told there could be sleet or ice pellets by morning, so we all have on our blankets. Cloud is mad, though, because he has to be put in a separate pasture with Frosty. As you can see, Frosty, being a tough little pony with a wonderfully thick coat, doesn't need a blanket as long as he has a run-in shelter. Cloud thinks it is funny to play with the other horses' blankets and when he does that he rips them! I mean he rips them in half!! So he is in a grumbly mood today.

With Thanks

I was talking to Frosty and Ace about how we want to eat more grass than we are allowed. The fluffy dog, Lady, came over to the fence and said "We all sometimes want more than we have. I would love to eat cookies all day, but when you think about it, we are lucky that we are living on a farm with good friends of all species, plenty of food, space to run and play and people who put our needs first." We had to agree that we are thankful for all of that, especially me, because I was once in a place that had none of that. So Happy Thanksgiving to all creatures great and small!

The Mistake

Today I made a mistake. Maybe the worst a horse can make. I am very possessive of my stall and don't like the other horses to get too close to it. I show them this by throwing my head out with my ears pinned back and snap, trying to bite them. They keep their distance, I can tell you! This morning Ace and Cloud went by my stall on their way to the pasture and I snapped and snapped at them. In a bit, as I was finishing my breakfast, I saw something come near my door. "They've come back!" I thought, so I rushed at the door, threw out my head and snapped hard. It wasn't Ace or Cloud. It was Mom! She fell on the floor, with her face bruised and cut.

What had I done! She got up and went to the house. In a while Dad came out. He led me to my pasture and put out my hay and went back to the house. Later, Mom came out with Mama J and worked with me on minding my manners while being led, while standing tied, and while walking out of my stall. If I got pushy I got a sharp tug on my halter to remind me I was to respect people. When I did well they petted me and told me I was a good girl. I didn't mean to hurt my Mom, but now I have bars on my stall door so I can't bite at the other horses either. It was a big mistake I made and I lost the priviledge of putting my head out of my door. It is a lesson I hope I will remember.

Too Much of a Good Thing.

There are 2 of us horses who have had a problem in the past with our feet - something called laminitis. Frosty and I have to be careful, or so we are told, about how much grass we can have because there are sugars in the grass that can make our feet worse again. Our big front pasture has LOTS of grass. I can't go out there with Cloud and Ace without this thing called a grazing muzzle, and then not for very long. It let's me eat some grass, but not very much at a time. The ponies never gets to go out there at all! Bullet, the white dog, said he thought lots of grass was good for horses, and really, so did I. But it seems too much of a good thing can cause trouble. (Mom says that is true for everyone, not just horses.) So I am usually in the middle pasture with hay, so I don't get too much sugar. My family is careful about what we eat and each of us 5 horses has our own measured amount of grain, supplements and hay. We all wish we could eat as much as we want of everything! But Mom says that is dangerous for us. She said whoever started the phrase "healthy as a horse" never had one. Oh well, I guess it is good to have someone look after what is best for you when you don't know about things yourself.

Someone new came to Walkabout Farm this morning. The chickens were the first to tell us and were clucking between themselves about the stranger. He calls himself a "pigeon" and says his name is Freedom. He is very polite, and made himself at home through the day. He stayed around the barn where Mom had thrown out some extra corn for him. He gave me quite a surprise when he flew to the top of the barn and I heard his feet scratching on the metal, a weird and scary sound, but then I realized he meant no harm. The chickens talked to him this afternoon and he said he had been living in "the city", but had heard there were places where birds nested in trees and there were other animals to talk to and no loud cars roaring and honking. So he decided to see for himself and set out on his journey. Later this afternoon he flew onto Cloud's window sill and told us he was so glad the stories were true about their being another land called "the country." It made us all very grateful that we live where we do, so loved and cared for in this beautiful green world. We know some horses who don't get the freedom we do here and that they are made to trot in circles all the time they are out of their stalls. They have told us that some horses are asked to run very fast for a couple of minutes each day, then stand in their stalls again. I came from a very similar past, trotting in a ring then being made to jump very high until I was exhausted. I was then abandoned to stand by myself in a vacant lot with no one to care for and feed me. All I could do was dream of a different life until I was rescued and finally found my forever home. We think Pigeon is brave for following his dream. He doesn't know if he will stay, or keep exploring, but we are glad to have him while he is here.

A good trail horse

Saturday Mom and Dad took Ace and Cloud off in the trailer. (I was worried, as sometimes that means a horse will never come back!) But they returned a few hours later and I found out there may be more to being a trail horse than just being a horse on a trail. Cloud said they were enjoying going along a nice, cool, wooded trail when he suddenly felt pain in many places at once, like hot needles on his legs and chest. There was a buzzing sound like flies, but hurt worse than fly bites. He said he stomped all his feet at once and tossed his head and stomped again, then he
heard Mom say "Yellow jackets, lets move it!" Dad and Ace started down the trail fast, and Mom told Cloud to GO! After a bit they stopped and Cloud got checked all over. He said his nose even hurt!
I asked Cloud didn't he want to buck and run away as soon as he felt the stings, but he said
if he had done that, he and Mom might have been hurt worse and that a good trail horse has to trust his rider to help him think about the best thing to do. So he waited for her to say it was ok to run. Later, I thought about that. A trail horse needs to be responsible for being a partner with his or her rider. They have to look after each other. That is an important thing to remember.

Cats

I am asked about my relationship with cats. I have known many over my 22 years and have found them all to be wonderful companions. You may know of Traveller (the favorite horse of Robert E Lee). Traveller's best friend later in life was a cat named Tom. I am told that Walkabout Farm was home to an amazing cat named Goldie, who was the Queen of all good cats. She was 20 years old when she went over the Rainbow Bridge, quite an unusual age for a cat. Ace told me that she trained many dogs in her time and legend says she was well respected among all species, including humans, horses, ponies, dogs, other cats, chickens, ducks and goats. When one has a good soul it doesn't matter what species you are. She was much feared by mice, moles and rabbits as well as bumbling puppies. All at Walkabout Farm loved and miss her. Bullet, the white dog, was her special friend. I am sorry not to have known her, but she lives on in the tales handed down from those who did.

Llamas!

I just don't like the neighbors llamas
in their funny, wooly pajamas,
thinking they're everyone's Mamas!

A good day:

Today Dad said he thought I needed to learn to trust my people more, and even more important, to trust myself. He said he thought I wasn't very confident in new situations and that they would help me learn that. So Dad decided to lead me out the gate to the woods Pony Path. I didn't mind that at all and enjoyed the pretty little trail that the ponies use to give children rides. Then he led me out our woods trail gate from our back pasture. Now, I hadn't been out that gate, going that direction, and I was kind of concerned that I wouldn't get to come back home. But Dad just kept asking me to go forward, so I did. I was a little nervous and I get pushy when I am nervous and sometimes don't watch where I am walking - like on top of my people. They don't want me to do that. People are kind of fragile and I am a pretty big girl. So Mom brought the little stick, called a crop, and Dad just put it between him and me to help me learn to keep to his side and not on his heels or in front of him. That was a big help and so I walked down the biginning of our woods trail and back with Dad 3 or 4 times.
I learned that even when I go away from the places I love, it is o.k., because my people will be sure I get to come home. That makes me happy. So, when Dad said it was time to be led down the driveway, I wasn't worried, and walked right beside him the whole way! I was very proud.
Dad was so pleased he said, "I think Scarlet is ready to go with me on her back." My saddle was put on and away we went. All by myself, just Dad and me, down the drive and then all the way through the woods trail and home. I got a wonderful bath, lots of hugs and then spent the rest of the day grazing in the pasture right along with Ace and Cloud. We even got to go into the big front pasture together - that's a special treat. Well, ok, I really didn't want to go into that big pasture at first, but like always, Mom and Dad told me it was important to try, so I did. Tonight when my people called us in for supper I felt like I was really a part of Walkabout Farm.

I don't want to!

I really do not like change once I am used to something. Dad, Mom and Mama J. wanted to take Ace, Cloud and me down the driveway to our circle road, then into our woods trails. You have to understand that I love my barn and my pastures and I saw no reason to go off down the drive, even following my friends. Nope, didn't want to. I turned in circles, backed up ( a lot!) and said I wanted to stay home. Well here at Walkabout Farm it is expected that if a horse is asked to do a thing that our people think is reasonable, then we don't get to be the boss and have our way. So after a while, Mama decided to lead me down the driveway. Nope. didn't want to. - backing up and pushing Mama didn't change her mind, though. Finally Dad brought a long, thin stick (called a dressage whip). When Mom asked me to lead again and I refused, she tapped me on the flank with it very lightly. Well, since I couldn't get my way I decided to go on and walk down the drive and up to the road like a lady. I guess change isn't always bad, even if a horse thinks it is scary at first. We had a pleasant ride and everyone said they were very proud of me. Mama J. and Dad got a bruise on their knees when a tree stepped in the path Ace and I took in the woods. I'm sure it was the tree that was the problem and not Ace or me.

A day off

I am feeling happy in my new home at Walkabout Farm. Mama Jess comes every day to help take care of me, work on my ground manners and sometimes take a walk on our woods trail. Yesterday I was feeling grumpy. Mom noticed that I laid my ears back at Ace and kicked at Cloud when he walked by. She said, "Scarlet isn't feeling like her usual self today. Horses need a day off just like people. We'll check her over and let her have the day to just hang out." Mom said mares sometimes feel that way and that any mares reading this would understand.
By this morning I was feeling fine, and apologised to Cloud. He is a gentleman and said to think nothing of it. Thats what friends are for.

Even though I am 22 years old, I still have to be reminded that we horses are a lot bigger and stronger than the people who we love. Our feet need to be cleaned out every day and I was not used to picking my feet up and putting them down carefully. It seemed to me that it was their job to get out of my way. I really don't like my back feet picked up very well and so I might just snatch my foot away and stomp it down hard! Then I found a good reason to pick my feet up carefully! When Dad asks me to pick up a foot then put it down gently and I do it just right, I get a special cookie. (These cookies are good for me but they taste good anyway.) I found out it is really easy to do and it makes my people really happy. I get lots of petting, a little treat and everyone says I am really smart! Frosty says all horses need to learn to do this right, even the little ones like he is, so I think this is a good thing after all.

Well this morning Mama decided to take me alone and walk around our circle. Now that seemed unreasonable to me. I let her know I didn't want to go anywhere away from my new home without my horse friends and just stopped and backed up. A lot. She asked me to turn and go back out the driveway and I had to show her again that I didn't like to do that. So I backed up again. A lot. I also tossed my head really high to emphasize that I was serious about that and wouldn't turn either way. (Backing up gets you out of a lot of things you don't want to do.) At least I thought it did. Dad and Mom decided I should be lead first away from home without a rider. Well, I backed up. A lot. Dad then said if I wanted to back up he would have me back up all the way down the drive. After a while I was kind of glad to go forward. It took a while, but I started to learn that I am expected to walk anywhere my people say I should, whether other horses are with me or not. How odd. So I had my first lesson in "going away." I am lucky that Dad and Mom are firm but kind. I have heard stories of horses who have had bad experiences with learning new things. I was afraid that if I left, I might not ever get to come home and see my friends again!. Later I asked Ace and Cloud about it. They said humans have a lot of weird ideas that don't make sense, but that you really do get to come home and see your friends afterward. So I will try to remember that next time.

Yesterday Mama Jess came. She is my Mama's real daughter and will be my regular rider.
Daddy and Ace, Mama and Cloud and Mama J and I walked around our circle road. It is very interesting and I was on my best behavior. We came home through the woods trail and that was fun. Our neighbors are very interested in me and said how pretty I am. I hope I will be a good ambasador for helping horses that need rescue. Mama J said I do need to be more careful about listening when I get too close to tree trunks. I don't see the problem as long as I make it past ok, but humans sometimes see things differently. It was a pleasant ride and followed by a wonderful bath.

My new vet came today to give me a check up and take blood for my thyroid level, which I don't understand, but Mama and Dad do. He was very nice, but Cloud, Mama's Tennessee Walker, thinks he is the devil. Cloud tries to hide in the corner of his stall and never takes his eyes off of him. Ace, Dad's Walker, laughed, but I felt sorry for Cloud and tried to cheer him up.

Then Mama rode me around the neighborhood. My boots felt really good. Everything was interesting and I saw a lot of neighbor horses. There were also 5 very strange kind of deformed horse-like things. They said they were better than anyone else and looked very unpleasant, little pinched up mouths and long necks. Ace said he tried to be friendly with them but one spit at him! There was a sign on their fence that said "Llama crossing". Later, Cloud told me they can appear out of nowhere and yell "Booga-Booga!" at you and scare you to death. I'll have to keep an eye on them.

August 11. I have a pretty new green and black saddle, blanket and bridle. I also have a little special pad that fits in the low part of my back. Dad put my boots on and got on my back. I was so proud to carry him and arched my neck and lifted my tail to show how happy I was. We walked and trotted around the pasture for about five minutes, then he said, “ good girl, that’s all for today.” Today Chocolate, a bigger pony than Frosty, was allowed in with me in the pasture. He trotted over and I thought he might be very friendly, like Frosty, but then he said something a bit rude and started kicking. I don’t like to fight, but I won’t be pushed around either, so I kicked back. He left and went into the run-in shelter. Later he came out and grazed quietly close by. But in a couple of hours a walked near him and he started kicking again. I got a cut on my leg. Mom put medicine on my leg and put him in our meadow across the fence. I wasn’t really hurt, but Dad said Frosty and I will probably stay together.

August 10. Today when the fan came on I wasn’t afraid at all. Dad told me I was turning into a real lady! I am learning to walk beside Mom and Dad, stop when they say “whoa” and am learning not to walk on again until the tell me to.

August 9. Today I had a fright! While standing in my stall the fan came on. I thought it must be some kind of Robo-horse fly and decided I better leave, now! Well, Dad was between me and my stall door, which was closed, but after all, it was a Robo-horse fly, so I just shoved Dad into the door, which came off it’s hinges and even Mom, who was on the other side, had to duck for cover. They weren’t mad and no one got hurt. They know I have a lot to learn about the farm. Later that day, Frosty told me the fan was actually very friendly and kept us cool when we were in our stalls. We also get cooling showers and Mom puts conditioner in my mane and tail to keep them soft.

August 8 The little pony, Frosty got to come into my paddock with me today. We had talked over the fence since I arrived and he is a good natured little fellow. I think we will be good friends.

August 6, 2009. My name wasn't always Scarlet. I came to my new home at Walkabout Farm August 6, 2009. I have my own stall in a pretty red barn, surrounded by green pastures. There are other horses here, 2 Tennessee Walkers, and 2 ponies, as well as odd things called chickens and 2 very bouncy creatures who talk a lot. My new Mama says they are baby goats. Since I am the only Southern Belle on the farm, I chose my new name, Scarlet.

My life has not always been easy. I am a Rescue Horse. A wonderful organization called the Horse Protection Society of North Carolina saved me from neglect and turned me back into the beautiful lady I was meant to be. I lived there for 3 years, until I came to be with my new family.

For now I have my own paddock until my new friends get used to my being here. My feet are still tender, but Dad says my special diet, supplements and special boots will soon make them better.

It seems that I have forgotten that people have the right of way. Mom and Dad say that I should walk beside them, not over them or through them. So I will try to be more polite.