Tuesday November 30 2010
Today I saw something I've never seen before - my horse playing! My elder, retired, Number-One-Eater, lazy, ex-racehorse Stormy, playing! Once in a while he romps and prances, and once in a while he recalls his glory days on the racetrack and he sprints across the ground, but he never plays. Today he played!
And the Being responsible?
The Owyhee Social Director, Jose. Jose can eventually get anybody to play.
Stormy has his morning roll in the Owyhee Spa Dirt.
He has another one...
and S.D. Jose appears at his side.
As he shakes off, Stormy's sidekick Tex comes up to see what's going on.
To my utter amazement, Stormy and Jose start nose wrestling.
Tex comes in to make sure his big buddy is not being roughed up too much.
He makes his point.
Stormy and Jose go back to wrestling.
Stormy is half-rearing at Jose!
He's getting fierce while Jose eggs him on!
Batman thinks about joining in.
Stormy rears!
Look at Stormy go!
Now Batman rolls...
and he becomes Jose's next target!
A shake off...
and he goes after Jose!
Jose lets him have it!
Then he goes back for more!
They romp...
Then it's on to the next playmate for Jose...
himself!
He likes to paw and bite his ankle.
Now the other leg.
Back to messing with Batman.
Now time for a good roll
and shake off.
And another roll...
and a romp because it all just feels so good...
And on to the day's next social events!
Happy horses! It's fun to watch them play (provided they don't kick one another)!
ReplyDeleteIt musta been in the air--even Super Serious Jasper was playing yesterday! Those ponies sensed this snow coming...
ReplyDeleteElly
ownedbyazoo.blogspot.com/
Wheee! Oh what fun!
ReplyDeleteAnother great photo essay! I love watching horses play, and seeing an older one join in the fun is just great! It shows Stormy is happy, healthy, and well integrated into the herd of younger companions. People could surely learn a lesson from equine social interaction. *S*
ReplyDeleteJust love em. Not a care in the world. All happy and well looked after obviously. Wish we could say that of all horses. They're a family this herd and interact so well with each other. A joy to see.
ReplyDeleteWhere in The West is your farm located?
ReplyDeleteI have to marvel: Seeing the snow on the ground & the obvious cold temps--& thoroughbreds (OTTBs to boot) without...turnout blankets!
Am guessing you do not ride them (the unblanketed OTTBs) all that often (or in an indoor)...or do you?
Lovely to see the OTTBs playing & laughing it up!
Every winter I swear to forswear blanketing my OTTB but every year...I end up doing so (& even consider clipping him).
We are back to field-boarding (his favorite) & I go back & forth even about the inordinate alunt of time it takes to groom him/clean him up (almost every day) before tacking him up & riding (in the indoor when necessary & in the outdoor--or going for the occasional trail ride.
Most people in these parts believe that thoroughbreds are too "thin-skinned" to get through winter without blanketing--or simply do not want to spend so much time grooming/cleaning up before riding.
Fantabulous series of photos. Good for Stormy to join in the fun. Oy! That Jose is quite the character! lol!
ReplyDelete~Lisa
Great photos of the horses having fun.
ReplyDeleteOh, to be that carefree! Great shots Merri!
ReplyDeleteThat was a lot of playin, rollin and shakin..... Yea for Stormy!
ReplyDeleteThat put a smile on my face!!
ReplyDeleteFanastics picture you have on your Blogg/ Capture that moment:D
ReplyDeleteHere's a coincidence: I was just telling a friend of mine about Stormy, when he "bunked" with us for awhile, and I was wondering where he was, what he was doing, AND...you must've heard me!! I'm glad to see the "old" boy enjoying himself!!
ReplyDeleteShoshin.Seishu:
ReplyDeleteWe are in southern Idaho.
The horses live outside 24/7, and when we ride, it's all outside. They have all grown thick winter coats, (my Thoroughbred included), so it's enough to keep them plenty warm, (especially when they have enough hay to eat), even when they have a coat of snow on their backs and heads!
We do ride them in the winter/cold, but not hard enough to get them too sweaty so that they don't have time to dry off.