Great Day for a Romp on the Lawn

The weather was perfect for February and all the yearlings were let out on the lawn to run and have some fun.

Merlin (in front) is chased by Special Delivery. Both have potential as show horses. Merlin is a L O U D colored black/white pinto. Both his parents are National Champions in MultiColor. Both of these yearlings are for sale.

The KID, aka Toad Hill's Apache Kid was out running and the seen playing with Storm Chaser (filly) below. The Kid is AMHA/AMHR registered and currently is about 23 inches tall. Should mature to be an outstanding stallion.

Derby Daze (brown colt in photo below) decided to join in and try to get The Kid to play with him too. "Tag, you're it!!"

Below is Storm Chaser peering over Derby Daze's back.

Storm Chaser front view.

The three Amigos, Graham (cream colored colt, 23 inches) The Kid (pinto) and Derby Daze (colt).

Nothing like an ole fashion blizzard

Nothing like a little blizzard to make you really appreciate a warm house, electricity, and the Internet.

Horse owners understand that they must feed and check water at least twice a day to insure their animals are well cared for.

The photo above is what I saw as I arrived in the north shelter about 4 pm Tuesday night. The 30-45 mph winds were coming out of the East, too bad the shelter was designed to prevent winds from the West. 

Some of the horses went to the lee side of the shelter. They looked like woolly yaks from Tibet.

Inside (below) the horses were eagerly munching their hay, oblivious to the weather outside.

It took me two and a half hours to completely feed all the horses, a chore that typically takes about 20 minutes. Needless to say, I was glad to get back in the house.

WinterBlog 2008-Dec

It seems like every winter I forget to photo the horses. Yesterday it was minus 19 when I got up and it felt okay since there was no wind. Horses seemed fine but I have wondered, do their feet get cold like my fingers and toes? Looked it up on the web but did not find a definitive answer. Anyway, this morning it was warmer, 9 degrees above but 25 to 30 miles per hour winds and it felt much colder than the previous day. To get the foals (now yearlings) out running around I opened a second pasture for them to explore. It's funny how a new area to roam makes minis playful. I only stayed out long enough to snap a couple photos, but will go out later and add more this post. For now what you see below is Toni Terrific, Rosie (Run for the Roses), and Slate prancing around. Yes we finally decided what to name Toni.

Below you see Link (Toad Hill's Lincoln Award) with Rosie in the background. Behind on the other side of the fence is Mocha Joe and Sandy Beach

. Went to feed mares in the evening and snapped a couple more shots...there are eight mares in this field and when I feed them, there generally are four on each side...here are the four rumps on the west side of the building. From left to right they are T H Stormy Weather, T H Buttermilk, Excalibers Typhoon Queen and Mustardseeds Legionairre Apache Gal (the southern mare from SC). Below is Apache Gal...turning back as if to say: "What ya looking at?" If you notice, she has a shaved belly. Seems earlier in the fall she started acting like she was uncomfortable. If you've owned livestock (horses, cattle, sheep) for any time, you can tell when they are not feeling well. Apache Gal had that look, so I took her immediately to U of I Vet School for an exam. They ultrasounded, hence the haircut, on both sides and still did not know what was wrong. Gut sounds were normal but just in case I left her there and they put her on an IV later in the day. They kept her for 36 hours before she cut loose with diarreha. After that, another day at U of I and then home. No big deal, I probably could have taken care of her at home, but any more I don't even wait especially since Apache Gal is 20 years old.

Below are T H Paint Me Picasso and T H Rust Spot. I bought a large metal building on skids and installed it this year for the stallions. Really love it and the stallions appreciate it also.

These two seem to be outside running and playing every day, seems they love cold weather and playing in the snow.

Video Chariot Races

Ever wonder what it is like to race a chariot. I found this video on YouTube. Take a look...these are quarter horses running. Notice the harness they horses run in.




These two clips are videos on YouTube. I do not know who was driving, only that they were shot in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in February, 2008.