End of EHV-1 & My New Pool

For those of you who didn't know there was a horse show in Utah where a horse that tested positive for the neurological form of EHV-1 attended. Other horses that attended the show got sick and in return set off a chain reaction of the spread of EHV-1. Well even though this should was with full size western horses it trickled down all the way to me. Don't worry, I'm safe! I don't have EHV-1, but our property did go under a quarantine to help stop the spread and for safety. Well yesterday our quarantine ended. This meant I got to see Missy again and I wasn't couped up any more. To celebrate Mom went out and bought a bunch of party hats, or, what ever silly hats she could find. Some how I ended up being a pretty pretty princess. Missy came over and celebrated too and another I couldn't run free with her Avalon and Cody did. We were all happy to finally be able to see and visit with each other at last! The EHV-1 scare isn't totally over and it's helped Mom realize how dangerous the horse world can be, especially showing. She's going to take extra precautions for me at shows now so we play on the safe side should this ever happen again!

Then today Mom went out and bought me a present. It was an over sized water bucket! Mom called it a pool, whatever that means. I wasn't so sure at first, in fact its obnoxious color and childish print scared me a little. But she said it was ok so I headed in for a closer look. I've never seen so much water before! I just had to check it out. As it turns out playing in water with your feet is a ton of fun! I soaked my self and flooded the ground and even climbed into the pool and tried to roll. That didn't work out so well. Mom says I'm going to love it even more when its the middle of the day and its sweltering out.

Tomorrow is Mom's birthday, I talked to Kia and Avalon about it and we all decided on a present. I can't say what because she proof reads my blog (blame all my typos on her eyes! Understand its hard to type with hooves) but I'll post about it after tomorrow. I hope this birthday thing works both ways and she got me something too, though I'm sure she'll say my new pool is my gift. If that's the case I'd much rather treats!

Well, that's it for now. I'm out!

 

First Clip of the year and Ace Hardware

You know show season is in full swing when Mom busts out the clippers and decides to strip me of the clothes I've worked so hard to grow for the cold winter days! This year Mom wanted to do it in "steps" which basically was an excuse to give me different funny hair cuts for a day then fix it. This one was her favorite. She calls it my "70's boots" look. Ugh. Thankfully she fixed it a few hours later! Now I'm clipped up and handsome for all the ladies I'm going to see at all the shows this season.

Since I was all clipped up and looking so good Mom loaded me into the truck (otherwise known as my personal trailer) and took me to Ace Hardware to pick up some feed for all of us horses, though I think since I went to go pick it up it should be solely mine! I went to Ace before, when I wasn't even a yearling. Every one enjoyed seeing me back and seeing how, well, little I've grown. I went in my fancy new shoes. Mom loves them because they look like miniature converse and they light up when I walk. I like them because I don't slip on the floor!

While there I ran into Scratch, the store cat. The horses on the other side of my fence have a cat but its not nearly as fat as this one! This guy is HUGE, and he doesn't like it when you remind him of that! When I told him then went to get a closer look all he did is hiss at me. Kind of like the last time.. Mom said I should have learned my lesson the first time. I forgot since it had been so long. Since Scratch didn't want much to do with me it was onto the next thing in the store.

I found the dog section in the store and decided to be nice to Kia and shop for a bone for her. Mom told me no, she has enough and can't have that kind anyway, so I had to leave empty handed. Sorry Kia! Since there wasn't anything I needed we headed to the check out to go buy the feed. Back into the truck I went as we went around the back of the store to get it. I all but drooled in Mom's lap as I watched them load bale after bale of delicious grass into the truck bed. I didn't understand why I couldn't just eat it all right then! I did get to enjoy a nice handful though. After everything was all loaded we headed on home so I could have some free time in the big pen with Avalon and Cody. Since my new ramp for the truck and new shoes for on tile work so well Mom will be bringing me to even more places this year. She says Amanda and Missy will probably come too!

Until my next adventure, I'm out!

Holiday Pet Festival

 

I got to see Santa in person when I went to the Holiday Pet Festival!! I can't believe he took time out of his crazy busy schedule this time of year to make a special trip to Arizona, just to listen to pet's Christmas wishes! Kia and I both got to tell him our Christmas lists in person. I wish he would have brought some of his reindeer for me to meet though. Oh well, maybe next year.

The pet festival was a lot of fun. Mom and Amanda didn't think that it would be very busy, or that there would be a lot of dogs there. They were both wrong! The festival was hosted by Tranquility Trail Animal Rescue and the turn out was amazing. Just about every human attending had a dog with them. I didn't see any other animals but dogs brought. Though, some of the vendors were actually rescues and had some animals-like cats and guinea pigs-available for adoption. I'm used to Kia, who is much smaller than me, and Nikki, who is the same size as me but there were dogs there that were BIGGER than me! There was a lot of... I think Mom called them cape grains? Or was it great danes? I don't remember, but there was a lot of them there! One was only 19 months old and already 37 inches tall-that's bigger than Avalon and Cody! There was another who wasn't quite as told, but was older, and his legs were as thick if not thicker than Avalon's. I couldn't believe how big they were. I really wanted to play, and so did they, but our Moms said no.

Aside from all the dogs, and the attention I got for being the only horse there, I got to do some shopping with Mom. There were many different vendors there, a lot of breed rescues (including a Great Pyrenees rescue! I remember those dogs from when I lived in Wisconsin), some non-breed general rescues, dog boutiques, artists, crafts, and cat trees. I had a lot of fun and was glad to have my friend and sister, Kia, there. When it comes back around next year you can bet I'll be there and you should be there too!

Happy Hanukkah! Until next time, I'm out!

Halloween Contest & Trick-or-Treating

I can't believe its been a month since I've been able to update my blog! Sorry to all my loyal minions watchers! With the temperatures finally being cooler, shows going on, and Missy around I've been one busy little boy.

Last month, if you remember, I was in the Cave Creek Wicked horse costume contest at Back Mountain Feed. The turn out wasn't as great as it was last year but there were still quite a few horses and a lot of great costumes. There was a thoroughbred dressed as Secretariat, a horse dressed as Uncle Jessie from Dukes of Hazard, Dino and Pebbles, the Titanic, a mini dressed a a pumpkin, another mini dressed as a zebra, yet ANOTHER mini as "bridezilla", and a little girl and her pony just dressed up for fall/Halloween. Every one got goodie bags just for entering-inside were treats! Unfortunately they're much too large for me so I had to share them with the big horses at home and go different treats instead. They had up to fifth place but only first through third got a prize. Secretariat took third, second went to Uncle Jessie, and first went to... ME! I won a gift certificate to Black Mountain Feed/C & H Hay barn. Mom says I can't spend it all on treats, that I have to buy a new blanket for winter and rain.. Yuck!

In the photograph to the right you can see me and Mom next to Bridezilla. On the other side are the two other minis that entered the contest. The pumpkin is kind of hidden behind the zebra but if you look closely you can see orange.

After winning pictures, attention from the crowd, and some pictures of our own, we headed home. Boy I was sure glad to get that costume off!! I don't mind wearing it but... It does have an awful lot of pink for a stallion...

The next day, on Halloween, we went down to the Granny's house to do some trick or treating. My very first Halloween (when I was a sheep and Mom was Bo Peep) we went down and did trick or treating at the Granny's. Now its become a tradition and there are even people who expect and can't wait to see me! I love getting out and seeing all the neat decorations (and getting treats from the houses that are expecting me!). This year I wasn't the only one of Mom's kids who went. Kia came along, dressed as a witch. That dog needs to get out more; she tired half way through our trick or treating. She's a trooper though and trudged on.

Most people thought I was a dog (because my costume covered me up so much and Kia was walking with us) so I didn't draw a huge crowd. Its not that I don't like visiting with my fans or getting attention, just every so often we celebrities like to be able to just blend into the crowds and be a normal person horse for once.

To the left you can see Kia in her costume. She wasn't too happy about wearing it. From what Mom says she has to wear a lot of costumes/clothes so I don't know why she hates them so much! I actually kind of enjoy wearing any crazy outfits Mom puts me in. I like the attention that goes with it.

I don't like attention from the vets, otherwise known as the flightless albino vultures. The came the first week of November to give fall shots. They're tricky vultures. They try to make you think they're your friend. They butter you up by giving you lots of oh-so-good scritches and scratches then... When you're list expecting it.. JAB!!! They stick you with a sharp metal poker and fill you with who knows what! They claim that its only to keep you happy and healthy but who really knows what they're putting in you! I didn't get just one shot, oh no, I got five. At least I don't have to go through that for another six months. Avalon hates shots more than I do. While I'm just scared of the vultures Avalon loathes them and fights back. Because of it he's sore for almost a week after and I'm not allowed to play with him. Don't worry though, he's back to normal now!

The holiday season is now upon us. Mom has been busy holiday shopping and I've been writing my list to Santa. It's not done yet but when it is I'll post it here! I hear Santa just got the Internet way up there in the North Pole so putting it on my blog is the fastest way to get him my list. Missy and I will also be sending out Christmas Cards. If you want one be sure to email me with your address so Mom can mail it to you.

Thanksgiving is this week. Make sure you give your furry kids, especially your horses, their own little Thanksgiving feast, or at the very least treat! I hear I might get my own place at the table...

Until next time, I'm out!

New feet, New costumes, and New halters!

 

Good News! The halter Mom had made for me came in. It fits like a charm and is a nice accent to my dark color. Its hand crafted and very durable, or so she says. I like it because its different than all the other show halters you see my rivals sporting. It arrived just in time for all my fall festivities. Of course Mom likes this one so much that she wants to order me another from the same creator. One that's all bead work to show off my gorgeous head! She just has to decide on a color... Personally I like green and blue.

Its finally Friday and I'm glad. This week has been a busy one! Mom had a lot going on between school, work, and play. She went to see Paramore (along with Tegan and Sara) in concert. This meant I got a day off! Though, I have to make it up on Saturday... The farrier was supposed to come out that day too but his truck broke down and he couldn't make it out until today. I've had my feet trimmed plenty of times by Mom and her mom but never a farrier. I was kind of glad I got to wait until Friday! It isn't that I was scared to get my hooves trimmed but I've heard many farrier horror stories! Mom reassured me that my farrier knew what he was doing...

Turns out Mom was right! The farrier came and gave all my hooves a good trimming. The whole thing took about five minutes (I bet that was the fastest he's ever earned his paycheck!). It didn't hurt but I don't like having to hold my feet up for some one for so long, plus I don't like the sound of the nippers clipping off my hoof. Mom held my head and played with my lip the whole time to keep my mind off things. I have to say my legs feel much better now that my hooves are correct again! I mean, they weren't bad before, Mom does a good job maintaining them but every so often its nice to have a professional pedicure!

 

Now here comes the embarrassing part of the week... Mom had been talking about how funny it would be if for Halloween I could dress up as a yellow submarine and she could be some sort of character from the Beetles movie or a Beetle herself. Well she made a trip to Target and found me this. Its a yellow submarine outfit. Its extra large dog size and fits me how they say its supposed to (Mom wants to lengthen the belly band so that its not so stretched and looks more like a submarine and less like a saddle). This isn't going to be my actual Halloween costume (Kia is going to wear this instead) but I now have it in my wardrobe! I can wear it where ever; costume parties, horse shows, just for fun. I don't exactly like wearing it but Mom likes it when I do so I'm forced... I still think Kia looks better in it than I do, don't you?? She seems to hate wearing it just as much as me though!

Mom's still working on my actual Halloween costume so I'll keep you posted on that.

Until then, I'm out!,