Unexpected side trip

[altivo]

Our farrier friend's wife called and said he was under the weather and they were out of bedding straw for their horses. She couldn't find a source within reachable distance, did we know of one? Well, not offhand, but Gary offered to hit the cheapest local source of shaved wood bedding and bring them a dozen bales. So we dropped everything, ran to Union Feed, loaded up Gary's station wagon with wood shavings (not loose, they come in plastic bags) and stopped by the local grocery to get some lunch fixings, then made the 21 mile drive to John and Linda's.

Unpacked the shavings, after which I got to pet and smooch several horses including my old favorite, Accelerator, who I know recognizes me and always comes for a hug. In fact, he kept making a fuss when I tried to walk away from him, banging on the gate with a hoof to get my attention until I finally told him to stop it. John has a new quarter horse paint stud who is really handsome though a bit over-spirited for my taste. After I'd petted and snugged him a bit and he'd nibbled on my coat pocket flaps and ears as many horses seem to like doing, Linda called to me to be careful as he is "nippy" and might take a chunk out of me. Well, no. We got along fine and he is very sexy and handsome even if not quite as personally affectionate as Accelerator is. Talked to and petted John's gray dapple mare also, who is really pretty and sweet but seems not to have many brains. She tangles herself in everything hurtful she can find, most recently a wire fence that cut her face badly though it has mostly healed without serious scarring. They have one yearling Haflinger colt and he's a sweetie too. I can't have any more horses than I have now, but I'd have loved to bring him home with me. Didn't visit their sheep or nutty llama as the snow is too deep.

We had a reasonably healthy lunch of sliced turkey sandwiches, low fat chicken noodle soup, and some blueberry pie (well, it has anti-oxidants, right?) and a nice chat before hurrying back home to take care of our own critters.

Contrary to the weather forecast, the sun never came out today and it snowed very lightly most of the time. I don't think the groundhog saw any shadow though.

Comments

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Whinnyhi, Rider.

Horseys are soo cool. Goofy, smart, affectionate. I love the gentle nickers I get when I visit and, of course, I have the ultimate nut case in Selene. She is the first to want food and the last to leave it. She is the most vocal and social and yet I often think when the brains were handed out she got last dibs.

Maybe why I love you so much, Rider.

Imperator

[altivo.livejournal.com]

What, because I'm missing my brain? Sometimes I do feel that way.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Awww.. those horses sound cute. ^.^

[altivo.livejournal.com]

We're all cute of course. We're made that way. ;p

[schnee.livejournal.com]

*s* True...

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Aww...I like Accelerator already, though with a name
like that I'd be afraid to ride him. Then again, if
there is a level of riding experience less than Zero
its prolly gonna be one of my LJ icons.

What did you have for lunch?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I had what everyone else had. It's described in the next to the last paragraph. (As I've said before, while I prefer vegetarian, I never make a fuss about it and especially not at someone else's home.)

They actually call Accelerator "Mash", I'm not sure why. The names given to Haffies seldom make sense because the registry requires them to begin with the same initial letter as the father for males or the mother for females. The "A" line accounts for 60 or 70% of all the Haflinger stallions in the US, and consequently there's a dearth of names beginning with "A" that haven't already been used. My boys are both A's too: Asher WKF and Augenstein WKF, though for some reason Augenstein is called Archie, which is their father's name. Tess is more complicated. She belongs to the "C" line of mares, and her real name is Contessa of Milk 'n' Honey. I think Contessa is much too snooty so I call her Tess.

Before you ask why Dawn's name didn't begin with a "C", it does. It's really Cherokee Dawn FB.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

So you couldn't name your horses anything outside
the official registries? What if the stallion was
Abe and you, on a whim after a night of Jim Beam
named your new horse Jim?

It seems a bit doctranaire to have horses named
by diktat, though I understand that if you want
to play in a certain game there are rules.

I also have a hard time with the old saw about
not renaming boats. My BIL looked horrified when
I said "Jenny III" should be painted over.

XD

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Like dogs, horses have call names and pedigree names, and sometimes secret names and "oh shit" names. For a while I called Archie "Alpo" after he and Asher wrecked the wagon and nearly broke Gary's neck.

No one says you can't use whatever name you like to refer to the horse or between yourself and the horse. The registries have traditions though that they enforce. You can't get a registered pedigree for a Haflinger in the US unless the name starts with the proper letter and both parents were registered. If you aren't bothering to register your foals, then of course you can name them whatever you like.

It's like dog names, where usually they expect a kennel name at the beginning. They are just conventions for the sake of paperwork. My Simon's official name is really Wyndmist Simon Says Bounce.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

I'd be the sort to get a mongrel and
he'd nip me and I'd call him Nipper or
something.

But I understand.

[aerofox.livejournal.com]

So, it was worth the trip to get to spend some time with horsies? ^_^

I would do the same if it meant some time with foxies, fur sure *grinz*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, of course I have my own horses here to be around. But John and Linda have had several over the years that I really like personally, and Accelerator is one of those. Every now and then they talk about selling him and I wince. I don't need another horse and can't afford one, either to buy or to care for, but I'd hate to see him go. They had an old brood mare named Minnie Pearl that we were all extremely fond of, and at one time they said they had put in their wills that she was to come to me because they knew I'd take the best care of her. Unfortunately she finally succumbed to old age and colic and had to be put down a couple of years ago. They've never taken her name off the stall and I get a pain every time I see it.

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

My boss hoss hasn't taken Dusty's name off stuff, either ... its still on his stall, though he passed away a year ago (before I started). The pasture where he was laid to rest is now called "Dusty's Field."

[altivo.livejournal.com]

That's the sort of thing we end up doing too.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

I just read "Magic's Pawn" by Mercedies Lackey. The horses in this book develop such a close relationship with their "chosen" that they get depressed when separated. Horses, like all herd animals feel safer in groups. I've never been lucky enough to have a horse get upset if I leave, but then I am a City-dweller whose nerves around such impressive and powerful creatures tends to set them on edge. I HAVE been on the receiving end of nuzzles and nips before though, and it's a lovely experience.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Is that the first of the Valdemar books you've read? They are pretty darned good, and get better as you go on. The first few were kind simple-minded, but when she got up to Take a Thief and Exile's Honor she was really cooking.

Lackey is at pains to explain again and again that companions are not really horses. They just look like horses. Even so, it would sure be wonderful if we could get that close to a horse and if horses were as intelligent as all that.

I'll settle for nuzzles and nibbles though, if that's all I can have. ;p

[heavens-steed.livejournal.com]

I'm envious. I haven't been close to a horse for a long time.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Come visit then. Mine will let you cuddle them, at least if you have treats or they think you might. ;p

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

YOu can pat me on the head if you have good eats :)

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

For some reason I thought you were vegetarian,
Awww its nice that the horses like you so :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I am vegetarian by preference, at least in the sense of avoiding warm blooded animals. I still like fish.

I just don't make a fuss about it. When in Rome...