Moving

I have had a busy few months. 

This month I was able to be the trusty steed that carried a special young lady for a ride.  She has Batten Disease and I was able to help grant a wish for her.  It takes a very special horse to grant wishes, that is why I was picked.

My special princess came out and took me to a clinic at the ranch.  While I love my new people, I have a special spot in my heart for the princess.  The SSP says everyone can see how much I love the princess.

I have to combine my blog with He of the Spotty Butt.  The SSP explained that she can't keep up with all of the fun horse activities and the blogs, so we are combining.

In My Kingdom We Remember and Pray For Peace

Bot Fly Boogie

I dislike bot flies, actually I loathe them.  Small invading terrorists whose only pleasure in life is to disturb my peace!

In the past I have dealt with them doing what the SPS calls the "Bot Fly Boogie", no it has nothing to do with he of the spotty butt (however they could all bug him and I wuldn't care).  I trot around and around in circles until the fly is to dizzy to keep up with me anymore.  This has been a good tactic but with my lady love Little Sister needing me close it is one I am trying to avoid.  So this year I have tried playing dead.  Turns out the little pests don't care if you are a dead horse or not. I have tried rolling.  The persistent creatures just wait for me to stop. So I am back to the bot fly boogie.  I just try not to stray too far from my lady so she doesn't worry.  The things a royal horse does for love.

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)

New love

I have a new lady love!  She is of royal decent with a very regal name.  All of us here call her Little Sister, she is a bit younger than me.  The SPS brought her home to retire, you see Little Sister is the daughter and mother of champions and now just needs to have peace and quiet.  She is almost completely blind in her left eye, so I walk along the fence with her to make sure she doesn't bump it.  I nicker to her sweetly to tell her how lovely she is.  Little Sister nickers sweetly back to tell me I am handsome.  We have a quiet, gentle love.  It is not like the "run the fences like a maniac" affairs I have had in the past.  She is a lady worthy of my regal attentions.
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)

Hope to see you there

Happy 4th!

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)

Swollen ankles

This is a photo of my hind legs. As you can see my ankles and fetlocks are usually nicely shaped. The SPS moved me to a large pasture hoping that I would make friends with Tahkoe...I didn't. But I did fall in love with He of the Spotty Butt's sister Dandi. She is sweeeeet. Zen the snooty Lipizzaner thinks he owns her and all the other mares in his pasture. He is mistaken, all the mares are smitten by my royal self. I have been spending most of my days for the past week courting all the mares, especially Dandi. Did I mention she is spicy? Well it seems I have been running the fence line too much and aggravated my hinds. They are swollen and sore, sore enough that I am not doing so much showing off. The SPS is going to start tucking me into a paddock at night and giving me extra joint supplements. She also told me that I need to learn to strut my stuff and not run around like a mad man. I heard mention of a cold hosing to help with the swelling, I hate getting hosed...I guess I will behave.
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)

To my friends at school

To my very special friends at school,

I hope you have a wonderful summer. Make sure and eat plenty of carrots. Also practice your reading, you can do that by visiting me here to see what I am up to.

I hope that you invite me back to visit your class again. I had a wonderful time and am so proud to have met each and every one of you. You are my heroes!

Love

Sir Darby

In love

Miss Breeze is a Tennessee Walker and I love her. She is a bit older than me, she is 24, but she is young at heart. She is the second horse at the ranch I have fallen in love with. I get upset when she goes in her shelter and I can not see her. I think she knows that and does it just to tease me.
The SPS says that this is my spring tune-up routine. I fall in love, run around like a crazy horse, and loose my winter weight gain.
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)

Always Remember

May we be ever thankful to those who gave their all.

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)

Queen for a day

So the new Cali guy thinks he can stare me down...sooooo not working. Quincy thinks he wants to be royalty like me, hardly. But to keep from being a bad noble horse I am going to grant him his with. I crown you Queen Quincy. Take that surfer boy.

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)

Puttig the new guy in his place

The SPS has a foster horse from California. He is a beefy guy, but not as big as me. He is in the quarantine pasture right now, but I can see him. I am busy giving him the eye, making stud piles, and putting him in his place. After all there is no way a California boy can be any kind of royalty.

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)

This is what you get

So the SPS decided that I needed to have all of the paint and glitter washed off of my royal self. I was not amused for a couple of reasons. First I really do not like baths. I spend a lot of time and effort getting my hair just the way I like it. Secondly I was enjoying the looks of the passing motorists as they drove past my pasture and spied a pink horse. People would bring their little children by to see. The SPS says I just want the attention-really that is not it I simply wanted to continue to spread the joy.

The SPS is threatening to give me another bath to clean off the dirt. That is fine with me because I will just roll again. I can keep this up everyday and eventually she will be trained to not bathe me, after all it takes the time it takes to teach your human their lessons. Good thing I am patient and understanding.

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)

A very special visit

On Friday the 13th I was privileged to make the request on one little girl come true.

I went to school painted pink, a bow in my tail, flowers in my mane, silver hooves, and wearing butterfly wings. I thought this would be just another chance for me to be with kids, I love kids. I was so very mistaken! It was a magical moment, not just for the kids but for me also. I have never granted such a wish before. I had no idea how good I would feel doing so.

The smiles on their faces were priceless. One little boy cried, when asked why he said it was because he loved horses so much. Another little boy told the SPS that I was perfect. I think the kids were perfect. I was given so many carrots I couldn't eat any more.

I could have spent the entire day with them and been as happy as could be. It was a perfect day!

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them

Happy Easter

I think this you man says it so very well:

8 stages of aging on horseback

Stage 1: Fall off pony. Bounce. Laugh. Climb back on. Repeat.

Stage 2: Fall off horse. Run after horse, cussing. Climb back on by shimmying up horse’s neck. Ride until sundown.

Stage 3: Fall off horse. Use sleeve of shirt to stanch bleeding. Have friend help you get back on horse. Take two Advil and apply ice packs when you get home. Ride next day.

State 4: Fall off horse. Refuse advice to call ambulance; drive self to urgent care clinic. Entertain nursing staff with tales of previous daredevil stunts on horseback. Back to riding before cast comes off.

Stage 5: Fall off horse. Temporarily forget name of horse and name of husband. Flirt shamelessly with paramedics when they arrive. Spend week in hospital while titanium pins are screwed in place. Start riding again before doctor gives official okay. Stage

6: Fall off horse. Fail to see any humor when hunky paramedic says, “You again?” Gain firsthand knowledge of advances in medical technology thanks to stint in ICU. Convince self that permanent limp isn’t that noticeable. Promise husband you’ll give up riding. One week later purchase older, slower, shorter horse.

Stage 7: Slip off horse. Relieved when artificial joints and implanted medical devices seem unaffected. Tell husband that scrapes and bruises are due to gardening accident. Pretend you don’t see husband roll his eyes and mutter as he walks away. Give apple to horse. Stage

8: Go to see horse. Momentarily consider riding but remember arthritis won’t let you lift leg high enough to reach stirrup — even when on mounting block. Share beer with grateful horse & recall “good old days”.

Of course when the SPS reaches stage 8 I am expecting her to bring me fine wine and apple slices....

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them

I am going to school!!!!

I am thrilled, more than thrilled as a matter of fact. The special little girl has finally asked for me to come to school. Yes you heard it...she used her voice finally. She even asked that I come pink with silver hooves. The SPS and I are going to figure out how to turn me pink, we have the silver horse thing in the bag.

Lots of kiddos are really excited and so am I.

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them

Mini Horse Gets Lifesaving Prosthetic Leg

Here I am with the little princess at her riding lesson tonight. This is her second lesson and our first lesson together. She picked me out "Sir Darby is the horse for me, he is a princess horse" One of my favorite things to do is to take children for rides and help them learn to be good horsemen.
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them

Only a royal gelding could wear such accouterments and still remain a card-caring member of the He Man Gelding Club.

I indulged the SPS and wore these during the trail clinic. I enjoyed the extra support and protection, but I do believe there are more regal styles that she could find for me.

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito (Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them)