It's Time to be Said

I've written this post in some form or another at least 5 times.  I've always deleted it, thinking to myself it may not be appropriate or I just shouldn't post things when I'm angry.

Well, I'm angry now (with major sinus pressure), but it's time for this to be said.

If you are not willing to say something to a persons face -- 

DON'T SAY IT ON FACEBOOK!

I'm just sayin.

*** 4 MORE PARAGRAPHS ON THIS SUBJECT WERE JUST DELETED, 

AFTER HAVING BEEN DEEMED SOMEWHAT INAPPROPRIATE.

I BLAME THAT ON THE SINUS PRESSURE. ***

Pecking Order

I braced myself yesterday.

It was time for the equines to no longer be separated by fences.  It was time for the long-dreaded pecking order to be established.

Horses kick, bite, chase and do all kinds of nasty things to each other when determining the dominant leader.  This horrible behavior can last for days, sometimes weeks.  It's madness.  I've seen what can happen when an alpha horse turns himself loose on a cowardly horse like Cocoa.

But, it had to be done.  It was time that Cocoa and Dandy to have an all out brawl. and figure out the "order" of things.  Chris turned to me and said "you ready for some fireworks?"  Then something strange happened...

...they wondered off and started grazing.  Didn't touch each other.  No kicks.  No bites.

They play and they run around together. When one moves, the other does, too.  We knew Cocoa was cowardly, but apparently, so is Dandy.  

I don't know if I'm disappointed, or relieved.

Special Delivery

It was like Christmas morning... and Uncle Gordon was Santa Claus.  He came to deliver the present I got last Christmas, which Chris wouldn't let me bring home.  Yet.

Dandy-Man has arrived (and is on the right).

Brothers reunited - born only a week apart.  They haven't been together since they were yearlings.  Dandy is clearly much more red than Cocoa, but their builds are very similar.  These pictures make Cocoa look quite a bit bigger, but don't let the photos fool you... he's not.

For tonight, they reacquaint themselves through the fence.  But tomorrow... there's no better time than now to establish the pecking order.  Cocoa has proven himself time and time again that he prefers the bottom, and I expect that's how it will end up.

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy having horses?  Yes, but have I mentioned how much I enjoy having the horses in my own back yard?  Oh, I did?  Well I do.

Showoff

Look at that prance... Cocoa was showing off for the female horses next door.

Welcome Home

It's been a long six weeks... for him and for me.  I've missed seeing Cocoa, rubbing his neck and brushing his mane.  Matt the Horse Trainer delivered him straight to his new home today, which happens to be the barn behind my house.

I have a barn.  It still seems weird to say.

Cocoa unloaded from the trailer just fine, and was anxious to start grazing in that nice, green pasture.  But he couldn't.  Not yet anyway.

Our green grass is very rich compared to the stuff he's been eating the last several weeks.   If we let him loose in the pasture, he'd continue to eat to his big hearts content until he foundered.  Foundering causes swelling inside a horse's feet, causing pain and restricting blood flow.  This could result in severe issues with the horse -- some horses never will be the same.

Impressed that I know so much?  Google helps with all my horse questions.

So, for now, Cocoa will have to reside in the newly clean (free of sheep shat) barn.  It's not ideal for him I'm sure, with all that lush green grass just a few feet away.  But here he will stay until we can ween him off of hay and onto the good stuff.  Over the next week or so, he'll be fed hay and allowed to graze for short periods during the day.

Ms. Izzle-Frizzle was jealous of all the attention the equine was getting, so she pranced over to her pool and threw herself a little pity-party.

Such high-maintenance animals we have.  Watch for more photos this weekend... MY horse is being delivered on Friday!!!

Brielle's Room

***Disclaimer... These photos were taken with my not-so-good camera phone***

I promised you pics of Brielle's room, so here they are.  Her room is still a work in progress, with a window seat cushion to sew, some throw pillows and a beside table to buy.

I'd also like to find something to hang just above her bed...

I made this, and am quite impressed with it.  I used a decorative plate rack, hung upside down.  I purchased 3 12x12 frames, pulled out the glass, filled them with cork board and used ribbon to hang them on the plate rack.

 

I was worried that the Tiffany Blue walls would be a bit overwhelming, and they were with no furniture in the room.  Now, with the bed, curtains, quits and wall hangings, Brielle and I think it's just perfect!