Copper

(Work in progress)
Copper is our big horse whom we have the "time share" with. She is probably in her mid 20's. Last year, she really looked it. She was used occasionally for lessons, but mostly was a babysitter horse. She was not real emotionally attached to any human. I began to play with her and she took to that pretty good. She lived with our girls all winter and they got along pretty good. By spring, she was going out of her way to show love, but as a veteran horse with so many miles and probably a lot of owners, she was a horse who just went along with things.
With regular wormings and grain with senior feed mixed in, she has plumped up really well. She looks really great and strong!
Well, cold weather is beginning to set in. Routines are pretty set now and she, like our other 2 girls, now can recognize our vehicle noises. So, Copper who only started calling for me sometime this summer in a very quiet, kind of rusty whinny, is now bellering like I have never heard a horse when I pull in the driveway. She is not fond of running, but let me tell you, she runs from what ever corner of the field she happens to be parusing to the gate as soon as she realizes I am around, whinnying all the way. It is pretty cool to know I am "mom" to her. It's one thing to have the love of animals you have raised from babies. It is quite another to get the respect and love of a veteran horse. Our Moon, who we had until she was almost 37, was a very beloved mare and when she died, it left a hole in my heart. Copper has finally filled that hole.

Rocky

Rocky eating with the girls

He is so beautiful!

This post is about Rocky. We got him 13 years ago. We don't know how old he was except that he was full grown already and he was "broke" to ride. We don't know if he was 2 or 6 or 10. However, his wither is looking very pronounced this summer. That would lead one to believe maybe he is a pretty mature horse. Ponies can live into their 40's so he has a long life ahead as easy as his life is. Our daughters grew up loving him and getting very comfortable with horses taking care of him and now he has several children who come to love and take care of him each week. He is loving it. He missed his girls (Merry and Jeni) who don't give him a lot of time any more. I love all my critters very much but he will always hold a very special place in my heart. I used to say: "If no one ever rides him, it's ok, he is just so beautiful to look at and watch."
Even with all the troubles in the world, and all the issues with Grandpa and Grandma, having all the nice times with the lesson kids and seeing the progress with the horses makes me very happy.
Our goal is to have horses that can work with any person with any level of experience or limitation. I think we will have achieved our goals by winter this year.