Category Archives: Dalton

Dalton the unflappable. Another reason to love him.


Monday, August 19th, 2019 | Filed under Dalton




So I decided to let Dalton into the huge 5 acre pasture.

His paddock it above the pasture and he has been able to oversee it for the weeks that he has been here.  But, usually Missy Miss, Annie and Mo use that pasture.

Yesterday, while he was eating, I closed the gate into that paddock from Missy Miss, Annie and Mo’s pasture… and opened Dalton’s gate into the 5 acre field.

I waited.   Dalton looked up, saw what I had done, and put his head back into his food.

Hmmmmm.

ALL of my horses would have run to the gate and been all snorty as they buckykicked their way into the new horizons.

Not Dalton.

So, I went inside.

An hour later, I emerged back outside.  Dalton was halfway down his pen, looking at the opened gate.

Hmmmm.

I thought maybe he needed some encouragement, so I walked through the gate and into the big pasture.  He followed.

No buck, no kick, no squeal, no charging to get past… no change in his demeanor whatsoever.

He just walked out there and stood.  Checking things out.

Then, he walked over to the pony pasture and looked in.  Then he walked the other way.  He sniffed some poop and walked around.

Not any concern.  Just another day, another moment – another thing.

Ho Hum.

I went back inside.

When it was time to put everyone to bed, Dalton was already back in his upper pen.

He put himself away.  I didn’t have to call him or beg him or get a bucket or have him ignore me or have him run off and play games.  He was in his paddock.  Ready for bed.

Dalton is exactly perfect for what I want.  I’m sure he isn’t perfect for everyone and I’m sure he won’t be perfect at all times (like not loading…), but this kind of attitude is golden to me.  He is such a chill, young horse!  Nothing I’ve even been used to – and I love it.

Thank you, Horsegods, thank you.

I walked with him into the big field. No big deal. No squealing or kicking or running and bucking. Like he’d been here all of his life. Ho hum.

First he walked over to the pony pasture… then he turned back and went into the vastness of the pasture.

Here he is, sniffing leftovers from the mares. Not a peep. No interest. No excitement.

He explored the entire field. La De Dah. Not a buckykick… not one. He didn’t run or play or even act nervous.

He heard the neighbor’s tractor. Ho hum.

I went back at twilight to spread shavings and tuck them in… and he was already back in his spot. He is such a chill horse!




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A love quadrangle… Dalton, Norma, Dodger and sometimes Mo.






Four of my equines are in unrequited love.

At least that’s how it appears.  I mean, they haven’t told me as such, but I see a daily ritual that breaks hearts.

Here’s what I see…

NORMADALTONDODGERMO.

Lately, I’ve seen a little clutch down at the bottom of the paddocks – consisting of Dodger, Dalton, Norma and Mo.

Dodger and Norma are in their pen, but against the adjoining fence to Dalton.

Dalton is down there right next to Pony and Her Donkness, on his side of the fencing.

Mo is on the exterior (large field) fence which faces the apex of both Dodger/Norma paddock and Dalton paddock, pawing at the ground and showing his disapproval.

This happens daily, several times a day.

However, as many times as I tell myself to remember to bring my phone outside, I always forget – especially this time of year because my coolest clothing have no pockets…

WHAT I SEE DAILY SINCE DALTON ARRIVED

Norma has always loved young, horse geldings.

Recently, we added young, handsome, Mustang Dalton to the mix.  And, he is right next door to Norma.

This makes Norma very happy.

I’m not sure that gelding Dalton really cares, but I think he finds it all amusing and something to do.  Perhaps he likes the attention of a cougardonk, dunno.

All of this upsets Dodger.  Always has.  He tries to control Norma and her lovelife, but when it comes to young geldings, he cannot.  So, Dodger stands very close to Norma and shows his displeasure – but mainly he tries to make sure that she doesn’t get hurt.

Mo, who has never shown too much interest in Norma as a girlfriend, definitely thinks of her as part of his satellite girl herd.  (Mo has two mares in his immediate herd – Annie and Missy Miss – so he is quite confident in his herd lothario status.)  Norma, as far as Mo is concerned, is a donkey and therefore is part of his herd.  He grew up in a wild donkey herd and Norma is a donkey.  Nuff said.  So, Mo is very, very upset that Norma would find Dalton interesting.  Mo stands as close as he can to the Norma and Dalton Show, pawing at the ground, pinning his ears and making unhappy donkey sounds.

LAST NIGHT

Last night, I decided to lock up Mo so he couldn’t get to the apex area during the day.  I didn’t like him acting so upset in the heat of the day.  Even though donkeys are tough, it is just too hot out there for my comfort.

Anyway, this morning, once again, I did find Norma and Dalton hanging out, with Dodger looking at me for assistance.

Luckily, a few hours later, Dodger finally motivated Norma to come back up to the misting fan – after all, it was 107 today.  And, Dalton followed suit and stood in the shade.

But, I bet when I go out there later tonight or early in the morning, the quadrangle will be present again (I let Mo out at night).

Sigh.

Poor Norma.  She’s a lovesick donk who prefers horses to her own kind.  This is why she is such a good friend to Dodger – as well as Slick when he was with us.  Horses were all she knew until Mo came on the scene.  And she just doesn’t relate to donkeys…

Dodger pleading with me to do something… Norma teasing Dalton. Dalton making things worse for Dodger. Mo was still locked up at the time or he would have been at the exterior fence, pawing away.




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