Why?
After 12 winters of using the same shelters comfortably… why this winter did the ponies decide that their shelters were no longer suitable?
Nothing has changed, that I can figure… The shelters look the same as always. Besides, the shelters are in different paddocks. I cannot imagine that both shelters (quite distant from each other) have become unsavory at the same time? ~ How could this be?
But, whatever the reason, both ponies have now decided to not use either of the available shelters during the recent torrential rainstorms.
Soaked to the core. Horses can take the rain but if they get soaked to the under belly, it could chill them. Since these guys are older, I brought them inside.
ANNIE
Actually, there is one difference.
Annie.
Annie has not been in their paddocks previously.
But, there have been other horses joining them throughout the 12 winters… and never before have they refused to stay dry during inclement weather.
Still, Annie might be telling them something… maybe ghost stories about the horses of shelters past. Or, she is threatening them every time they go into either shelter. Perhaps she has claimed them both for herself.
Dunno.
But, lucky for the ponies, I’ve come to their rescue – albeit begrudgingly.
I gave them warm mash-filled buckets. They were very happy. Dodger kept pushing Slick away from the buckets… he was so excited to have mash that he wanted to have it ALL.
INSIDE!
Normally, if I open the paddock gate, the ponies run amok! They go hither and yonder, every which way.
But tonight, they stood by me and followed me to the barn.
“Phew! We thought you’d never ask!”
I opened the gate to the large stall and they scurried inside, eager to have a warm meal and no wind/rain onslaught.
Soaked and happy ragamuffins.
They were both getting ready to roll and DRY OFF!
TOMORROW
Well, maybe tomorrow, and maybe not tomorrow because I work all day.. but someday soon, I will close the paddocks off and separate the ponies from Annie.
Last time I did this, the gate came off of its hinges, somehow…
But anyway, this time, I will leave Norma with Annie and put the ponies in their favorite pasture. Then, I will know if the shelters are haunted, or if Annie put the curse on them!
These guys HATE the stall unless it is inclimate weather and then the LOVE the stall! Fickle ponies!
DECEMBER BUCKET FUND LADIES ~ THE OLDER MARES FROM THE GOLDEN CARROT: GLORY AND LUCY! Any Starbucks change available? These gals could sure use the boost!
Click here to learn more about them!
Here she is after just 3 weeks at The Golden Carrot! She is looking much better and very grateful!!!
Click on Glory’s pic to read her story…
I want a pony. Or five ponies. Five ponies would be good :)