It's been a while...

After four years as a part-time freelance writer / photographer and more-than-part-time property manager, my person has FINALLY come to her senses. From here on out she's focusing her efforts on her freelance business and the critters in her life - the Queen (house cat), the Supervisor (barn cat), the Pest (new puppy) and, of course, ME! 

Since winter is rapidly approaching, I'm probably safe for a few months from her efforts to re-train and ride me. I'll be able to continue my relaxing lifestyle as a pasture potato - well fed, groomed and generally pampered - in return for which all I have to do is feign interest when she comes to visit or wants to show me off to her friends, colleagues and clients.

Maybe now she'll also have more time to add my comments to this blog on a more regular basis!

People are slow on the up-take

I've been telling my person for AGES that my back aches. I've been walking with a short stride, hollowing my back and showing a distinct "hitch in my git-a-long". But, could she figure it out? No.

So, I tried bucking like crazy when I was on the lunge line - which only resulted in more work for me. Then I tried bucking when my person was on my back. Ha! She's not that strong and ended up in the dirt several times.

Finally, she sent me to a trainer who recommended a chiropractor. If you haven't had this done you have NO idea what you've missed. I nearly fell asleep while he manipulated every bone in my body. The cracking noise was a little unnerving - for me and my person - but the results were fantastic.

My person said that she hadn't seen my back so round or my stride so long in YEARS! I'm sold.

Greetings from the farm

I arrived here after a 3000 mile cross continent journey. I travelled with 11 other horses in what my person called a transport truck that was specially outfitted for our needs. Each of us had a space just barely wide enough and long enough to stand in with some hay in a swinging net in front of us.

We've moved a lot, my person and I. I was born in Quebec and raised and trained by a French family. When my person bought me, I couldn't speak English at all which must have been frustrating for her as she tried to get me to do even simple things - but I caught on and am functionally bilingual now: I can walk, trot and canter in two languages.

We've lived in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Alberta and now back in New Brunswick all in less than seven years. But this place, these small 5.6 acres, are ours forever. I have a lovely, cosy barn, lots of hay and grain to eat and my person makes sure there's an endless supply of clean, fresh water. During the summer months I have a whole 2.5 acre pasture all to myself, but close enough to the fence line that I can chat with 'Sally', our neighbour's Percheron mare. All in all, life here is looking good.

Signed,

the Pasture Potato