Snow Ponies

I really enjoyed taking pictures of the horses at my mom's stable over Christmas. There is nothing to help a little point-and-shoot camera along then a crisp blue-sky day and lots of white.

My first subject was on time for his shoot. A fuzzy Palomino pony bear. I think he is a he not a she. I am not sure. But he was really cute. Quite obviously, a retired Calvin Klein model.

So, how do you want me to pose?

Wait- this is my better side!

How about a closeup?

Oh, you want my content hay-in-my-belly-sleepy-horse-in-the-frosty-sunshine look?

Why didn't you say so!

Next up was this little Arabian mare. She came right up to the fence, on legs that could tell many stories.

My mom said she wanted to adopt this cutie. My dad's reaction was "HUH?" Not adopt, literally, she clarified. Just to brush and love and dote on her.

My mom told me that this gal is in her mid to late twenties and her owners live far away. They brought her to the stable and our milder climate because where they live is very cold. Alaska, I think.

How ironic is it that we've had one of the coldest, snowiest winters in decades? With records being broken for amount of snowfall?

Doesn't she have the sweetest face? Like that of an aged golden Labrador, deep dark eyes and a bit gray around the edges.

I love her flea bitten coat. The flea bites are the red of an Irish Setter. What color do you think she was originally? Do you think she was always gray, or was chestnut and grayed out with age?

I don't know who these pair of bays are. The one on the left really is a pony. I was just happy to see them drinking a lot of water on this cold day.

And I have major forelock envy of this one. I mean, that is the forelock one dreams about!

At least, I know my mom's gelding Dusty dreams about it! Like My Boy, he has the fuzzball forelock.

You makin' fun of my forelock?

Of course, the day after I left my parents', my mom's gelding Dusty got to go out- his first day out of stall confinement since his injury a month ago! Well, he's been out for hand walking and longing, but only in the round pen or arena. My mom sent me this picture of him looking a bit wild-eyed about his new digs. It was his first moment in his new solitary paddock. I guess he was pretty happy, and preceded to eat snow and roll in glee.

Unless the last blizzard of 2008 hits in the next hour (which is not entirely out of the question these days) then I am off to see my own snow pony later today!

I think I'm going to go roll in glee!